Common nose-blowing technique can cause myriad of health complaints, doctor warns
As winter advances, cold and flu season is in full swing and tissues have become a constant companion for many Brits. But startlingly, common nose-blowing habits could actually be exposing us to even more health issues.
Rather than making you feel better, clearing your nose incorrectly can heighten your risk of serious ear infections and nose bleeds, a leading doctor has warned.
Dr Zachary Rubin, a paediatric allergist based in America, explained how vigorously expelling air and mucus through both nostrils at the same time can put pressure on the delicate nasal passages and potentially damage them.
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Congestion occurs when the thin tissues lining the nose swells, causing the nasal passages to narrow. As the immune system produces mucus to fight infection, it can become harder to breathe through the restricted airways.
Taking to Instagram, the doctor cautioned that forcefully blowing through both nostrils can push viruses and bacteria into the back of the nasal canal, where they can become dangerous.
Dr Rubin explained that in this region, the eustachian tubes connect the nose with the middle ear. As a result, blowing your nose too hard "could be displacing mucus, bacteria and viruses into that eustachian tube and potentially increase the risk of having an ear infection," he stressed.
Using excessive pressure can also put the blood vessels in the nose under intense pressure, potentially causing them to burst and trigger a nosebleed. While these types of nosebleeds do not require medical attention, they can be inconvenient and messy, particularly in public places.
Aggressively blowing your nose poses further issues elsewhere in the face, as it can trigger a rapid change in pressure behind the eardrum. This causes pain in the ears and can even result in a ruptured eardrum.
In very rare cases, blowing too hard can even fracture the tiny bones inside the inner ear, according to Dr Carl Philpott, a professor of rhinology at the University of East Anglia.
Instead, Dr Rubin advises blowing gently, one nostril at a time. Blowing slowly and carefully in this way will reduce pressure on the sinuses and limit your chances of causing further harm.
He said: "The best way to blow your nose is by covering one nostril and, into a tissue, slowly blow out. Don't do it too hard. It should be comfortable."
To avoid blowing your nose entirely, you can reach from an over-the-counter decongestant spray or loosen the mucus by leaning your face over a blow of boiling water.
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