By now, you probably understand the importance of washing your hands to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. But did you know that rinsing your sinuses might be a better way to curb the development of viral diseases like COVID-19? In an article dated April 20, 2020,1 Best Life includes recommendations from Dr. Amy Baxter, a pediatric emergency physician in Atlanta, Georgia.
Nasal irrigation is a little-discussed strategy that can help reduce disease progression in those who test positive for COVID-19 infection, she said.In reply on April 2, 20202 In a BMJ paper on the lack of personal protective equipment on the COVID-19 frontlines, Professor Robert Matthews also raises the importance and potential use of oropharyngeal washing to protect healthcare workers from infection. According to Best Life:3
“Nasal douching, or nasal washing, has long been recognized as an effective way to remove viruses or bacteria from the sinus cavities.
According to Baxter, recent clinical trials have shown Nasal irrigation reduces duration and symptoms of other viral illnesses Like the flu and the common cold, although it hasn’t been studied for COVID-19. Still, she has multiple reasons to believe the approach could be effective in preventing the coronavirus from deteriorating in patients. “
As Baxter notes, researchers have found that the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 tends to be heaviest in the sinuses and nasal passages. So it makes sense to rinse your sinuses regularly, as it helps flush out pathogens and prevents them from taking hold and migrating to your lungs.
