You’ve Been Blowing Your Nose Wrong This Whole Time

We're heading into cold and flu season. Here's something that can help you the next time you get sick: the best method for blowing your nose.

Have you noticed that when you're sick and congested, that blowing you nose makes you feel worse? That's because the stuffy feeling comes from inflamed blood vessels in your nose, blowing just irritate the vessels even more.

To make matters worse, blowing your nose builds up pressure in your nostrils. That extra pressure can force mucus into your sinuses. When you're sick, that mucus could contain bacteria or viruses, which can cause an infection.

Here are some tips on how to avoid that:

1. Instead of putting your whole nose in a tissue and blowing, cover one nostril at a time and blow.
2. Use an anti-inflammatory, which can help reduce the swelling and make space for the mucus to flow out.
3. Use a lubricating spray to loosen dry, crusty mucus.