Nozin Nasal Swabs: Prepared or Paranoid?

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Nozin Nasal Swabs: Prepared or Paranoid?

November 1, 2007

I'll be the first to admit that I am a little freaked out by germs, especially when on an airplane. I don't know why; maybe I saw Outbreak one too many times. Point is that I tend to get a little excited about gadgets that aim to keep me germ free so my heart kind of went pitter patter when I learned about Nozin Nasal Sanitizing Swabs ($9.95 for a pack of 10).

Basically the swabs are Q-Tips preloaded with a germ killer made from a proprietary formula of pharmaceutical grade ethyl alcohol, natural ingredients and plant-based compounds known to have virucidal activity. Just a FYI, it's not an antibiotic so germs will not build resistance.

I am seriously considering investing in a pack for holidays, which is going to involve spending hours and hours on planes for me. What do you guys think—are nasal swabs a sign of being prepared or over paranoid?

46 Comments

CesyBabe 5 years 27 weeks

After years in food business, I know the importance of keeping everything clean and germ free as possible, but also you have to balance that with getting germs to build up resistance. The most sickly kids I know are the ones in overly clean houses who never get outside and are doped up to high heavens when they get a sniffle. My family come from the school where you go hug your sister with chicken pox etc and we are all reasonably healthy people who dont get sick too often

bags 5 years 28 weeks

This nasal swab is a good idea. Hospital personnel put antibiotic creams in their nose to try to stop staph, since that's where the bacteria hangs out. Problem is antibiotics build resistant bacteria and don't fight viruses. Hand sanitizers and hand washing have been shown to lessen rate of infection. A good immune system is your best defense, but we all get run down now and then. If I'm tried on the train and someone is sneezing, I'd rather do the Nozin than pop a vitamin.

bluestarfish 5 years 28 weeks

They didn't work for me!

keeper 5 years 29 weeks

Very interesting topic. Many times, germs are way better at getting to us than we can devise ways to stop them. However, we have learned that the risk can be lessened with good hygiene. The front part of the nose is probably the main entry point for germs, most often by touch. If we clean our hands we can get rid of germs on the hands. But then touch a door knob with cold germs on it and we could easily infect ourselves even though we just cleaned our hands with soap or hand sanitizers. The Nozin website says it kills germs in the front of the nose and then inhibits further colonization for eight hours. This makes a lot of sense especially if we're in a crowded area where the risks from germs is high. The germs will get you, but maybe not in the quantities that they would like. This could be the difference between getting sick or not.

AmyLizK 5 years 29 weeks

NOT making it up: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21034344/

AmyLizK 5 years 29 weeks

Anal swabs... disinfecting TP doesn't sound too far off... ANYWAY.... I feel like this would be great for people like TEACHERS, DOCTORS who do nothing but breath germs all day long.... For me, I don't care about my day to day but I do have this really odd newfoud fear (which I'll def put in the paranoia category) of having a brain parasite... and a lot of them enter through the nose - IN FACT these swabs might be a response to a RECENT OUTBREAK OF FATALITIES DUE TO AN AMOEBA THAT ENTERS THROUGH THE NOSE TRAVELS THROUGH THE BRAIN AND UNKNOWINGLY THE CARRIER DIES IN TWO WEEKS WHICH OCCURRED AFTER A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE DIED OF THIS AFTER SWIMMING IN A RIVER.... but then again I could be making paranoid links here.... :D

katiekat 5 years 29 weeks

wouldn't alcohol dry out your nose & make you more susceptible to the virus?

facin8me 5 years 29 weeks

Since I'm one of those "real life scientists," I don't need to google it. You said that breathing in the virus was unlikely. I was simply correcting your misinformation.

indigojules 5 years 29 weeks

""they told us that the number one way people get the flu is by touching a surface with the virus and then rubbing their eyes. Breathing in the virus is less likely." Influenza A is a respiratory virus. The virus enters the body through the respiratory pathway- the mouth and nose." Actually you can get it from rubbing your eyes. Google it. Here is one example of the advice I found: From http://www.doctortoday.co.uk/flu.htm "General advice on avoiding infection with influenza and common cold viruses. These viruses are sometimes transmitted through the air, which of course is difficult to avoid in confined spaces such as underground trains and buses. However a major method of transmission is by rubbing the nose or rubbing the eyes with hands that have touched something that has the virus on it. When a sufferer uses a tissue, the virus is automatically transferred to the hands that hold the tissue. Then the hand touches a stair rail, door handle or any other item around, and others touch the same handle, rub their nose or eyes and a new infection results. This is why children's nurseries are a very common place to pick up infection. THEREFORE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN NOT GETTING INFECTED IS HAND HYGIENE AND MAKING SURE YOU NEVER TOUCH YOUR NOSE OR EYES WITH UNWASHED HANDS Similarly if you have a cold and are sneezing or using toilet tissues, make sure these do not get damp, and wash your hands frequently. A good tip is to use an alcohol gel to rub on your hands after using tissues if you cannot get to a wash basin. Attention to your general health and improving resistance with a good exercise, fresh air and healthy eating programme is helpful. Supplementation with zinc 15mg per day is thought to decrease the length of symptoms in recovery from the common cold."

suzanne 5 years 29 weeks

I'm with you spectra :WAVE: Part of a healthy lifestyle involves building up your immune system.

suzanne 5 years 29 weeks

I'm with you spectra :WAVE: Part of a healthy lifestyle involves building up your immune system.

marthalilian126 5 years 29 weeks

I think it would be a good idea if you're going to be traveling in an enclosed area, such as a plane, where you have sick people all around you. I'm not going to use them every morning though!

marthalilian126 5 years 29 weeks

I think it would be a good idea if you're going to be traveling in an enclosed area, such as a plane, where you have sick people all around you.I'm not going to use them every morning though!

Seraphim 5 years 29 weeks

i think if your gonna get sick your gonna get sick ;)

Seraphim 5 years 29 weeks

i think if your gonna get sick your gonna get sick ;)

PrincessTracy 5 years 29 weeks

we've lived this long without them....i'll pass.

allisonblue 5 years 29 weeks

I'd save your money, and stick with soap & water. I think the Univ. of Michigan School of Public Health would agree with me, too. :)http://www.umich.edu/news/index.html?Releases/2005/Oct05/r102405e

allisonblue 5 years 29 weeks

I'd save your money, and stick with soap & water. I think the Univ. of Michigan School of Public Health would agree with me, too. :) http://www.umich.edu/news/index.html?Releases/2005/Oct05/r102405e

veronicaraye 5 years 29 weeks

haha,weird.

veronicaraye 5 years 29 weeks

haha,weird.

audreystar 5 years 29 weeks

i would be afraid i would end up making my nose too dry and get nosebleeds. :( plus i am not a germophobe too much. i just try to eat healthy and exercise and take my vitamins.

MandyJoBo 5 years 29 weeks

I think less is more when it comes to medications and anti-bacterial solutions. It's like the anti-bacterial soaps that took the country by storm and then were found to be more damaging than preventative. But if you're in a situation you know you will more than likely end up sick, then it's worth a shot.

emalove 5 years 29 weeks

I would definitely try this. They're weird, but I'm a teacher and I am always getting sick...I'd try anything that may help ward off some germs.

facin8me 5 years 29 weeks

"they told us that the number one way people get the flu is by touching a surface with the virus and then rubbing their eyes. Breathing in the virus is less likely."Influenza A is a respiratory virus. The virus enters the body through the respiratory pathway- the mouth and nose.

facin8me 5 years 29 weeks

"they told us that the number one way people get the flu is by touching a surface with the virus and then rubbing their eyes. Breathing in the virus is less likely." Influenza A is a respiratory virus. The virus enters the body through the respiratory pathway- the mouth and nose.

Link Love

46 Comments

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