Rhiannon Ingle
It's that time of year when we're all bunged up, relying on copious amounts of Kleenex, Olbas oil and a relentless sniffle to keep from dripping all over the place.
On top of that, nasal sprays are also commonly found in many people's cold-busting kits - along with chicken noodle soup and herbal teas - but you may want to think twice before sticking one of these bad boys up your schnozz again following a fresh warning issued by pharmacists.
The new advice comes after a poll found almost six in 10 pharmacists said patients are unaware of the risks of using sprays for too long, with people now being urged to only use nasal decongestant sprays for seven days or face making their symptoms worse.
As any runny-nosed individuals will know, decongestant sprays provide short-term relief from stuffiness caused by colds, allergies and sinusitis.
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However, using them for longer than a week can cause something called rebound congestion, according to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS).
This health condition, also known as rhinitis medicamentosa, is totally preventable.
But, if you do get it, it can unfortunately cause symptoms to worsen, with patients becoming dependent on sprays to breathe more easily.
According to the NHS, the most common symptoms of non-allergic rhinitis are:
An RPS survey of 300 pharmacists found 59% think the public is not aware of this risk, while almost three-quarters (74%) said packaging should be clearer about the seven-day limit.
Almost two-thirds (63%) said they had intervened in cases of suspected overuse.
Professor Amira Guirguis, chief scientist at the RPS, said: "Nasal decongestant sprays can be helpful for short-term relief, but using them for longer than seven days can make your congestion significantly worse.
"Our research shows that many people are unaware of this risk, which means they may continue using these sprays without realising they could be prolonging their symptoms."
The expert added: "We’d like to see clearer warnings on the packaging which you can’t miss and greater awareness of the seven-day limit. If your congestion lasts more than a week, speak to your pharmacist. There are safe and effective alternative options to help you manage your symptoms."
Following the illuminating poll, the RPS has urged patients to always follow the instructions on the packaging of nasal sprays and to seek advice from pharmacists if congestion continues after seven days.