You went outside in cold weather, walked a few dozen steps away from home, and now your nose is already running. What does it mean? Did you manage to get sick as soon as you left the warm room? Let's figure it out.
Many people are used to associating a runny nose exclusively with a cold, but in fact rhinorrhea can be caused by other causes. And the most banal of them is the cold and dry atmosphere.
Our nose is designed to make the inhaled air warm and moist. This is necessary N. Geurkink, M.D.Nasal anatomy, physiology, and function — Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology / JACI so that the latter does not irritate the cells of the respiratory tract and lungs.
As stated by Alvaro A Cruz. Upper airways reactions to cold air / Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. Allergologists of the National Institute of Health of Maryland, the air temperature in the back of the nose is usually about 26 °C, but can reach 30 °C. And its humidity is almost 100% — no matter how dry the climate around you is. That's how effectively your nose moisturizes and warms the air before it reaches your lungs.
No wonder your mother told you to breathe in the cold with your nose, not with your mouth. Oh, not in vain.
When the ambient temperature drops, its humidity also decreases — because atmospheric moisture condenses, sinks and freezes on surfaces. That's why your nose has to Alvaro A Cruz. Upper airways reactions to cold air / Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. take this indicator under personal control. Firstly, blood vessels constrict in it to reduce heat consumption. Secondly, the mucous membrane begins to produce more secretions (colloquially — snot) to ensure sufficient humidity of the inhaled air.
According to estimates Alvaro A Cruz. Upper airways reactions to cold air / Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. The National Institute of Health of Maryland, in winter, the body can lose up to 300-400 ml of fluid daily through the nose. And these are not the ones How Cold Weather Causes Trouble For Your Respiratory System / Pulmonary Associates of Brandon and Sun City Center the same snot that torments you during illnesses. The nose does not produce thick and sticky secretions, but almost transparent moisture.
This is not a sign of illness, but a completely natural reaction of the body to an unfavorable environment. According to statistics W S Silvers. The skier’s nose: a model of cold-induced rhinorrhea / Ann Allergy Colorado Asthma, Allergy and Immunology Clinics, cold rhinorrhea occurs in 96% of people, while in 50% it is accompanied by nasal congestion, and 33% sneeze. So you're not unique with your wet nose — there's nothing to worry about.
However, it is worth considering that in the cold you are more vulnerable to respiratory infections, as various viruses reproduce better Ellen F. Foxman. Temperature-dependent innate defense against the common cold virus limits viral replication at warm temperature in mouse airway cells / PNAS at low temperatures, and the immune response in winter, on the contrary, is blunted Sarina K. Mueller, MD. Exosome swarms eliminate airway pathogens and provide passive epithelial immunoprotection through nitric oxide / Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology . If you hold back moisture for a long time and sniff, the pathogenic microbes accumulated in it will not be thrown out. They will be able to overcome the protective barriers of the body, and you will get sick.
How can I help myself? Wrap your nose with a scarf — then you will create a warm environment between your face and the fabric, and the nose will "turn off" additional moisture. Also, do not forget to drink more water to compensate for the loss of fluid, and have handkerchiefs or napkins with you.
