Saline (in other words - saline) is a solution of sodium chloride NaCl. Details about it, as well as how it is made and why they are used, will be discussed in our article.
How is saline solution made?
Saline solution, the composition of which does not contain many components, is produced in large quantities in production. In the process of creating this medical product, salts are introduced into distilled water in a certain order. And only when the previous component has completely dissolved, is the next added.
So that no precipitate forms in the solution, carbon dioxide is passed through sodium bicarbonate. Lastly, it is customary to add glucose. Of particular importance is the dishes in which the saline solution is prepared. Its composition contains many elements necessary for the body, but there are no metals among them, since they negatively affect the vital activity of tissues. Therefore, it is especially important that saline is prepared only in glass tanks.
What is saline for?
In general, this solution is actively used in medicine. It is used for:
- dehydration of the body (dropper);
- breeding various medicines;
- in emergency cases, the solution acts as a blood substitute.
It is also used for:
- injections and droppers;
- contact lens flushing;
- as well as an antimicrobial agent.
For medicine, saline is almost an indispensable thing, since all droppers in medical institutions do it on its basis: they dilute drugs to achieve the necessary concentration. Injections, especially vitamins, are most often done with saline, which softens the effect of the drug and makes the injection less painful.
Why use the product at home
Saline solution, the composition of which is indicated on the bottle, can always be freely purchased at the pharmacy. It can be used at home, for example, for washing the nose. This substance can perfectly replace some expensive nasal sprays, and the effect will be exactly the same as after the use of expensive drugs.
In medicine, there are several varieties of saline, the compositions of which, depending on the purpose of use, may differ slightly from each other. The composition of the saline solution for washing the nose is not of fundamental importance, since this procedure can be performed using any variant of the drug, but it is best to take a 0.9% concentration. Washing the nose with saline is, in fact, a mechanical cleaning of the mucous membrane.
It is not difficult to do the procedure yourself. To do this, tilt your head forward so that the openings of the nasal passages are parallel to the floor. This pose is very important. The head must be held in such a way as to prevent the solution from entering the auditory tubes. After you need to draw in a certain amount of fluid with your nose. During a cold, saline solution, the composition of which is absolutely safe and the body only benefits, will help cleanse your nose and facilitate breathing.
Use of saline for inhalation
Often this adjuvant is used for inhalation. For this, in addition to the solution itself, you will need a special device - an inhaler (nebulizer). The essence of this process is that a drug diluted with saline is injected into the inhaler. Through a special nozzle, the patient inhales this medication (prescribed drug), which has the desired effect on the body. Also, this procedure allows you to moisten the surface of the mucous membrane.
The composition of the saline solution for inhalation is not of particular importance, you can use any type of solution - sterile or not, and also take it at any suggested concentration (from 0.5 to 0.9%). Inhalation with saline is very effective. Especially often they are prescribed to small children during colds. The procedure allows not only to cope with the malaise, but also to prevent it if inhalation is done for prevention.
Droppers with saline
As we already mentioned, most droppers in hospitals are made using saline. By diluting the drug with them, you can achieve the desired concentration of the administered medication. The composition of saline for droppers is indicated on the bottle with this drug (as a rule, it is used precisely 0.9% aqueous solution of sodium chloride, it is also called isotonic). It is already in the concentration necessary for its use. It must be sterile, that is, it is forbidden to use the drug with broken packaging. Droppers of saline are prescribed for dehydration, to thin the blood and to eliminate edema. If necessary, this tool is combined with other medicines. We hope that our article answered in detail the question of what saline solution is and why it is used.