Habits that cause prolonged colds
According to Dr. Sonali Kohli, consultant physician at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai (India), our nose produces about 1-2 liters of mucus per day. When sick, mucus thickens to retain the virus.
When the respiratory tract is blocked by mucus, many people tend to blow their noses because it can reduce symptoms temporarily. However, this action needs to be done correctly because strong runny nose can worsen symptoms.
Doctors specializing in ear, nose and throat said that strong runny nose can push mucus back into sinus, worsening the infection. A strong nose blow can also prolong the cold time, making the disease worse.
Risk of increased ear infections
The force that is too strong when the nose can also cause the solution from the sinus to flow through the ear atrial, which is a narrow tube connecting the back of the nose to the middle ear. This additional pressure and fluid can lead to ear infections, or in some rare cases that can puncture the eardrum.
Clearing the airway properly
To avoid these negative effects, Dr. Sonali Kohli advises us to blow our noses gently.
Start by placing one finger on one of your noses to close it. Then gently blow your other nose, with the aim of releasing air and mucus. Make sure to use soft paper towels with ingredients like aloe vera to avoid irritation around the nose.
Safer Alternatives
While nasal failure can help relieve symptoms temporarily, there are still more effective ways to open your nose.
In particular, washing nose with salt water is one of the best alternative methods. Salt water solution helps clean mucus, bacteria and other irritants, helping to reduce nasal congestion.
In addition, you can also use nasal pills to help reduce swelling in the nasal cavities, helping to breathe easier but you should not use them for more than 3 days.
You can also try applying warm clothes with a sauna as both help thin mucus and improve respiratory function.
