DECATUR, AL (WAFF) -
Sinus infections cause a lot of missed work. Many people try to prevent infections by rinsing their sinuses with salt water, some using a Neti Pot.
Dr. Mahipal Ravipati specializes in immunology and asthma.
"It's actually a very ancient device that came from India," said Ravipati. "It has been helpful for the most part, and many people use it on a regular basis."
He said there is a formula for success.
"There should be some salt in the water. The ideal recommendation is to use pre-packaged salt and distilled water or saline already made for use with Neti Pots," he said.
He said you can also used boiled water that has been brought back to room temperature.
"For those people doing this at home, I would recommend 1/8 teaspoon of non-iodized salt," added Ravipati. Add that to a cup of lukewarm water.
Not everyone uses a Neti Pot to rinse their sinuses. In fact, there are prepackaged squirt bottles that are available at your local pharmacy.
However, there are concerns after a couple of people died using Neti Pots and regular tap water. Dr. Ravipati said you should take precautions, but not be overly alarmed.
"I would strongly recommend not using tap water, straight off, only because there is the extreme possibility that there are certain parasites that can escape water treatment, even though they are safe inside the stomach, because they do get killed," he said.
He said stomach acid kills the amoebas and bacteria, but the parasites could cause an infection that travels from the sinuses to the brain.
"If this amoeba gets in there, there's nothing you can do about it. It's very difficult to treat - more than most infections," said Ravipati.
He said there is also a chance for an inner ear infection if you blow your nose, after rinsing, covering one nostril. He points out the anatomy on a drawing.
"This is the Eustachian tube, which connects to the inner ear. So if a nostril is blown real hard, there is a possibility that you can drain the water to the Eustachian tube," he said.
These tips may help to keep you breathing a little easier.
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Many people try to prevent infections by rinsing their sinuses with salt water, some using a Neti Pot.
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