Why do we keep reaching for nasal spray?

Why are we so quick to reach for nasal spray?

It's simple.

We want to breathe through our nose again.

That is what we are really after.

Yet don't the instructions for decongestant nasal sprays say to use them for only a few days at a time?

Even so, many people keep using them.

Why?

Because they make breathing easier for a while.

When the effect wears off, the nose may feel blocked again.

So we use the spray again.

Can this become a vicious circle?

Yes, it can.

I know that circle first-hand.

I started using nasal spray regularly when I was only 15.

That went on for years.

I had no particular desire to use nasal spray.

I just wanted to breathe through my nose.

That was what mattered to me.

Something clicked when I was 21

I learned about the Cottle manoeuvre.

You gently draw the skin at the sides of your nose outwards, then see whether it feels easier to breathe through your nose.

This simple idea is behind our Breathe Test today.

For me, that was a turning point.

I realised there was another question worth asking.

Are my airways clear in the first place?

Today I wear a nasal dilator

I can put it in my nose in a few seconds.

It takes about as long as reaching for my nasal spray used to take.

I can feel the difference straight away.

I can breathe more freely through my nose.

I no longer need a decongestant nasal spray in everyday life.

That has made a huge difference to me.

This is my personal experience. A nasal dilator can physically widen the nasal opening. Some causes of a blocked nose need a different approach.

What I hope people take from my story

We often reach for a quick fix because of a very simple need.

We want to be able to breathe.

So it is worth asking the underlying question sooner.

Why am I struggling to get enough air through my nose?

That is where Breathe Circle starts.

With a simple Breathe Test that takes just five seconds.

And with a network that can guide people towards the right professionals and further assessment when needed.

Sometimes the solution is simpler than we think.

Sometimes a medical examination is called for.

Breathe freely. Live better.

Thomas Müller · Founder of Breathe Circle