Instructions on how to properly spray your nose and gargle to prevent and fight Covid-19

Dr. Nguyen Nam Ha, an ENT specialist at Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, said that before the virus can enter the lungs and cause more dangerous consequences, it must pass through the upper respiratory tract. The nose and throat area is considered a barrier to prevent the virus from entering. Cleaning the upper respiratory tract by spraying the nose and gargling properly helps to minimize the virus from the nose and throat to the lungs, reducing the possibility of infection.

Solution used fordaily nose careis saline solution. The tool for nasal irrigation is a pre-mixed saline nasal spray.

Use nasal spray daily by spraying 3 times in one nostril, keeping the spray tip pointing down, and wiping the spray tip with a clean tissue. Then, close the other nostril and blow the sprayed nostril. Repeat 2-3 times for each side.

Note that if excess salt water flows back and collects at the base of the spray head, remove the spray head and dry the spray bottle. Store the spray bottle in a dry place after use. The spray bottle is a personal hygiene tool, avoid sharing, especially with children. Children must be reminded that this is a personal tool.

People with Covid-19 should only use nasal spray in a private bathroom to avoid spreading droplets when blowing their nose.

Proper nose care not only helps limit Covid-19 infection but also supports the treatment and prevention of acute and chronic rhinitis, acute and chronic sinusitis, post-nasal sinus surgery... Especially for medical staff, the nasal cavity contains many pathogens, so it is very important to take care of the nose to avoid infecting others.

The solution used for daily gargling for normal people and those who have not been in close contact with Covid-19 patients is saline, which can be used for children, even infants. Studies show that saline hardly changes the resident microflora in the throat. Meanwhile, solutions containing disinfectants change the number of resident microorganisms in the throat area. Not to mention, long-term use of mouthwash containing essential oils and disinfectants can irritate the throat, causing "chronic pharyngitis due to mouthwash".

You can use a bottle of pre-mixed medical saline solution (convenient but expensive) or homemade saline solution with the formula of one full teaspoon of salt in one liter of boiled water. This homemade diluted saline solution should only be used during the day, to avoid infection from being left overnight.

For Covid-19 patients and close contacts, doctors will prescribe gargling with solutions containing disinfectants such as povidone iodine and chlorhexidine.

Before gargling, rinse your mouth by putting water in your mouth, swishing it around and then spitting it out. Do not tilt your neck back, keep your head straight.

Illustration photo.

Then, gargle by pouring a sufficient amount of water (about 5-10 ml) into a cup and then put it in your mouth. To gargle effectively, in addition to tilting your head back, you should stick your tongue out before saying "wheeze...wheeze...wheeze...". This is an important movement, helping the water to get through the gap down the throat. When you don't stick your tongue out first, even if you tilt your head back as far as possible, you are only gargling, not gargling. After gargling, you need to spit out the water.

You should gargle at least 5 times in the morning, evening, and after three meals. These are the times when your throat accumulates mucus from your nose, throat, or irritants in food. You should gargle as soon as you come home from outside, after talking or coming into contact with outsiders, or immediately after swimming...

Le Phuong