Jacksonville, Fla – There are many conditions going around right now that will have you blowing your nose. While it might sound ridiculous doctors say the way you blow your nose it important.
Here's what's going around in Clay County at the CareSpot in Middleburg. They're treating sinus infections and bronchitis.
Doctors in Yulee at the CareSpot in Nassau County are treating Sinus infections, bronchitis, and allergies.
Finally in St. Johns County, doctors at Healing Arts Urgent Care have been very busy. Patients are complaining of sinus infections, lots of coughing, sore throats, and a stomach bug. Doctors also said surprisingly there are people who are still testing positive for flu. Keep in mind the virus is still out there especially if you're traveling, according to doctors.
When it comes to blowing your nose, do you barely push anything out or do you really put your whole body into it? Believe it or not, how you do it can lead to trouble.
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Just as cold and flu season is winding down, spring allergies start to rear their ugly heads. Sniffling and sneezing is inevitable for many. It's often first instinct to blow your nose and get rid of that extra mucus, but be careful how you do it. Experts say there are potential risks to blowing your nose too hard.
"There's fairly good evidence that the harder you blow your nose, the more likely it is to open the small little openings into the sinuses and if you have viruses or bacteria in the nose you can actually force them into the sinuses," says Benninger.
Head and neck expert Dr. Michael Benninger says research shows one nose blow can send a milliliter of mucus into parts of your nasal passages and sinuses.
According to Dr. Benninger, if that mucus contains bad bacteria or viruses and they're pushed back into the sinuses it can increase the likelihood of a sinus infection. Instead, Dr. Benninger recommends not blowing your nose at all, or doing so very gently. He adds a saline mist is a good alternative to relieve congestion.
"Spray a little saline in the nose. They can gently sniff it into the back of their mouth and either swallow or spit out any mucus they may have, or a very gentle blow," says Benninger.
Dr. Benninger adds that gently blowing each nostril separately might be helpful as well, but warns that a forceful blow may cause more harm than good.