A stuffy nose is a mild but unpleasant symptom. It can prevent you from enjoying the smell of flowers in Bittersweet Park or the taste of your favorite meal. When you’re dealing with congestion, blowing your nose is a natural response. But many don’t know that there’s a right and a wrong way to blow your nose, or that doing it wrong can hurt your ears.
How Are the Ears and Nose Connected?
The ears, throat and nose are connected through the Eustachian tube, a narrow canal that helps equalize air pressure in the middle ear and drain fluid. When you blow your nose forcefully, this sudden surge of pressure can travel through the tube to your ears, straining the delicate structures inside. In severe cases, this may lead to discomfort, damage or even a small tear in the eardrum.
How Can I Blow My Nose Safely?
To blow your nose safely, focus on one nostril at a time and follow these steps:
- Close one nostril
- Blow gently through the open nostril into a tissue
- Repeat on the other side
The key is not to blow too hard. If you blow your nose gently and it doesn’t clear, try a few of the following:
- Sinus irrigation. Using a Neti pot or other irrigation system, run a warm saline solution through both nostrils, tilting your head to allow the solution to move through the sinuses and out the other nostril. After irrigating both sides, gently blow your nose to clear congestion.
- Steaming. Steaming helps hydrate the sinuses and loosen congested mucus. Try taking a hot shower or bath with a towel under the door and the fan off. You can also fill a large bowl with hot water and sit over it with a towel draped over your head.
- Cold medication. Decongestants relieve short-term congestion, but you should only take them for a day or two.
If your congestion doesn’t go away within a few days, an underlying condition like allergies or a sinus infection could contribute to the prolonged symptom. Contact Alpine Ear Nose & Throat PC today to schedule an exam with one of our trusted specialists.