Every year, millions of people around the world are affected by colds, flu, and other seasonal illnesses, which are often accompanied by sneezing and runny noses. When this happens, we tend to blow our noses as hard as possible to evacuate everything that is bothering us. However, this way of blowing your nose could be dangerous.
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Dr Uso Walter, a member of the Association of ENT doctors in Germany, pointed out the dangers of this practice:
Blowing your nose too vigorously can lead to nosebleeds if the mucous membrane is damaged.
But that's not all. According to the doctor, the consequences can be more serious if ‘the germs enter areas where they were not previously present.’ This can cause inflammation. If you blow your nose too vigorously, bacteria can nestle deeper into the sinuses.
You should stop blowing your nose
Sniffing and swallowing mucus is not that pleasant. However, doing this is less dangerous than blowing your nose. When mucus gets into the stomach, the stomach acid acts to destroy the bacteria, so there is no risk of infection with this method.
Dr Uso Walter also explains that to treat a cold, ‘it is recommended to use a decongestant nasal spray.’ This cleans and purifies the nasal passages and helps to clear the nose. So, ready to give up on tissues?
