The nose secretes about 32 ounces of mucus daily, which helps humidify, warm, and filter incoming air. When it’s cold, blood vessels in the nose dilate, producing more mucus to protect the nose from the cold. Cold weather does not cause illness, but standing outside can help clear congestion.
The nose is a complex organ, thought not only to help us smell wonderful (or not-so-wonderful) smells, but also to act as a filtering device for incoming air. It might be surprising to learn that your nose secretes, when you’re healthy, about 32 ounces (0.94 liters) of mucus every day. This doesn’t tend to make your nose run; instead most of this mucus falls into the back of the throat and is eventually swallowed. These secretions help humidify, warm, and filter incoming air, along with the tiny hairs in your nose.
So why does your nose run when it’s cold? This is a great question, which fortunately has a fairly simple explanation. Beneath the mucus-secreting glands, there are huge amounts of tiny blood vessels, which help supply these glands. When it’s cold, these blood vessels dilate or enlarge. This means that you have more blood supply to your nose, which in part protects your nose from the cold, but it also means that your nose will start producing more mucus and fluid.
Additionally, you’ll notice more mucus in cold weather because your nose has to work overtime to warm the inhaled air, which comes in at much lower temperatures than normal. You may also notice a runny nose when it’s only a few degrees cold. Temperatures a few degrees below room temperature can cause a runny nose.
There is also the problem, as mentioned above, of normal mucus and secretion production. At room temperature, your nose is already producing 4 cups (0.94 liters) of fluid and mucus per day. Only a portion of it can fall down the back of the throat and be swallowed. When mucus and secretion production increases to warm the air, you will see a runny nose because you have excess secretions. In other words, one side has to drip out the front because you have an oversupply. When you enter a warmer room moments later, you won’t notice that your nose continues to run because it has warmed up and your blood vessels become more constricted.
Observing a runny nose in the cold has led many to believe that cold weather causes illness. In reality this is not the case and the nose helps through filtration to try to avoid viruses. Of course, he doesn’t avoid them all. Standing outside in the cold for a few minutes can actually help clear the congestion a bit as the mucus will naturally be released through the front of your nose, allowing you to get some good blows. Usually, you’re full of cash again once you’re back in the house.
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