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 “Consumers should try these relatively safe devices before accepting
surgery,” co-author Christopher Badger of the University of
California Irvine School of Medicine told Reuters Health by email.
Experts say millions of Americans suffer from nasal stuffiness each
year. The obstruction may be related to structural abnormalities
inside the nose or to swelling caused by allergies or viruses.
To investigate how well nasal strips or clips work, Badger and
colleagues searched for information on OTC mechanical nasal dilators
on PubMed, Amazon and Google. They focused on healthy individuals
whose breathing problems were not related to chronic runny noses or
other long-term illnesses.
As reported in JAMA Facial and Plastic Surgery, they only analyzed
products available online or in production in 2015.
“We identified four basic product designs and 10 studies examining
the efficacy of available devices,” Badger said.
Five studies supported the use of external nasal dilator strips such
as Breathe Right and AirPlus; four studies supported the use of
nasal clips such as Airmax and NoZovent; one study supported the use
of the nasal stents called Max-Air Nose Cones; and no studies
supported the use of so-called septal stimulators.
“External nasal dilator strips and nasal clips are effective devices
that should be utilized before subjecting patients to the risks of
surgery,” Badger advised.
However, he said, “Although OTC nasal dilators effectively relieve
nasal valve obstruction, other medical or anatomical problems may
contribute to breathing problems.”
Therefore, patients should work with their doctors to choose the
best therapy for their specific conditions.
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Badger's team points out that the adhesive nasal strips cost an
average of $0.40 apiece. Nasal clips are "considerably more
expensive," with an average cost of $19.31 per device, but because
they're reusable, they cost less over time.
Commenting by email, Dr. Julia S. Kimbell of the University of North
Carolina, Chapel Hill, told Reuters Health by email, “It is
important to note that while over-the-counter nasal dilators may
temporarily induce changes in nasal resistance similar to those
induced by surgery, these products cannot provide the long-term
treatment for nasal airway obstruction that surgery may offer.”
“However, nasal dilator technology is rapidly advancing and may have
significant potential” to help manage nasal obstruction in the
future, she added.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery advises
on its website, “Try lifting the tip of your nose to see if you
breathe better. If so, the external adhesive nasal strips . . . may
help.”
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/29gqS8T JAMA Facial and Plastic Surgery,
online June 30, 2016.
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