(Reposting - the earlier post was deleted because of an untrusted link)
Hello -- I just wanted to pass on information about a simple home procedure to avoid respiratory viral infections such as the coronavirus. Avoiding infections is especially important for people with immune-related kidney conditions like IgAN.
Here's the actual procedure demonstrated with videos:
The procedure ('Hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling') is both simple (you do it at home) and has solid science behind it. The use of salt is important. The body's cells use chloride ions in the salt solution to produce hypochlorous acid (the active ingredient in bleach), and use it to produce an antiviral effect with the cell.
Here are links to two papers published by the team behind the procedure:
1. A pilot, open labelled, randomised controlled trial of hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling for the common cold (Nature, 2019)
Although I appreciate the information, words like "SHOULD be considered" and is effective against "coronaviruses" makes these studies, in my opinion, inconclusive and dangerous. Yes, rinsing the sinus COULD help to remove droplets, but once inhaled into the lungs, this won't do squat. This maybe helpful in other common rhinoviruses. But this is what is said, "As such, it MAY offer a potentially safe, effective and scalable intervention"
People read these articles but many do not go into the details and such, they think that this is a safe thing to do for all people and that it will protect them from Covid. But just like there is no cure for CKD, at this time, there is no cure for Covid.
I wonder how much saline or salt is absorbed when you do this and is it a risk for patients on low sodium intake?
Hi Bassetmommer -- You're right: the phrase "SHOULD be considered" is addressed to doctors - not laypeople. As sodium absorption may be a consideration for people on sodium restriction, it is best to discuss this (and similar remedies) with your doctor first.
In defense of mentioning this information though -- some doctors do promote it as a public health measure (e.g., google "Dr. Bradley F. Bale and HSNIG").
I know of one ongoing and one completed study of this procedure's impact on Covid (e.g., clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show.... Until the results come out, the phrase "once inhaled into the lungs, this won't do squat" is also unproven - it may reduce community transmission, as well as reduce personal viral load.
But you are right -- anyone with health concerns should run this information by a doctor.
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