Keeping - Healthy Nose

Nose-picking is the act of extracting nasal mucus with one's finger and may include the succeeding action of ingesting the mucus from the nose-picking . Some scientists argue that mucophagy provides.

Smoking and the Nose:

Cigarette smoking is damaging. The nasal cavity suffers more from smoking menthol cigarettes than it does from non-menthol cigarettes. Pipes, cigars, and other forms of smoking can also cause irritation and damage to the lining of the nasal passages. If you can avoid smoking altogether, you are helping your nose avoid long term dryness, irritation, and sensitivity to allergen triggers. You are also saving your life.Of course, avoiding second hand smoke and other pollutants will help reduce the risk of damage to the membranes as well. You will want to breathe the cleanest air possible. If you smoke, youre not going to be able to feel the benefits as fully when it comes to taking care of your nose.
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Keeping the Nose Clean:

A cleaner nose is a happier nose. The way you clean your nose is important. To take care of your nose properly you will want to make sure that it receives the same kind of care that you want your skin and hair to have. With a cotton swab and warm, mildly salty water you can clean your nose without risk of scratching or cutting and you will not damage the sensitive membranes. With mildly salted warm water on a cotton swab you will want to clean any debris from the nose without going far up into the nasal passages. Ultimately, you want to avoid sticking anything in your nose, but for cleaning purposes this is often the safest and most effective method. Cleaning your nose not only helps to keep it comfortable but it also helps to improve its ability to filter particles. Cleaner noses tend to develop fewer allergic reactions and help to reduce snoring as well. Thus, you want to make sure that you maintain a clean and healthy nose as part of your daily routine.
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Allergens:

Allergens are a common problem. When youre taking good care of your nose you want to relieve allergies as quickly and easily as possible while minimizing the need for medications. Allergy medications tend to dry the nasal passages too much, make one sleepy, or keep one awake at night. Thus, the more you can do to eliminate household allergens and other triggers the better off you are. Air filtration can be beneficial for helping your nose stay happy and healthy. Nasal allergies can be very difficult to live with and keeping a filtration system in top working order can help improve the situation. You also want to make sure that you clean or replace the air filter in your heating and cooling units regularly. Vacuum cleaners with filters should be kept at top filtration capacity. Many people with allergies do better in homes with hard floors instead of carpeting because there are fewer fibers to trap dander, mites, and dust.If you need help controlling allergies see your physician and ask about alternatives to medication. The severity of your nasal allergies will determine how many natural options you might have.
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Humidity in the Air:

Keeping your homes air a bit more humid can help improve nose health as well. Humidity helps prevent things like waking in the middle of the night with nasal problems and can increase the ease of breathing. In some cases it can also help cut down on snoring because the nasal passages are not clogged. Using a simple humidifier will allow you to control the level of moisture in the homes air. It is not necessary to add medications to the humidifier because all youre seeking is relief from the dry air. Dry air is especially common in the winter time and if you have forced hot air heat this may be the only time that you experience discomfort. Humidity can be helpful regardless of whether you suffer from asthma, allergies, or tend not to suffer from any breathing problems.
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Keep Your Allergies Under Control:

Of course, the best way to keep your nose feeling good is to avoid your allergy triggers and treat the underlying problem  your allergies  when you have symptoms.These days we have lots of options for treating allergies  from over-the counter medications to allergy shots, so theres no reason for anyone to suffer with allergy symptoms, says Marshall Plaut, MD, chief of the allergic mechanisms section at the Asthma, Allergy and Inflammation branch of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Even if youve tried OTC or prescription medications before without success, its likely you can find something to relieve your symptoms.
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Try a Saline Nasal Rinse :

One way to remove excess mucus without blowing is to use a saline (salt water) nasal rinse. A nasal rinse can also help remove allergens and germs from your nose. To make the rinse, add one teaspoon of uniodized salt and a pinch of baking soda to 16 ounces of warm distilled or previously boiled water. Then, pour the salt water into a Neti pot or draw it up into an infant nasal bulb or rubber ear bulb syringe. You can also purchase a nasal irrigation kit. Standing over a sink or in the shower, tilt your head to the left and pour or gently squirt the liquid into your right nostril. The liquid should drain out of your left nostril. It may feel awkward at first, but it should become easier with a little practice. Repeat this process with the other nostril. Its important to note that, according to the CDC, if you are irrigating, flushing, or rinsing your sinuses, use distilled, sterile, or previously boiled water to make up the irrigation solution. Its also important to rinse the irrigation device after each use and leave open to air dry. Draw some alcohol into the syringe and swish it around inside the bulb, then empty it. Let it dry completely before using it again.An over-the-counter (OTC) saline spray may also help thin mucus and provide relief from a stuffy or runny nose. Saline sprays are safe to use several times throughout the day to relieve symptoms. Read and follow the label for proper dosing.
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Tips for Gentle Nose Blowing :

If youre spending a lot of time sneezing or wiping your nose, the type of tissue you use can also make a difference. Choosing a soft tissue can really help, Terezakis tells WebMD. You can experiment with different kinds to see what feels best to you. Try to avoid using rough paper towels or other scratchy types of paper on your skin, since these can be irritating.While blowing your nose is a good way to get rid of extra mucus, take care not to blow too hard. Instead, blow gently, first through one nostril and then the other.
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Nasal Allergies and Your Nose More on Moisturizing:

You can also apply a moisturizer to your nose any time your skin is feeling rough or dry. Ointments or oils seal in moisture best. Creams are generally a bit lighter, while lotions moisturize the least. A hypoallergenic moisturizer will be less likely to cause irritation. You dont have to spend a lot of money to give your nose top treatment. Petroleum jelly works very well as a moisturizer.Beware of using an antibacterial or pain relief ointment on your nose. Some people use these products thinking that theyll help, but they can actually make the irritation worse, Terezakis says. Its important to remember that youre treating a skin irritation, not an infection, which is what these products are for.
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Dry nose:

Dry nose is a common problem whose typical symptoms include a tingling or burning sensation in the nose, dried-up mucous and crusting. It is very uncomfortable and makes us vulnerable to infection. There are several causes of dry nose. Here are a few examples Low humidity levels; Heating systems used in homes in the winter time; Aging; The use of nasal sprays to administer certain medications; Radiation treatments on the head or neck.To relieve dry nose, it is important to start with proper nose hygiene each day. Next, a nasal lubricant such as RhinarisTM NozoilTM is a good way of hydrating dry or irritated nasal passages.
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Nasal hygiene and allergies:

Your nose constantly comes into contact with allergens (mites, pollen and mould). Some people develop allergic reactions accompanied by nasal congestion and sneezing. Using saline water to clean your nose will help reduce your symptoms and eliminate allergens found in mucous.
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Nasal hygiene and infection:

Millions of Canadians suffer from colds each year. On average, an adult will suffer from one to two colds each year. There is no cure for the common cold, only ways of reducing its symptoms (runny nose, cough, nasal congestion and sore throat). The use of saline water to clear out nasal passages is a safe and effective way of relieving cold symptoms. This also applies to sinus infections. Clearing nasal passages relieves nasal congestion and helps get rid of viruses and bacteria.
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Nasal hygiene for babies:

Young children are more likely to suffer from respiratory infections. Because their immune sys?tem is not completely developed and they are often in close contact with other children (such as in a daycare setting), this partly explains the high rate of respiratory infections in young children. Young children are also more prone to infection because they have narrow nasal cavities, are unable to blow their noses and spend a lot of time in a sleeping position. This is why it is important to clean the nose by using saline water products on a regular basis to prevent infection.
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Drinking Fluids for Healthy Sinuses :

What and how much you drink can promote  or disrupt  good sinus health. To keep the mucus produced in your sinuses flowing smoothly, you need to drink enough water, says Kelleher. For some people, dairy products can cause mucus to thicken up, and that may cause sinus pressure and congestion. Drinking alcohol, especially red wine and beer, can also cause sinus pressure and congestion. Avoiding these beverages when you have sinus problems, and drink at least six glasses of water every day to help keep sinus mucus thin and mobile.
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Keeping Your Sinuses Moist:

Keeping your nose and sinuses moist is good for sinus health, says Kelleher. When sinuses get too dry, the mucociliary transport system that traps and moves irritants stops working. If your house is dry, use a humidifier and keep the humidity between 30 and 50 percent. You can check your homes humidity level with a hygrometer. Your bedroom is the most important room in the house in which to keep a humidifier going, says Kelleher. Be sure to clean your humidifier daily, or it will become a source for sinus problems. Standing in a hot shower is another good way to moisturize your sinuses.
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Cleaning Your Sinuses:

Studies show that flushing out your nose and sinuses with lukewarm salt water can decrease sinus infections in people with chronic sinus problems. You can keep your sinuses clean and healthy by irrigating them with a sterile saline solution, says Kelleher. Saline nasal sprays and irrigation kits are available at pharmacies. You can also try a neti pot, which is an at-home device for cleaning out nasal and sinus passages. Neti pots are available at some pharmacies and health food stores. (just be sure to follow directions to use sterile, pre-boiled & cooled, or distilled water in your neti pot).
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