All posts tagged: saline solution

Blowing your nose can exacerbate nasal congestion? Apparently, yes

Blowing your nose when you have a cold is a common way to clear out mucus and ease congestion. However, medical practitioner Dr Chander Asrani addresses the confusion about whether blowing your nose is actually good or bad for you when you’re sick.  According to Dr Asrani, “The nose has a direct connection with the ear, which is called the eustachian tube. When we blow our nose, we create negative pressure or a vacuum inside and all the cold we have inside the nose gets sucked into the ear and we end up with ear infections (sic).”  Dr Manoj Mishra, senior consultant ENT, Head, Neck and Cancer Surgeon at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Lucknow, agrees that blowing your nose frequently can irritate the delicate lining of the nasal passages and sinuses due to the friction caused by tissues or handkerchiefs. This can exacerbate nasal congestion and lead to inflammation. “Vigorous nose blowing can force nasal fluids back into the sinuses, potentially leading to increased sinus pressure and exacerbating sinusitis symptoms,” he confirms. Complications related to …