NHS GP, Dr Sooj, has revealed that there’s one over-the-counter cold remedy that could cause your symptoms to ‘come back with a vengeance’ – and could even lead to breathing difficulties
A GP has warned how an over-the-counter common cold remedy could actually cause further breathing issues – and make you feel worse.
If you find yourself struggling to fight off a cold, then you may be tempted to reach for your go-to over-the-counter cold remedy. However, NHS GP, Dr Sooj, has revealed that there’s one over-the-counter cold remedy that could cause your symptoms to ‘come back with a vengeance’ – and could even lead to breathing difficulties.
Dr Sooj took to Instagram to share a warning with his followers about the popular nasal sprays. These nasal decongestant sprays are sold by brands such as Sudafed and normally contain oxymetazoline, xylometazoline, phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine. In the video, the GP explained how a ‘spritz’ of the spray put into your nostril will help to ‘constrict blood flow to your nose’ which will reduce congestion and make it easier to breathe.
He explains that: “The problem is that once the spray wears off, the blood floods back into your nose and the congestion comes back much harder and much faster.” The concern is that, with constant use, you’ll ‘very quickly’ be required to increase how often you take doses of the spray, with Dr Sooj adding that some people ended up using them every hour.
Pharmacist Thorrun Govind revealed to The Sun that overusing these sprays can actually make the problem worse. She explained that taking the sprays or drops for an extended period of time ‘can make your stuffiness worse’, putting you at risk of rhinitis medicamentosa, which is a form of ‘rebound congestion’.
She explained: “Rebound congestion is when nasal passages become inflamed due to overuse of nasal decongestants,” adding that the symptoms of this condition can include having a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing a lot, or noticing that your nasal passages are feeling itchy. She revealed that: “It can often feel worse than the original congestion.”