Nose Blowing Propels Nasal Fluid into the Paranasal Sinuses

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 387 - 391
• Main Authors: Gwaltney, Jack M., Hendley, J. Owen, Phillips, C. Douglas, Bass, Cameron R., Mygind, Niels, Winther, Birgit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.02.2000; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Common cold; Contrast Media; Cough - physiopathology; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Manometry; Maxillary sinus; Medical sciences; Models, Biological; Mucus; Nasal Lavage Fluid; Nasal Mucosa - secretion; Nasopharynx; Nasopharynx - physiology; Nose; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology. Orbit; Paranasal sinuses; Paranasal Sinuses - diagnostic imaging; Paranasal Sinuses - physiology; Pressure; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Reference Values; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sinuses; Sneezing; Sneezing - physiology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; Viscosity; Volunteerism; Human; Radiodiagnosis; ENT; Blowing; Intranasal administration; Experimental study; Paranasal sinus; Propellant fluid; Cough; Result; Comparison measurement; Sneezing; Medical imagery; Computerized axial tomography; Internal pressure
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/313661

Intranasal pressures were measured in adults during nose blowing, sneezing, and coughing and were used for fluid dynamic modeling. Sinus CT scans were performed after instillation of radiopaque contrast medium into the nasopharynx followed by nose blowing, sneezing, and coughing. The mean (±SD) maximal intranasal pressure was 66 (±14) mm Hg during 35 nose blows, 4.6 (±3.8) mm Hg during 13 sneezes, and 6.6 (±3.8) mm Hg during 18 coughing bouts. A single nose blow can propel up to 1 mL of viscous fluid in the middle meatus into the maxillary sinus. Sneezing and coughing do not generate sufficient pressure to propel viscous fluid into the sinus. Contrast medium from the nasopharynx appeared in ≥1 sinuses in 4 of 4 subjects after a nose blow but not after sneezing or coughing.