-- contributed by John Swink, 06/14/2021
I am over 70 years old and have a long history of getting severe colds and bronchitis that lasted up to 6 weeks. During the Covid-19 pandemic I have discovered the best way to greatly shorten the duration and severity of colds is to use a saline nasal spray at the first signs of a cold or whenever I have been exposed to someone with and upper respiratory infection, including Covid-19. Eighteen months into the pandemic, I have not had one cold or upper respiratory infection. However, it is most important what type of saline solution to use:
Saturated salt solution is far too strong and will burn the nostrils, perhaps causing injury.
Most saline solutions I have found in stores contain "normal saline", which is the same concentration found in our bloodstreams, or 0.35%. That is too weak to be effective.
Sea water contains 3.5% salt and is the ideal concentration for a saline nasal spray. That solution is just right! (Hat tip to Goldilocks.)
But I don't recommend using sea water, because it contains a lot of other stuff.
I make my own salt solution as described below.
I am an engineer, not a doctor, but my theory on why this works is that the 3.5% solution is strong enough to draw moisture and mucus from nasal passages, but not strong enough to burn the delicate mucus membranes. When I inhale the spray and blow my nose it removes some of the mucus on those membranes and helps clear any congestion, including in my sinuses. Viruses andother pathogens that cause upper respiratory infections that begin in those membranes are removed with the mucus, greatly reducing their number, which allows my bodies immune system to overcome the initial infection. This also works for me to relieve allergies that cause sneezing.
Saline Nasal Spray:
Disclaimer:
I am not a doctor and cannot give medical advice, but I have found that
the above procedure does not harm to me and seems to help prevent me from
getting colds and other upper respiratory infections. You, the reader,
are welcome to try it with the advice and consent of your medical
professional.