(WGN Radio) – An over-the-counter nasal spray for allergies could actually protect you from catching COVID, a recent randomized trial found.

Using a nasal antihistamine that contains azelastine three times a day for eight weeks was found to reduce the instances of COVID-19 infection by 69%. Incidentally, the study found people who used the nasal spray were also far less likely to get the common cold (rhinovirus) when compared to the placebo group.

Dr. Thomas Moran, chief medical officer at Central DuPage Hospital in Illinois, explained how it works in an interview with WGN Radio:

"Now when you think about what are the reasons that we're taking nasal sprays, we get nasal passageway inflammation. That inflammation causes breakdown in the mucus membrane. That membrane in our nasal passages

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