Tis the season for blocked noses, tra la la la

Shades799

Hi Folks,

As I am presently suffering greatly from manflu

A few questions spring to mind that I've always wondered and maybe someone can help?

As far as I know a blocked nose is the inflammation of the sinus' which cause reduced airflow and is the reason we have a "blocked" nose. The mucus (sorry) is part of our body's defence system and is always there but increases in quantity to clear away the virus from our lungs and sinus'.

However, I have these 3 questions:
1) Why does exercise help clear the blocked nose temporarily and is there anything that can be done to maintain this effect?
As far as my limited research http://www.normalbreathing.com/art-stuffy-nose-clear.php tells me it is due increased CO2 which is

the most powerful known vasodilator and dilator of all tubular layers of smooth muscles, including sinuses, bronchi and bronchioles

Is this true?

2) How come when I'm lying on my side, the nostril closest to the pillow gets blocked and the other side frees up? As simple as the mucus settling on that side?

3) And when 2 happens, what is that creaking noise that I hear that sounds like a ghost moving across old floor boards?! And please tell me that's not just me!

Thanks for indulging my curiosity!

bleg

1. I haven't researched this but I would presume exercise is due to the physical loosening of the mucus and the inhaling/exhaling of air would also drive some of it out.
2 & 3 Happen to me as well. You should go talk to your pharmacist. There are a number of OTC products that can be of use.

opinion guy

Shades799 wrote: »

Hi Folks,

As I am presently suffering greatly from manflu

A few questions spring to mind that I've always wondered and maybe someone can help?

As far as I know a blocked nose is the inflammation of the sinus' which cause reduced airflow and is the reason we have a "blocked" nose. The mucus (sorry) is part of our body's defence system and is always there but increases in quantity to clear away the virus from our lungs and sinus'.

However, I have these 3 questions:
1) Why does exercise help clear the blocked nose temporarily and is there anything that can be done to maintain this effect?
As far as my limited research http://www.normalbreathing.com/art-stuffy-nose-clear.php tells me it is due increased CO2 which is Is this true?

2) How come when I'm lying on my side, the nostril closest to the pillow gets blocked and the other side frees up? As simple as the mucus settling on that side?

3) And when 2 happens, what is that creaking noise that I hear that sounds like a ghost moving across old floor boards?! And please tell me that's not just me!

Thanks for indulging my curiosity!

1) Why does exercise clear a blocked nose ? Did't know it did to be honest can't recall it working for me. But anyhow numerous things probably going on - adrenaline surge will do it for one - many of the medications for clearing a blocked nose/sinus are adrenaline like - sudafed for example active ingredient is pseudoephedrine.

2) Gravity.

3)Wha ?!?!?!?

bleg wrote: »

1. I haven't researched this but I would presume exercise is due to the physical loosening of the mucus and the inhaling/exhaling of air would also drive some of it out.
2 & 3 Happen to me as well. You should go talk to your pharmacist. There are a number of OTC products that can be of use.

In fairness bleg if you are going to advise people to go the the pharmacist, I think its only fair that you point out you are one. The guy wasn't asking for advice/meds, just asking some theoretical questions.

Shades799

opinion guy wrote: »

3)Wha ?!?!?!?

Really hard to describe, it sounds like old floor boards creaking and is happening inside my head... that sounds so weird when I type it out loud...

In any case, thanks for your other points!

bleg

Shades799 wrote: »

Really hard to describe, it sounds like old floor boards creaking and is happening inside my head... that sounds so weird when I type it out loud...

In any case, thanks for your other points!

Yea it happens to me as well!

El_Dangeroso

I bought some Umklaobao this winter. Haven't gotten a cold to be able to test it out, typical.

There's only one trial in a v. low impact journal but it's double blind and placebo controlled so that make it pretty much the only thing that has ever shown evidence to reduce the duration of a cold.

http://www.explorejournal.com/article/S1550-8307(07)00333-3/abstract

opinion guy

Shades799 wrote: »

Really hard to describe, it sounds like old floor boards creaking and is happening inside my head... that sounds so weird when I type it out loud...

In any case, thanks for your other points!

Is it your tympanic membranes popping in your ear when your pressure equalises via the eustachian tubes ? This happens me and I suppose you could describe it as similar to floor boards creaking