We are all familiar with unpleasant feelings when the nose is clogged and we cannot breathe normally. For many people, nasal sprays have become a real salvation. They help to open the respiratory tract and reduce the unpleasant symptoms of the runny nose. However, as it turned out, there is a hidden danger in the use of these drugs.
ENT doctor warns that you can become dependent on your nose spray in just a few days. How's it going? With regular use of sprays that narrow the vessels, our nasal pathways begin to get used to the drug. As a result, after a short time you can no longer breathe without it. This is called “addiction.”
Dependence on the nasal spray can lead to several serious problems. First, your mucous membrane in the nose begins to change. It becomes dry, irritated and ceases to perform its protective function. If the use of a spray lasts more than 6 months, it can even lead to polyposis changes in the mucous membrane, which is very dangerous.
Another problem associated with the dependence on the spray is the "phenomenon of rebound". This means that over time, every new use of the drug gives a smaller and shorter effect. As a result, you begin to use the spray increasingly to achieve the desired relief. In the end, you can get the drug no longer working at all.
The uncontrolled use of vessels narrowing can also have a negative impact on your overall health. You may have a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), high blood pressure, insomnia, tremor, headache and other unpleasant symptoms.
So, what to do? It is important to use nose sprays only as directed by a doctor and according to the recommendations. Patients should be informed of the possible side effects and adhere to the proposed treatment regimen. You cannot abuse these drugs to avoid serious problems with the nasal mucous and health in general.
