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Should you avoid blowing your nose when you have a cold?
A German doctor told a friend that it's best not to blow your nose unless absolutely necessary, and when you do to blow very gently and one nostril at a time. This doctor said allowing the mucous to be swallowed and sniffing (rather than getting rid of it with continual noseblowing) is beneficial and helps speed recovery. Anyone have experience with this - and is there any evidence this is true?
Male
asked Dec 14, 2009 at 07:49AM in Infectious Diseases
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How do you docs feel about nasal rinsing (also known as neti pot) as an alternative to nose blowing? My ENT recommends it and provided me with a NeilMed Sinus Rinse kit in her office. Personally, I love the effects of using it, even when I don't have a cold. Like the German doc's recommendations, it also involves pressure in only one nostril at a time, and sniffing (inhaling) occasionally while doing it is recommended in order to draw some residual rinse deeper into the nasal passages before gently blowing out again. For me, it reduces congestion, moisturizes, and is comforting. Any thoughts?Rebecca Bermet Kerimbaev MT(ASCP)CM commented Dec 16, 2009 at 10:58AM
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2Votes
answered Dec 14, 2009 at 01:02PMBlowing your nose to alleviate stuffiness may be second nature, but some people argue it does no good, reversing the flow of mucus into the sinuses and slowing the drainage.
Counterintuitive, perhaps, but research shows it to be true.
To test the notion, Dr. J. Owen Hendley and other pediatric infectious disease researchers at the University of Virginia conducted CT scans and other measurements as subjects coughed, sneezed and blew their noses. In some cases, the subjects had an opaque dye dripped into their rear nasal cavities.
Coughing and sneezing generated little if any pressure in the nasal cavities. But nose blowing generated enormous pressure — “equivalent to a person’s diastolic blood pressure reading,” Dr. Hendley said — and propelled mucus into the sinuses every time. Dr. Hendley said it was unclear whether this was harmful, but added that during sickness it could shoot viruses or bacteria into the sinuses, and possibly cause further infection.
The proper method is to blow one nostril at a time and to take decongestants, said Dr. Anil Kumar Lalwani, chairman of the department of otolaryngology at the New York University Langone Medical Center. This prevents a buildup of excess pressure.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Blowing your nose can create a buildup of excess pressure in sinus cavities.
This was taken from the NY Times - February last year.-
Yikes, does anyone use a tissue more than once. Handkerchief's maybe (still disgusting) but tissues I hope not.Edmund M Hayes Pharm.D. commented Dec 15, 2009 at 03:06PM
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Absolutely agree with Dr Hayes answer to this question. Just to add that no matter how, when and where you blow your nose, hand hygiene must be followed after any blow. Secretions with virus and bacteria could remain on hands for some time, being capable of disease spreading.Javier Santisteban-Ponce MD commented Dec 16, 2009 at 08:49AM
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I am curious..how do you re-expose yourself when you already had the exposure and are shedding virus, for example (and have antibody production)? I would say using the tissue multiple times and getting the "by-product" on your hands and nose exterior is the issue. Dr. P said it right...hand hygiene after blwoing your nose is the way to go.James R McKnight MS, BS commented Dec 17, 2009 at 02:04PM
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0Votesanswered Dec 19, 2009 at 11:00AMI am no medicine men but here is what I have found most effective and comfortable. I blow my nose and it feels comfortable to clear my nostrils.....this is natural and feels good....nothing to beat what feels comfortable irrespective what science says.
On the peripheral side of things Do not use tissue or hankerchief unless you are away from a water tap and have to. Blow your nose one nostril at a time in a water sink and use warm water to wash nose and hands.....I find that very hygenic and allows more time to mucus rebuildup and another cleaning/clearing cycle. I am expecting that the person who is already infected is not going to be affected any further from virus. But washing nose/face and hands after blowing nose will decrease spread of viruses to others. Also placing a handkerchief or a cloth (blanket) over the nose ....not always practical unless sitting on a couch or sleeping... provides warm air to the nose and prevents mucus builup.
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The content on or accessible through Medpedia.com is for informational purposes only. Medpedia is not a substitute for professional advice or expert medical services from a qualified health professional.
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