How To Spray Your Nose With Flonase And Other Nasal Sprays
I think I explain this to patients about 15 times a day. When using nasal sprays such as Flonase, Nasonex, Rhinocort, Astepro, etc. there are three simple tips to maximizing results and minimizing complications.
This video demonstrates all three of these tips.
The two biggest complaints I get from patients are that the sprays taste bad or are causing nosebleeds.
Tip #1: Proper aiming for a bleed-free experience
Angle the spray slightly towards the outside of your nose. Put the nozzle just inside your nose and aim slightly towards the corner of your eye on the side you have the nozzle in. Doing so will direct the spray towards the sidewall of your nose, which is generally soft and plump and not prone to bleeding. If you're aiming towards the middle, you'll hit your septum, which is thin and easily irritated, and the primary source of bleeding when you use nasal sprays incorrectly.
Tip #2: The right way to use nasal spray
Tilt your head forward when you spray. When your head is forward, any excess spray will run out the front of your nose and not down the back of your throat. It's not dangerous if it goes down your throat — it just tastes bad.
Tip #3: Gentle sniffing is key to nasal spray use
After you spray gently sniff the spray into your nose. You don't have to go wild snorting it way inside your nose. I've seen patients demonstrate how they use the spray and I'm surprised they don't break a rib, they're trying so hard.
Till next week,
Jim Atkins, MD, Follow me on Twitter.
P.S.
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