Blowing Nose?

Don't 'Blow It', Avoid These Common Mistakes

Grabbing tissue, taking a deep breath, and blowing nose? Sounds easy, and it is. But when using a neti pot, there's a right way and wrong way to complete this often loud and unsightly health-ritual.

Neti pot fans beware! A big, blowing nose mistake could send liquid where you don't want it to go. Thankfully, there are ways to reduce such things.
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Because when it comes to whipping out that tissue, using a neti pot only makes things more complicated. Why? Because the sinus irrigation process "waters down" the mucus in your nasal passages, making it more liquid-like and definitely thinner. This is great for clearing congestion and washing your nasal passages, but potentially harmful when it comes to blowing your nose.

And here's why. If you blow your nose incorrectly after using a neti pot, you could send this newly thinned mucus backwards, deeper into your sinuses or into your ear canals. If you do this, you're risking increased sinus headaches, along with the potential for some irritating ear-popping and crackling afterward. And if you're really unlucky, you could even face an increased risk of ear infection.

It's one of those preventable neti pot dangers you'll want to avoid.

Neti Nose Blowing Do's and Don'ts

So, what's a neti pot user to do? Simple. Follow a few basic tips, and you should greatly reduce your chances of a neti blowing nose "hangover."

THE DON'TS: Neti Nose Blowing the Wrong Way

Don't block either nostril when blowing.
Don't pinch the bridge of your nose.

Why? Because these things help expel mucus by boosting the nose-blowing "air pressure." This is similar to the way you partially cover the end of a garden hose to shoot out a more powerful stream of water when washing the tires of your car. But when it comes to using a neti pot, this can backfire -- literally and figuratively. Remember, you don't want to blow anything where it doesn't belong.

THE DO'S: Neti Nose Blowing the Right Way

To help keep from blowing the mucus (and not to mention any bacteria -- *shudders*) where it doesn't belong, keep a few basic things in mind.

Be gentle.
Keep both nostrils open at all times.
Bonus points if you take a long, hot shower before using a neti pot, because this will help clear things out ahead of time.

And don't forget, throw out those tissues!

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The Neti Pot Newbie's Guide to Sinus & Nasal Irrigation
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