ACHES/PAINS
COUGH
CHEST DISCOMFORT
SYMPTOMS
Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians;
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
SORE THROAT
STUFFY/RUNNY NOSE
VOMITING/DIARRHEA
EXHAUSTION
FATIGUE
FEVER
HEADACHE
SNEEZING
COLD
FLU
COLD FLU?
Colds and the flu share some symptoms,
but they are two unique conditions.
or
SHAPED
like tiny teapots or miniature Aladdin’s lamps, neti pots are
turning up in many homes.
People use these little vessels with the long spouts to rinse dust and
pollen from their noses and to relieve stuf ness from allergies and colds.
If you’re thinking about trying a neti pot, you might be wondering if
it’s safe—and whether it can grant your wish for clearer nasal passages.
Keep it sterile
Neti pots are lled with a saline (salt) solution that’s prepared with ster-
ile water. The solution helps wash away pollutants, shrink sinus mem-
branes and increase nasal drainage.
When used and cleaned properly, neti pots are generally safe and ef-
fective, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However,
there have been cases in which neti pots used with contaminated tap
water caused fatal brain infections.
To eliminate the risk of infection, always follow these safety rules:
1.
Use sterile water only. That means store-bought water that’s labeled
sterile
or
distilled
; tap water that has been boiled for three to ve minutes
and cooled to lukewarm; or water that has gone through a lter with an
absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller.
2.
Follow the instructions for mixing the saline solution that come with
the neti pot. If none were included, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
3.
Keep your neti pot clean and dry between uses. Wash it with distilled
or sterile water or with boiled and cooled tap water. Dry it with a paper
towel, or let it air dry completely.
Additional sources: American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery; Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention
NET I POTS
Clear your
head: Rinse
your nose
5
