Cold and flu season has arrived quickly, and if you find yourself with a stuffy or runny nose this time of year you might be reaching for the tissues pretty often. While blowing your nose should not come with an instruction manual, there are some things to keep in mind to ensure that your hygienic habit does not cause any unintended side effects. 

IN THIS ARTICLE...

1. What happens during a stuffy or runny nose?
2. What does blowing your nose do?
3. What happens if you blow your nose too hard?
4. How do you blow your nose safely?

What happens during a stuffy or runny nose?

Nasal congestion occurs when the nasal passages become inflamed due to irritation or as a response to allergens, resulting in that familiar feeling of difficult breathing through the nose. Similarly, a runny nose happens when the nasal passages are inflamed yet create an excessive amount of mucus to counteract it.

What does blowing your nose do?

Nose-blowing is a method of managing nasal drainage (or the lack thereof) brought on by a cold, the flu, seasonal allergies, or a number of environmental factors. This involves exhaling air through your nose to force mucus out, typically into a tissue or handkerchief. If only one nasal passage is closed, patients will often close off the other side of the nose to increase the amount of pressure.

What happens if you blow your nose too hard?

Blowing your nose is an effective way of removing extra mucus and finding relief, but doing so too hard can create extra issues. Nose-blowing too hard or for too long can lead to:

• Nasal bleeding (nosebleeds)
• Ear infections
• Sinus infections
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage (burst blood vessel in eye)
• Ear drum rupture

How do you blow your nose safely?

That said, blowing your nose is a safe way to take care of your runny or stuffy nose. A few extra precautions you can take to avoid forcing too much air out of your nose include:

• Using one nostril at a time
• Placing the tissue or handkerchief gently on your nostrils instead of firmly
• Keeping your mouth open to reduce pressure

Once you are finished blowing your nose, discard any disposable tissues and wash your hands.

CEENTA otolaryngologist Steven Aziz, MD, from our SouthPark office offers a few different ways of treating your nose. “Alternatively, you can also clear your nose with nasal saline spray or a nasal saline irrigation system such as Neti pot or squeeze bottle, which can be purchased at your local pharmacy. It’s important to remember to always use clean, safe water (i.e. distilled, sterile, or previously boiled water) in your sinus rinses.”

A stuffy or runny nose can take the fun out of your winter festivities, as can any of the side effects of blowing your nose too hard. Whether you are looking for the cause of your nasal issues or a solution to ill-fated nose-blowing, all paths lead to the experts at CEENTA. Our board-certified ENT physicians offer treatment options for allergies, nasal congestion, infections, and ear disorders at nearly twenty offices in the Carolinas.

To schedule your same-day ENT appointment with Dr. Aziz in SouthPark, use our online scheduling tool or myCEENTAchart if you are an existing patient.

This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. To make an appointment with a CEENTA ENT specialist, you may schedule an appointment online, through myCEENTAchart, or by calling 704-295-3000.