Nasal Sprays for Colds

There is no hard and fast remedy for the much hated common cold, but nasal sprays are just one of the many solutions that can make life a bit easier when suffering from this ailment. There are hundreds of remedies for this disease, and they all work with different success rates, and what is effective for one individual may not be effective for another.

One of the most annoying symptoms of the common cold is the congestion that it brings to the nasal passage, which results in a blocked and stuffy nose and a searing headache. One fast solution to this problem is a nasal spray. These sprays are either available over the counter, or via prescription, and they greatly help in clearing the congestion of the nasal passages.

The Types of Nasal Sprays

When you head to the drug store to buy a nasal spray for yourself, you will see two varieties of the spray being sold. These are saline based sprays and decongestant sprays. It is important to know the difference between these varieties in order to determine which is more suitable for your condition. The saline based solutions are the ones that are available OTC (over the counter) and they can be bought by anyone. They can be used as many times as you want, and they will help to clear out mild congestion and they will also loosen up the mucus.

On the other hand, decongestant sprays are available through prescription. They should not be used for more than 3 days at a stretch, because doing so can cause some side effects that are also known as 'rebounding'. What these sprays do is cause the blood vessels in the nose to contract and narrow down, which in turn helps to clear out the nasal congestion. These types should be used sparingly. The rebound effect spoken of above is a medical condition known as Rhinitis Medicamentosa. For this reason it is best to use them as little as possible, as this increases their efficiency.

Well-known Nasal Sprays

These brands can be found in most drug stores across the country, but you must ensure that you know all the repercussions of using these sprays. These sprays are useful for some allergies as well, but you must refrain from over using them in the case of small children. Some accepted brands of nasal sprays are as follows.

• Atrovent
• Dimetapp 12 Hours
• Drixine
• Fess
• Narium
• Otrivin
• Rhinocort
• Vicks First Defense
• Vicks Sinex

Each of these nasal sprays should be used in the right amounts, even if it is a saline based nasal spray. You will need to tell the chemist the age of the person who will be using them, and what his condition is like. Avoiding addiction is very important, so this information will need to be shared. Based on this he will give you a specific variety, as each of these brands has many different varieties. He will then also give you the instructions for using the spray, which are as follows.

• Clear your nose before you use the spray.
• Shake the container properly.
• Press a finger against one of the nostrils and block it up.
• Put the nozzle of the spray inside the other nostril, press the container gently and breathe deeply.
• Repeat the process for the other nostril as well.

Nasal sprays also raise blood pressure levels in the body and also the pulse rate. As a result of this they could interfere with some other drugs and medications and cause some serious complications. So it is better to consult a doctor to ensure that this does not happen. People suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes should refrain from using them to cure the common cold.