Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive condition that makes it difficult for you to breathe. COPD treatments, including supplemental oxygen, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), may cause side effects including irritation, dryness, and cracking of the nose. Several home remedies and over-the-counter medications can help re-moisturize your nasal passages and prevent uncomfortable nasal dryness.
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The medical term for nasal dryness isrhinitis sicca. The condition itself is relatively harmless but may be uncomfortable. Symptoms include:
COPD itself may be responsible for increased nasal inflammation, but several treatment methods used to mitigatesymptoms of COPDmay also result in nasal discomfort and dryness. These include:
If your nose is dry and irritated and you use supplemental oxygen, don’t discontinue or change your flow without consulting your healthcare provider or respiratory therapist.
There is no hard-and-fast solution for dry nose when you’re battling COPD. However, there are a few products you may want to have on hand that can help prevent and relievenasal dryness, including saline spray, water-based lubricant, and an oxygen humidifier.
Nasal Saline Spray
Nasal saline spray adds moisture to dry nasal passages and assists your nose’s natural cleaning system. It’s important to keep your nasal passages moist because bacterial infections can develop under the nasal crusts that develop inside dry nostrils.
Nasal saline spray is a great natural option for those wanting an inexpensive, risk-free alternative to medication.
You can purchase pure saline over the counter. Or, you can make your own and use a bulb syringe or neti pot to irrigate your nasal passages.
Nasal or Sinus Rinse Recipe and Uses
Water-Based Lubricant
Avoid oil-based lubricants, including products with petroleum jelly. It’s rare, but inhaling fat-based substances for a prolonged period of time can cause additional lung problems. There may be no symptoms or you might develop a cough, have chest pain, or experience shortness of breath.
Oxygen Humidifier
For patients wearing anasal cannulafor standard oxygen supplementation, switching to high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HNFC) may be a good alternative to combat the side effect of dry nose.
HFNC consists of an active humidifier, a single heated circuit, an air-oxygen blender, and a nasal cannula. It helps patients expel carbon dioxide from anatomical dead space, which can be difficult for COPD patients. It also helps avoid a dry nose.Published reportssuggest HNFC decreases the energy required for breathing.
Though generally considered safe to use, discuss your desire to use an oxygen humidifier with your healthcare provider. It is often a matter of personal preference; cost and the time it takes to manage the device should be considered.
Heated Humidifier and Full-Face Mask for CPAP
Similar to an HFNC, using a heated humidifier and full-face mask for CPAP could be a good option for those who suffer from dry nasal passages as a result. Adding a heated humidifier attachment to your machine will push warm, moist air through, instead of cold, dry air.
Additionally, using a full-face mask instead of a nasal pillow creates a seal around more of the face, which means air leaks are less likely to occur. Air leaks are a primary cause of nasal dryness in those who use CPAP machines.
A Word From Verywell
If minor dryness starts to worsen and you notice more bleeding, cracking, or dry crusts forming inside your nose, seek help from your healthcare provider, who may be able to recommend other medications to help. Nasal dryness isn’t really cause for concern, but you do not need to live with the discomfort.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nishimura M.High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy in adults. J Intensive Care. 2015;3(1):15. doi:10.1186/s40560-015-0084-5Callebaut I, Hox V, Bobic S, et al.Effect of nasal anti-inflammatory treatment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2013;27(4):273-7. doi:10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3887Elliott MW. Non-invasive ventilation for acute respiratory disease. Br Med Bull. 2004;72:83-97. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldh042Additional ReadingNishimura M.High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy In Adults. 2015.Journal of Intensive Care. doi:10.1186/s40560-015-0084-5
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nishimura M.High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy in adults. J Intensive Care. 2015;3(1):15. doi:10.1186/s40560-015-0084-5Callebaut I, Hox V, Bobic S, et al.Effect of nasal anti-inflammatory treatment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2013;27(4):273-7. doi:10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3887Elliott MW. Non-invasive ventilation for acute respiratory disease. Br Med Bull. 2004;72:83-97. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldh042Additional ReadingNishimura M.High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy In Adults. 2015.Journal of Intensive Care. doi:10.1186/s40560-015-0084-5
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Nishimura M.High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy in adults. J Intensive Care. 2015;3(1):15. doi:10.1186/s40560-015-0084-5Callebaut I, Hox V, Bobic S, et al.Effect of nasal anti-inflammatory treatment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2013;27(4):273-7. doi:10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3887Elliott MW. Non-invasive ventilation for acute respiratory disease. Br Med Bull. 2004;72:83-97. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldh042
Nishimura M.High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy in adults. J Intensive Care. 2015;3(1):15. doi:10.1186/s40560-015-0084-5
Callebaut I, Hox V, Bobic S, et al.Effect of nasal anti-inflammatory treatment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2013;27(4):273-7. doi:10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3887
Elliott MW. Non-invasive ventilation for acute respiratory disease. Br Med Bull. 2004;72:83-97. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldh042
Nishimura M.High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy In Adults. 2015.Journal of Intensive Care. doi:10.1186/s40560-015-0084-5
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