The worst thing to do when you’re sick? Blow your nose

Here's a burning question for the day: Why is it that when you're sick, your nose often feels stuffy but there's no mucus up there?

While it might seem trivial, the answer could actually prevent you from becoming even sicker.

We often associate a plugged-up nose with mucus, but in reality that feeling of stuffiness is most often caused by inflammation in the nasal passageways, which results from inflamed blood vessels (your body's reaction to the infection).

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In that case, it's safe to say blowing your nose is pretty useless when you're suffering from stuffiness – but did you know it may actually cause harm?

Forcefully blowing your nose when there's no mucus directly in your nostrils irritates your inflamed nasal passageways even further, and can actually propel bacteria-filled mucus from deeper in your sinuses to the inflamed area, which can cause a secondary infection and prolong your illness.

When you do have a stuffy nose accompanied by mucus, though, that's your body's way of trying to flush out the irritant that caused the inflammation. In this case, blow your nose very gently, one nostril at a time.

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To soothe your inflamed nasal passageways, doctors recommend taking decongestants or using a decongestant spray, which reduces blood flow to the inflamed sinuses, bringing down inflammation. And that's not all – for best results, the spray should be administered while your head is forward in a somewhat awkward position.

"To do this, kneel on the floor with your head on the ground or lean over the edge of a table or chair so that your head is forward. Don't use them sitting up," Dr. Henry Sharpe, an U.K.-based ear, nose and throat specialist, tells the Daily Mail.

"Once the drops are in your nose, stay in this position for a minute or two to let the drops work their way up to the top of the nose between the eyes."

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Another recommended method for soothing inflamed sinuses is to keep them moist – try using a room humidifier or steam vapourizer, taking long hot showers and flushing your sinuses regularly by using a neti pot.

Staying well hydrated is also key, as this keeps mucus thin, preventing it from building up in your sinuses.

What's your go-to method for soothing a stuffy nose? Tell us in the comments below.