How does blowing your nose help

More worrying was their second finding — viscous fluid from the nose had found its way into the sinus cavities after vigorous nose blowing. The researchers said this could be a mechanism for sinus infection complicating some colds, with the introduction of nasal bacteria to the sinuses. But they did not produce evidence for this. On balance it seems repeated and vigorous blowing of the nose may carry more risk than benefit, even though it seems to be a natural response to nasal congestion.

Decongestants and antihistamines , which you can buy without prescription from pharmacies, reduce both nasal congestion and the volume of mucus. Decongestants contain ingredients like oxymetazoline and phenylephrine and come in tablets or sprays, and are often included in cold and flu tablets.

They work by constricting narrowing dilated blood vessels in the inflamed lining of the nose, and decreasing the volume of mucus produced.

While decongestant sprays are effective , they are probably underused due to concerns about nasal congestion when you stop taking them after long-term use rhinitis medicamentosa. But further studies have questioned this increased risk. Antihistamines treat nasal congestion associated with hay fever , but may be less effective for treating cold symptoms.

Saline nose sprays have some evidence they work for acute and chronic rhinosinusitis inflammation of the nasal lining and sinuses , and can reduce the need for medications. They are believed to clear mucus through increasing the effectiveness of the cilia as well as diluting thick and sticky mucus. A related technique, known as nasal aspiration, is when you squirt liquid saline up the nose with a special medical device to flush out mucus and debris from the nose and sinuses.

One study found it lowered the risk of developing acute otitis media inflammation of the middle ear and rhinosinusitis. If you have mucus in the nose, it is probably best to get it out, so blow gently or by clearing one nostril at a time. Use of appropriate treatments can lessen the need to blow, and the force required to clear your nose.

If you are repeatedly blowing your nose you probably have a nasal condition, like hay fever or sinusitis, which should be treated more comprehensively. And if you see a snotty-nosed kid, please wipe away the mucus discharge for the benefit of all. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Good Subscriber Account active since Shortcuts. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders.

It often indicates a user profile. Log out. US Markets Loading Since the nasal cavity and ears are connected by the Eustachian tube, the potential exists that you could blow some of the bacteria from the nose into the ear, causing an infection. This is really rare. Usually the main reason people get ear infections when they have a cold is due to a lack of ventilation in the ear. Swelling in the nose causes the connection between the ear and nose to shut. Fluid can accumulate in the ear, leading to an infection.

Again, the ear is connected to the nose via the Eustachian tube. Exposure to loud noise. Few things are more refreshing than a dip in a lake on a hot day.

But as you and your children enjoy your swimming this summer, keep an eye on your ears. An acoustic neuroma is a rare, benign tumor that forms between the ear and the brain.

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