Is there a right way to blow your nose?

Question

"Health Check maintains that there’s a correct way to blow your nose and that done well, it can prevent mucus building up to create a runny nose. It’s harder to clear when mucus thickens."

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/blow-nose-cold-203835758.html

Answer 1

The source provided by the article https://academic.oup.com/cid/article-abstract/30/2/387/382446?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false is in a reputable academic journal, and as the article states, it claims that blowing your nose forcibly can lead to mucus build-up in your sinuses. 

I found another case study on the dangers of forcible nose blowing in this case study https://www.ejao.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.7874/jao.2015.19.3.182 , which examines the correlation between sudden hearing loss after blowing your nose. 

A report from Sutter Health https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/are-you-blowing-your-nose-wrong reports a similar claim to the article, stating that you should blow your nose one nostril at a time using your finger to cover the other. It also recommends using a saline nasal spray and a humidifier rather than trying to force the mucus out.

Answer 2

Claim: There is a correct way to blow one's nose. 

YES! According to CNN, one should gently blow while "placing a finger on the opposite nostril from the side being blown on. Close the nostril to prevent air from escaping through the opposite side."

Link: https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/04/health/how-to-blow-your-nose-wellness/index.html#:~:text=What's%20the%20right%20way%20to,escaping%20through%20the%20opposite%20side.

Comments

Good job checking the fact, I appreciated that you linked the source that you found. However, I think that you could have used more sources and explained why this is the correct way to blow your nose compared to alternative options. I also think that you could have used a source that specializes in the medical field to double check that the CNN claim was correct.

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Good fact check! It really helped that you added the source that you used, the only recommendation I have is to use a source that is in the medical field rather than a news source!

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I like how the source that you found answered your claim directly! However, I think you could've chosen a source that has more of a health or medical background such as this one from Dr. George Marcells who specializes in facial plastic surgery (https://drmarcells.com.au/dr-marcells-explains-how-to-blow-your-nose/) or this one from the University of Queensland (https://medicine.uq.edu.au/article/2017/06/health-check-what%E2%80%99s-right-way-blow-your-nose). Overall, I know the information is all similar, just the nature of the source is different!

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Great fact check! I like how you added the source it was easy for me to see and check the information out for myself! provided a lot of good information. I think you could of used a source that was related more to the medical field.

Answer 3

It is true that there is a right way to blow your nose. Medical professionals suggest certain methods to effectively clear your nasal passages while minimizing the risk of harm.
Dr. Henry Danko, an expert in internal medicine at Rush University Medical Center, says this is the right way to do it:
Slowly blow out one nose at a time. Put your finger over one nostril and slowly blow out the other via a tissue.
Do not blow too hard. Blowing too hard can cause pressure, which can cause ear pain or sinus problems.
This way of blowing your nose helps avoid problems like earaches or sinus infections that can happen when you blow your nose too hard.
https://www.rush.edu/news/how-blow-your-nose
In the same way, ENT expert Dr. Zara Patel says:
Keep your mouth open a little. This will lower the pressure inside your nose.
Blow gently: Use as little force as possible to clear your nose.
Dr. Patel says blowing gently is just as good and doesn't put as much pressure on the sinuses or ears, which can cause illnesses.https://www.livestrong.com/article/13777440-how-to-blow-your-nose
To sum up, the right way to blow your nose is to do it gently, one nostril at a time, with little force. This will clear out your nasal tubes while lowering your health risks.

Answer 4

The claim that there is a right way to blow your nose appears to be true. One should focus on gently blowing one nostril at a time, without applying too much force. If they blow too hard, the germs will actually be forced back into the sinuses, causing sinus pain and even infection. In rare cases it may also rupture an eardrum. (allergynetwork.org). Thick mucus is also more likely to be transported into the throat, rather than the nostrils, due to gravity. Studies also show that people who blow their noses with more pressure were more likely to get a sinus infection. (https://medicine.uq.edu). The best way to get mucus out, instead of blowing forcefully, is to blow gently and use decongestants if needed.

Answer 5

This partially true. Although there is an incorrect way to blow your nose, there is no agreed upon correct way to do so besides gently. Blowing too hard can result in earaches, nosebleeds, and even the return of some germs into the sinuses. If your nose makes loud noises or your ears pop, you are blowing too hard.

The linked article claims that blowing your nose too hard can result in mucus being propelled back into the sinuses, which can worsen cold symptoms as well as causing nosebleed and ear pain. According to the Allergy Asthma Network, blowing your nose too forcefully can result in germs travelling back into the sinuses. They say if "you sound like a goose", you are blowing too hard. They confirm the possibility of earache and nosebleed and recommend putting a wet washcloth over the nose and forehead to loosen mucus. (https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/news/how-to-blow-nose)

 According to an ear, nose, and throat clinic, you can definitely blow your nose too hard. Ear damage is their main concern and they say that if your ears pop, you are blowing too hard. They recommend blowing gently, one nostril at a time, but do not mention mucus thickness. (https://www.harleystreetent.com/blog/our-guide-to-safe-nose-blowing)

 Finally, another health page suggests nose blowing frequently as treatment during a cold. However, it again warns about blowing too hard, although it stresses this less than the other sources. (https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/are-you-blowing-your-nose-wrong)

Additionally, it is important to note a lack of information on proper nose blowing from the mayoclinic and the CDC. If improper nose blowing were a large threat, I would expect these websites to mention it. However, there is no reason for the other sources to lie, since they are all health professionals, do not advertise on their pages, and independently presented the same facts. 

All sources, including the factchecked article, stress frequent handwashing during the nose-blowing experience. If you are feeling congested, washing your hands thoroughly and blowing your nose gently are the things to do to feel better, although blowing too hard is more likely to result in ear pain than thicker mucus.

https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/news/how-to-blow-nose

https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/news/how-to-blow-nose

https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/are-you-blowing-your-nose-wrong