FYI: Don't blow your nose when sick

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Registered: 08-30-2002
FYI: Don't blow your nose when sick
4
Tue, 02-10-2009 - 1:55pm

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/health/10real.html?no_interstitial


Really?


The Claim: Never Blow Your Nose When You Have a Cold











Published: February 9, 2009


THE FACTS





Blowing 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.




scitimes@nytimes.com



Avatar for lucy4980
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 02-10-2009 - 7:56pm

There is some significant controversy about this - specifically with the recommendation to take decongestants.

Avatar for claddagh49
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-20-2004
Tue, 02-10-2009 - 9:17pm
I have heard that over use of nasal sprays can increase your risk of rebound infections and sinus infections. I myself ususllay maybe get one sinus infestion a year. I recently had strep throat. I do use a saline spray on a daily basis which the Dr. says is much better than any of the other nasal sprays.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Wed, 02-11-2009 - 8:38am

"nasal sprays can increase your risk of rebound infections and sinus infections"


Many of the OTC nasal sprays are addictive in the sense that the more one uses them the more they're needed. My ex-DH ended up having surgery because he overused these sprays.

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Photobucket&nbs

Avatar for lucy4980
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 02-12-2009 - 4:53pm
I use saline spray on a regular basis too - I am prone to sinus infections, but don't want to take more antibiotics than necesary, so I try to avoid the infections or get rid of them before they need antobiotics.