What Is Nasal Hygiene?

Your nose accumulates dust, bacteria and viruses over time¹. Whether in cold or dry weather, taking care of it is vital to how your sinuses can function and protect your body from pollution and germs.

Let’s say you haven’t been paying attention to your nasal hygiene and have experienced early symptoms such as succumbing to nasal-related infections, diseases, and sicknesses². Then, it may be best to start thinking about improving your overall nasal hygiene practices.

Not taking care of your nasal hygiene eventually weakens your nasal and sinus conditions, ultimately affecting your overall respiratory health.

Here are some health issues associated with bad nasal hygiene.

Nasal Congestion 

Your nose can clog up if you spend time around areas polluted with smoke or fumes. Many things could trigger nasal congestion due to the nose’s daily filtering of dirt and particles. Your immune system kicks in when dust mites or particles aren’t caught by your nose hair or cilia (tiny hair-like structures in your nostrils). This results in your nose being flooded with mucus intended to wash away intruders.

Nasal congestion usually causes you to have trouble breathing through your nose. As a surge of mucus flows from your nose, you’ll develop a runny nose and start mouth-breathing. Other symptoms include sneezing, headaches, fever, and swollen nasal tissues. Babies with nasal congestion may also have trouble nursing or taking a bottle.³

Nasal Dryness 

Nasal dryness occurs on its own or may be associated with other symptoms like a runny nose. This is triggered when your nose is exposed to dusty areas that tend to collect around the house.

It can also develop dry sinuses when the mucous membranes in your nose and sinus cavities don’t contain enough moisture. Suppose the walls of the nasal and sinus passages lack water. In that case, uncomfortable symptoms can manifest, such as pain, swelling, and nosebleed.⁴ A severe dry nose can also lead to increased upper respiratory issues.⁵

Sinusitis & Sinus Infection

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses that can cause them to get blocked, filled with fluid and infected by germs. It is usually caused by colds or allergies.⁶ 

Although it does not happen often, untreated sinus infections can become life-threatening. It can cause meningitis — an inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord⁷ — and infect the brain, eyes, and nearby bones.

Chronic Rhinosinusitis (Nasal Inflammation)

Chronic rhinosinusitis is an inflammation of the sinus or nasal passages occurring for more than 12 weeks. It happens when the lining of the sinuses gets infected or irritated, becomes swollen, and creates extra mucus.⁸ 

Chronic rhinosinusitis is different from standard rhinosinusitis, a temporary infection of the sinuses following a cold. It is a more persistent problem which requires a specific treatment approach.

People that develop chronic rhinosinusitis can contract pain and pressure in the sinuses, wheezing, chest tightness, and cough. These reactions can be severe and even life-threatening if left untreated over time – even more so with people who suffer from immune system disorders.⁹

How To Maintain Your Nasal Hygiene?

Besides filtering dust, pollution and allergens out of your system, your nose is also the first line of defence when the body exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs. Hence, taking care of your nasal hygiene is essential, as it helps avoid the health issues mentioned above. 

To keep the inside of your nose clean and adequately moisturised, the steps include washing your hands frequently and using a saline nasal spray¹⁰, among others. As pioneers in natural nasal care solutions and with 40+ years of expertise, Stérimar aims to help with the daily nasal hygiene of consumers without the need to use steroids, drugs and preservatives. 

With effective and multiple product ranges for various consumers, Stérimar formulas are made from 100% natural seawater drawn in the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, located in Cancale, France. This is where the highest tides in Europe ensure constant renewal and high water oxygenation.

Learn more about maintaining your nasal hygiene here and breathe easily to enjoy life’s beautiful moments.

References

1. Fokkens, W. J. (2014, October 17). Avoid prescribing antibiotics in acute rhinosinusitis. BMJ 

    Publishing Group Ltd. https://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g5703

2. Chennuru, U. (2022, June 9). Nasal hygiene: Why is cleaning your nose daily important for overall

    health? Healthshots.    

    https://healthshots.com/preventive-care/self-care/nasal-hygiene-why-is-cleaning-your-nose-daily

    -important-for-overall-health/

3. Nasal Congestion (Stuffy Nose): What It Is, Causes & Treatment. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. 

    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17980-nasal-congestion

4. 10 Tips for Nose Dryness to Try at Home │ Vicks Sinex. (n.d.). 

    https://vicks.com/en-us/treatments/how-to-treat-a-cold/10-remedies-nose-dryness

5. Pasha Snoring & Sinus Center. (2022, December 7). Nasal Dryness. Houston ENT Doctor.   

    https://breathefreely.com/education-library/dry-nose/nasal-dryness/

6. Sinus Infection (Sinusitis): Types, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. 

    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17701-sinusitis

7. Meningitis | CDC. (n.d.). https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html
8. Kwon E, O’Rourke M.C. (2022, Aug 8). Chronic Sinusitis. National Library of Medicine: National

    Centre For Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441934/

9. Corren, J. (2021, August 27). Chronic rhinosinusitis (Beyond the Basics) (A. T. Peters, Ed.). 

    https://www.uptodate.com/contents/chronic-rhinosinusitis-beyond-the-basics

10. Runny Nose: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment. (n.d.-b). Cleveland Clinic.

    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17660-runny-nose