title: Opening the nasal valve with external dilators reduces congestive symptoms in normal subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We examined whether the use of two different external nasal dilator devices influenced the size of the nasal valve area and symptoms of nasal congestion.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomized blind-allocation, open three-way crossover study of Breathe Right, Side Strip Nasal Dilators, and placebo. We studied 12 healthy subjects (10 female, 2 male; age range 26-56 years). Measures of total volume and total minimum cross-sectional area were collected. Subjective symptoms were collected using a visual analog scale and an ordinal scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With both products, there was significant increase in the size of the minimum cross-sectional area compared to placebo, p = 0.004. This is supported by the decrease in the subjective reports of congestion; on the visual analog scale, compared to placebo p = 0.012 and the ordinal scale, compared to placebo, p = 0.004.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both devices significantly increase the size of the nasal valve area and reduce congestion in normal subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Latte
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taverner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004106:Dilatation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement