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Dr. Hana Says: Healthy Noses Support Healthy
Kids
Pediatrician
Develops Nasal Irrigation System With Children in Mind
About Dr. Hana Solomon
Hana R. Solomon, MD, a.k.a.
Dr. Hana, is a pediatrician and serves as the president of BeWell Health, LLC.
Dr. Hana is the author of “Clearing The Air, One Nose At A Time: Caring For
Your Personal Filter.” Teaching the art and science of nasal washing is Dr.
Hana’s passion and her ultimate goal is to reduce medication use in the
community. She lectures to all audiences, including medical physicians,
naturopathic doctors, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, and
consumers. She can be contacted at drhana@nasopure.com
Washing
your nose can be tricky, especially for kids. Anyone who’s ever jumped into a
swimming pool before holding their breath knows exactly how uncomfortable it is
when water gets into the wrong places. Fortunately, for those of us who know
how wonderful the results of nasal irrigation can be, Pediatrician Dr. Hana
Solomon has developed a system that’s simple to use, ultra-comfortable, and
proven to work for children. Sayonara sinus congestion, hello clear breathing.
Nasopure and Dr. Hana
As a
self-described “water-wimp” Dr. Hana understood that nasal washing might be an
intimidating idea for children. After talking to her patients and discovering
why they were hesitant to wash daily, she decided to develop her own unique
system. In 2001, Dr. Hana developed the Nasopure Nasal Irrigation System – the
epitome of comfort and modern design. The bottle allows for a neutral head and
neck position and the applicator tip is designed to create a tight seal with the
nostril for control of pressure and flow. In 2007, Dr. Hana introduced Little
Squirt to GoTM, a 4 oz.
irrigation system that’s perfect for smaller hands.
Why Irrigate? A Natural
Approach to Nose-Woes
In terms
of illness and allergies, kids are not much different from adults. In fact,
when it comes to colds and the flu, young children are statistically more
likely to fall victim. Studies show that kindergartners have around 12 colds
per year, while adults have about seven. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
frequently updates their advisory stating that over-the-counter cough and cold
medicines should not be given to infants and children. The cut-off age for safe
use of OTC medications has been revised more than once, and studies show that
over-use of antibiotics can eventually cause resistance.
In her
clinical experience, Dr. Hana found that nasal washing in children reduced the
number of colds and other respiratory infections, and that those who irrigated
with saline use fewer medications. In addition to this conclusion,
nasal-washers tended to face shorter illnesses and missed fewer school days.
Several studies published recently support Dr. Hana’s findings, backing her
support of holistic and natural approaches to fight and prevent illness.
Nasal
irrigation can also provide relief to children who suffer from allergies,
asthma, chronic sinus problems, frequent nosebleeds, coughs, ear infections,
and sore throats. Dr. Hana likens the nose to a personal filter that, like all
other types of filters, provides the best results when it’s kept clean.
How can we teach kids to
wash?
Many of
us know from experience that it’s not easy to convince a child to do something
– especially if they think it’s going to hurt. At first glance, nasal washing
can be intimidating for children, so it’s important to approach the task with
strategy.
As a
practicing physician with more than 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Hana
has spent a lot of time learning to perfect the art of teaching children to
wash. In her book Clearing the Air, One
Nose At A Time: Caring For Your Personal Filter, Dr. Hana provides many
tactics that can be used to successfully introduce children to nasal washing. For
children ages 2-6, Dr. Hana recommends playing with the bottle in the bathtub
as a way for them to become acclimated to holding it and squeezing it. For
children ages 7-9, Dr. Hana suggests making up a fun story. For example,
children at this age can understand the idea of their nose and sinuses being
like a cave. If they want “air” carriers to be allowed through, they must wash
out the nasty stuff and keep the passages clean of any “snot rocks.”
One of
the most effective ways children learn is through imitation. Dr. Hana
encourages parents to demonstrate for their children, as this allows the child
to see that nasal washing is comfortable and safe. Then, allow the children to
try washing on their own.
Patience
is key when teaching, especially with small children. Even when all else fails,
it’s important to never try and wash for a child. Instead, try watching videos
of other kids washing or talking about how good a clean nose feels. The overall
approach must be geared towards the child’s age and his or her past
experiences. One step at a time, no forcing allowed – only gentle
encouragement, demonstrations, and lots of positives.
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