Cold: Blowing your nose can worsen it

For many people with a stuffy nose, reaching for a tissue or handkerchief to have a good blow is a natural response to clear the mucus. In this report by Sade Oguntola, experts say on the balance repeated and vigorous blowing of the nose may carry more risk than benefit.

 

A stuffy nose can be annoying. In fact, most people get a stuffy nose from time to time and will want relief quickly so that they can breathe easily again. Although it is very common, stuffy nose is rarely serious.

Now, blowing the nose to alleviate stuffiness may be second nature, but the amount of time it takes for symptoms to improve may depend on the cause and even habits such as sniffing the mucus back up into the nostrils, using fingers to clear nose or blowing the two nostrils every time very hard.

Stuffy nose, what is sometimes referred to as nasal congestion, is a symptom, not a disease by itself. The causes can vary wildly; allergies, a cold, or even the flu. In fact, there are other conditions that can contribute to nasal congestion.

Despite public outcry, Reps step down motion on border closure

One nostril or two? Hard blow or gentle? Some ways are more effective and less risky than others. Certainly, chances are to reach for a tissue or hanky to clear the mucus by having a good blow.

Blowing the nose regularly prevents mucus building up and running down from the nostrils towards the upper lip, the all-too-familiar runny nose. Later in colds and with sinusitis, nasal mucus can become thick, sticky and harder to clear.

Nonetheless, “given a hard blow and once through the two nostrils could actually do some damage and in fact, make the cold worse,” said Professor Titus Ibekwe, an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH).

Many people think a stuffy nose is the result of too much mucus in the nasal passages. However, a clogged nose is actually caused by inflamed blood vessels in the sinuses. These irritated vessels are usually triggered by a cold, the flu, allergies, or a sinus infection.

Professor Ibekwe said the nostrils should be blown gently one at a time to clear the nose of any mucus and sniffing mucus back up into the nostrils avoided.

According to him, “You gently blow one nostril at a time to clear it while covering the other with the hand, and then repeating the same procedure to clear the other nostril. Individuals should not hold it in by sniffing the mucus back up into the nostrils.

“Like sneezing, sniffing the mucus back up into the nostrils instead of allowing it to come out is unhygienic and very dangerous. Doing this will force the mucus, alongside the infection, irritants or allergens that was supposed to be expelled back into the body.”

A cold can cause a person to have a runny nose. Other symptoms of a cold can include sneezing, a congested or blocked nose, a sore throat,   headaches and body aches.

Professor Ibekwe added that keeping this mucus (rather than blowing it out) is thought to contribute to a cycle of irritation that causes the runny nose to persist for weeks or longer.

According to him, sniffing the mucus back up into the nostrils could make it go the wrong way to cause ear infection, bronchitis and sinusitis.

Retained mucus acts as a good “home” for bacteria to grow in, as well as fatigue of the “hairs” (cilia) that cleanse the nose by moving along mucus and carrying with it irritants, inhaled debris and bacteria. This could make the cold worse.

In addition, he said blowing the nose forcefully could generate pressures high enough to cause serious ear damage and sinusitis, an infection of the air-filled spaces inside the facial bones.

One study looked at the pressures generated when people with and without a range of nasal complaints blew their noses.

People with chronic sinusitis generated pressures significantly higher than people without a nasal complaint, up to 9,130 pascals of pressure. They also found blowing by blocking both nostrils generated much higher pressures than blowing with one nostril open.

Another study comparing pressures from nose blowing, sneezing and coughing found pressures generated during blowing were about 10 times higher than during the other two activities.

Besides, it’s essentially pointless to keep reaching for tissues. The nose will keep making new mucus, it cannot really be cleared. The mucus is a symptom of an underlying problem which requires appropriate treatment.

Fortunately, there are many treatments for a stuffy nose, ranging from home remedies to medications. Taking a hot shower can help decrease nasal congestion. The steam from the shower may help mucus drain from the nose and improve breathing. This can provide temporary relief.

Applying a washcloth with very warm water as a compress to the face several times a day may relieve a stuffy feeling in the nose and face. Also, steam inhalation is one of the best ways to help relieve the symptoms of a stuffy nose.

According to Professor Ibekwe, “Ordinary steaming is also okay; it has a very soothing effect on breathing and ensures evacuation of the nostrils’ content. Inhaling the steam will ensure that the skin lining of the nose shrinks back and the swelling dries out. Steam will also help to loosen up the mucus in the nostril, making it easier to clear away when blowing the nose.”

Making sure to drink enough water is always important; with a stuffed nose, it is even more important. Being well-hydrated thins the mucus of the nasal passages and helps push fluid from the nose, decreasing pressure in the sinuses.

Blowing the nose is much better than sniffing the mucus back up into the nostrils. This will help to physically remove infected mucous from the nasal passages and aids the body to recover quicker from a cold and congestion.

Congestion tends to feel worse when lying down because the mucus in nose can’t slide down the throat, so keeping the head up is helpful. In bed or on the couch, prop the head up on a few pillows so it can stay elevated.

Also, decongestants and antihistamines which can be bought without prescription from pharmacies, can lessen the need to blow, and the force required to clear the nose. They work to reduce both nasal congestion and the volume of mucus. Plus, resting will give a much-needed break from blowing your nose!

Decongestants contain ingredients work by constricting (narrowing) dilated blood vessels in the inflamed lining of the nose, and decreasing the volume of mucus produced.