Autumn is one of the most beautiful times of year, but it’s also when sickness can spread like wildfire. If it seems like more people around you are sneezing and sniffling, it’s not your imagination. Fall and winter are the most common times of year for the common cold. Signs of the common cold include sneezing, a runny nose, headache, a sore throat, coughing and nasal congestion. Ever try to sleep with a runny nose? Not fun. Typically, these symptoms last about a week, which is a long time to be feeling crummy. You likely have a few favorite cold remedies you turn to when symptoms hit. Maybe it’s eating a soup your mom used to make you growing up, paired with a can of ginger ale. Or maybe you have an over-the-counter medication that you swear works wonders. There’s no shortage of popular cold remedies, but there’s one in particular that a family physician warns against relying on too much. Doing so can completely backfire.Related: The One Habit Doctors Are Begging You To Break ASAP if You Don't Want To Get Sick This Fall
Related: The One Activity an Infectious Disease Expert Is Begging You To Avoid When You Start Feeling Sick
When this happens, she says it can lead to a vicious cycle where someone feels the need to use the spray more often, but doing so actually makes the problem worse. “Long-term overuse may also cause irritation, dryness or frequent nosebleeds,” Dr. Roundtree adds.
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The Correct Way To Use a Decongestant Nasal Spray, and Other Ways To Relieve Your Symptoms
Whether you are using a nasal spray for allergy relief or to treat cold symptoms, she says it’s important to avoid pointing the spray at your nasal septum. “Aim slightly outward to avoid irritation or nosebleeds,” she instructs.
When using it, Dr. Tahir says to keep your head upright and tilt your head back, which helps the medicine run down your throat. “Take only a gentle sniff. Big sniffs pull the medicine away from where it needs to work,” she says. After application, Dr. Tahir says to avoid blowing your nose, to allow the medicine to stay in place. She also warns against sharing a nasal spray with anyone else to avoid spreading germs.
For allergy relief, Dr. Tahir says to keep the windows and doors closed during high allergy seasons. “To avoid pollen, know which pollen you are sensitive to and then check pollen counts. In spring and summer, during tree and grass pollen season, levels are highest in the evening. In late summer and early fall, during ragweed pollen season, levels are highest in the morning,” she shares. Dr. Tahir adds that using a dehumidifier and cleaning filters may also help reduce dust, mold, mites and allergens in the home.
When it comes to decongestant nasal sprays, the idiom “only in moderation” definitely applies.
Related: This Bathroom Staple Could Be Making You Sick—Here’s How To Keep It Bacteria-Free
Sources
Dr. Vontrelle Roundtree, MD,family practitioner and associate chief medical officer at MD Live by EvernorthDr. Asma Tahir, PhD, MPH, supervisor for the pollen monitoring program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in collaboration with the Clark County School DistrictHence then, the article about doctors warn against this common cold remedy mistake that actually makes symptoms worse was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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