If there was ever a season for nose blowing, it’s the festive season.
But chances are you’ve been doing it all wrong and you’re risking nasty ear infections and constant nosebleeds.
According to Dr. Zachary Rubin, a pediatric allergist based in Chicago, exhaling air and mucus from both nostrils can put excessive pressure on the sensitive nasal passages, potentially damaging them.
This pressure can push viruses and bacteria from the nasal area to the back of the nasal passage, where it can be “dangerous,” Dr. Rubin said.
This is because the Eustachian tubes are located in the back of the throat and connect the nose to the middle ear.
“If you blow too hard, you may move mucus, bacteria and viruses into the Eustachian tube and potentially increase your risk of an ear infection,” Dr. Rubin told his 487,000 Instagram followers.
Forcefully blowing the nose can also cause a rapid change in pressure behind the eardrum, which doctors say can cause ear pain and, in rare cases, a ruptured eardrum.
In very rare cases, blowing the nose too forcefully can cause the tiny bones in the inner ear to break, according to Dr Carl Philpott, professor of rhinology at the University of East Anglia.
Dr. Philpott said: ‘Very rarely do we see people causing a break in the thin bone between the eye socket and the sinuses by blowing very hard.’
So what should you do instead?
Dr. Rubin recommends blowing gently – clearing one nostril at a time to reduce sinus pressure.
He said: ‘The best way to blow your nose is to cover one nostril and blow slowly into a tissue.
‘Don’t make it too difficult. It must be comfortable.
“Then you do it on the other side and then wash your hands with soap and water to make sure you don’t spread germs to other people.”
Applying too much pressure can cause a nosebleed because it puts so much strain on the blood vessels in the nose that they burst.
These types of nosebleeds usually stop on their own and do not require medical attention.
It is better to blow gently from one nostril at a time to prevent nosebleeds and ear infections
A stuffy or blocked nose occurs when the thin tissues lining the nose swell and the immune system produces mucus to fight infection.
In addition to leaving you with an endless stream of snot, the nasal passages can narrow, making it a little harder to breathe through your nose.
But it’s not just colds that can clog your nose. Allergies, a sinus infection, and some medications can all lead to the same symptoms.
Pharmacists recommend alternatives to blowing the nose, such as over-the-counter decongestant sprays and “steaming out” the mucus by holding your head over a bowl of hot water.