'Tis the season to be
sneezing, and as much as we don’t like it, it’s fair to say that it’s inevitable.
According to Health Canada, millions of Canadians are affected by cold and allergy symptoms every year.
Adults can get at least one or two colds a year, while children can be affected by a cold as many as five to
eight times. Some people try over-the-counter allergy medication, while others make sure to never be without
a box – and sometimes, a roll – of tissue. Unfortunately, allergies and nasal problems can even leave people
just not wanting to go outdoors at all.
Mathieu Paquette, product manager for hydraSense®, offers a solution to the nose woes of springtime that
doesn’t involve staying cooped up in your pollen-free house. hydraSense® is an all-natural nasal spray that
can make allergy season, as well as the occasional cold or flu, a little more tolerable.
With all of the nasal sprays out in the market, most people assume that they are all the same. However,
Paquette says that there is a clear difference. “If you compare hydraSense® to other saline solutions on the
market, most of the brands only use water, sodium and preservatives.” It is this dedication to maintaining a
natural product that sets hydraSense® apart from all other available brands. hydraSense® also uses the
SteriFlo system. This unique delivery system with its one-way valve ensures that no mucus is transported
through it to the inside of the container, and therefore prevents contamination. This makes hydraSense®
always comfortable, ready and easy to use.
hydraSense® is unique because it uses 100% natural-source seawater from the Bay of Saint-Malo in France.
According to Paquette, seawater is arguably the best source for something like a nasal spray because its
salinity is similar to that found in the cells of the human body. hydraSense® contains more than 70
trace elements and minerals. Saint-Malo is the source of choice for the brand because strong currents and
tide constantly renew the seawater’s composition. This leads to the oxygenation of the water, as well as
regeneration of its mineral salt content.
With the rising popularity of eco-consciousness and all-things natural, particularly where health remedies
are concerned, it’s not difficult to see the appeal of hydraSense®.
hydraSense® does not claim to cure colds. However, if you’re looking for relief, it has been clinically
proven to reduce the duration of cold symptoms. It has also been proven to decrease the occurrence of
complications like sinusitis, and to allow you to limit the use of medications – good news for parents of
children with runny noses. Because hydraSense® is able to do all of these things, the result is usually a
reduced number of sick days, which is good news for everybody.
hydraSense® offers two different types of solutions to nasal problems: isotonic and hypertonic. Although both
are effective for most symptoms, there are some differences. Figuring out which one you need is easy, says
Paquette. “The isotonic solution is well suited for daily nasal hygiene. It can also help with some
really important symptoms, such as sinusitis.”
Isotonic solutions are good for most symptoms outside of sinusitis as well, particularly because it is ideal
for maintaining good, nasal hygiene. “It doesn’t matter if it’s allergies, sinusitis or asthma,” says
Paquette. “There’s always a huge benefit to having a clear and clean nasal passage. In this sense, isotonic
solutions are great for easing most respiratory symptoms.” Paquette explains why by simply stating, “One
airway, one disease.” This catchy phrase, as he affectionately calls it, is one that he uses all the time
when describing the benefits of using hydraSense®.
Hypertonic solutions are a bit more complex since they relieve nasal congestion naturally. If your symptoms
include nasal congestion, hypertonic solutions will work more efficiently to relieve it as well as to
eliminate mucus-trapped impurities such as germs, viruses, dust, pollen, toxic substances and smoke buildup
in nasal secretions than isotonic solutions. Paquette says, “It will give you a lot more relief for
sure.”
As with any type of medication, side effects are a concern. Rebound rhinitis is the term used to describe the
dependence nasal passages can develop on medicated nasal sprays. Basically, when nasal sprays are used often
enough, the nasal passage automatically clogs up once the use of a nasal spray is stopped. Although people
who are very congested may need to use hydraSense® more than once a day, Paquette assures that rebound
rhinitis should not be a cause for concern. “The natural aspect of the product is very important in this
regard,” said Paquette. “It’s an effective product, but people should not be worried about rebound rhinitis,
or what we call rebound congestion, because there is no presence of medication in hydraSense®.” This means
that people will not be susceptible to this dependence. In this regard, hydraSense® is a better option than
other nasal sprays.
These are all important things to note, especially for parents who want to use a nasal spray for their
congested little ones. In 2008, a study published in the Archives of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
tested two groups of children with colds. One group was treated with a saline solution, similar to
hydraSense®, and another with standard cold medication. The study concluded that “children in the saline
group showed faster resolution of some nasal symptoms during acute illness and less frequent reappearance of
rhinitis subsequently.”
“Most of our products are suitable for very young children,” says Paquette. In fact, Paquette is so confident
in the product’s safety and efficacy, he has used it to help relieve his own daughter of some of her
respiratory symptoms. “I knew that the hydraSense® solution would be well suited to ease her symptoms,” he
said. “So I used it, since I’ve found that it is more effective for the symptoms that she had.”
Other symptoms that are improved by hydraSense® include sneezing, nasal and sinus congestion, itchy and runny
nose, itchy and watery eyes, itchy throat and headache. This is usually due to an allergic reaction to
allergens like pollen, dust, dust mites, animal dander or mould. hydraSense® can help you reduce the effects
of allergies by providing effective relief. The hypoallergenic hydraSense® nasal care cleanses nostrils of
mucus-trapped pollen and allergens, which will relieve your symptoms.
So, this spring, step outside. Stop and smell the roses – especially now that you won’t need a tissue to blow
your nose right after. •
