How can i stop blowing my nose

In most of these cases people had underlying chronic sinusitis or an existing weakness in the structure they damaged after blowing too hard. These injuries included fractures of the base of the eye socket ; air forced into the tissue between the two lobes of the lung ; severe headache from air forced inside the skull ; and rupture of the oesophagus , the tube that sends food to the stomach.

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, 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 ten times higher than during the other two activities.

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. On the other hand, hot beverages like tea may sometimes be more helpful than cold ones. This is because of their heat and steam, which help open and decongest airways. Certain herbal teas may contain herbs that are mild decongestants.

Look for teas that contain anti-inflammatory and antihistamine herbs , such as chamomile , ginger , mint, or nettle. Make a cup of hot herbal tea preferably non-caffeinated and inhale the steam before drinking. Sore throats often accompany runny noses — drinking hot herbal tea can help soothe a sore throat, too. Inhaling hot steam has been shown to help treat a runny nose.

A study of people with the common cold proved that using steam inhalation was quite effective. It reduced illness recovery time by about one week compared to no steam inhalation at all.

If desired, add a few drops of decongestant essential oils to your facial steam water. About two drops per ounce of water is sufficient. Eucalyptus , peppermint , pine, rosemary , sage, spearmint, tea tree melaleuca , and thyme oils are great options.

Compounds in these plants like menthol and thymol are also found in many over-the-counter decongestants. Find essential oil starter kits online.

Need some quick relief? Try a hot shower. How to Eat Like Chris Hemsworth. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.

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