Do you sniff or blow your nose?
The noble art of nose blowing is going out of fashion. It is apparently considered easier to sniff, sneeze and spread germs than to carry a simple pack of travel tissues in a pocket or bag.
And the hospital authorities wonder how epidemics start!
When I was at University I had the embarrassment to be caught without a tissue or handkerchief during a lecture when my nose would not stop running. I couldn't leave the room easily as I was sitting in the middle of a row. So I snotted my way through the lecture then went, first to the toilet to find tissues to deal with the problem properly, then to the nearest chemist to buy a handy pack of tissues to cope with the tail end of the cold which was causing my nose to run in the first place.
A few years later I found myself in the same situation only in a high level meeting at a client's office taking minutes. For some inexplicable reason I had not thrown a packet of travel tissues in my handbag before leaving for the meeting. I always have a box on my desk at work, but there were none in my bag.
Sure, that box on my desk does get raided by colleagues at times, but it's better than having them sniffing at me! These days I often take a handful into a meeting, or grab one of the many packs of travel tissues stashed in my backpack. They too are multi purpose, having been used to mop up spilled drinks and exterminate flies as well as for nose blowing exploits.
My husband laughs at me because we have boxes of tissues all over the house now. There's one in the kitchen, one in the bedroom, one by my chair in the front room and another in the bathroom. At least they're always to hand when needed.
Until the sniffers of the population learn the same trick, I'll have to resort to using my noise cancelling headphones to block out the unpleasant sounds of repeated productive sniffs on the bus around me.
wordchazers-words manners sniff nose noseblow
Posted at 19:53 BST on Thursday 10 September 2015
Image Credit » https://pixabay.com/en/napkin-box-paper-napkin-tissue-312693/ by ClkerFreeVectorImages
Comments
wolfgirl569 wrote on September 10, 2015, 2:57 PM
Many of them could just have allergies which can make the nose feel full without being able to blow anything out
JohnRoberts wrote on September 10, 2015, 4:57 PM
I always have to have tissues on my person as I suffer from allergies.
WordChazer wrote on September 10, 2015, 5:15 PM
I have allergies too, at times (living in the middle of an oilseed producing area it's a bit difficult not to). I also travel on public transport with people who appear to have no idea of personal hygiene. So I carry tissues. Because my nose has been known to explode before. And when it does, I need backup!
WordChazer wrote on September 10, 2015, 5:16 PM
Even working in an airconditioned office can bring on allergies or sneezy fits for me, so I'm on your side. Heaven only knows what those aircon units are pumping out at us at times...
LeaPea2417 wrote on September 10, 2015, 7:57 PM
I have to blow my nose because my nose gets so stuffy due to allergies.
Paulie wrote on September 11, 2015, 1:00 AM
The doctor diagnosed me with chronic excessive mucous secretion. He has prescribed a drug which I take two times a day. It has really drastically reduced my sniffling or having to blow my nose.
JohnRoberts wrote on September 11, 2015, 3:28 PM
Many insulated office buildings have "sick air" as recycled air contains dust, rat droppings and god knows what.
WordChazer wrote on September 11, 2015, 6:10 PM
I'm glad to hear you blow rather than sniff. I wore my headphones' noise cancelling batteries out earlier today having had them on constantly lately.
WordChazer wrote on September 11, 2015, 6:12 PM
I can believe it. My office's air vent was connected directly to the open air via a hole in the outside wall where a pipe had once been. So not only did I get all of that you mention, I also had an icy draft blowing down my neck constantly. It's been much better since I shouted at Facilities long enough that they became fed up of it and fixed it.
WordChazer wrote on September 11, 2015, 6:19 PM
Anti histamines are brilliant. But I am still of the opinion that a lot of this is caused by pollution and irritant food additives. Not to mention viruses which are now developing antiobtic resistance.
melody23 wrote on September 11, 2015, 6:53 PM
I am afraid I have never been able to blow my nose, it makes me feel physically sick. I always just thought I was a bit odd until I joined an adult picky eaters support group and realised that it is not uncommon in people with selective eating disorder, no one really understands why though but it does seem to be a trait most of us have. Given that I have terrible hay fever which is typically worse at the end of the season, I am in a terrible state right now and cant really do anything about it.
Paulie wrote on September 12, 2015, 3:53 AM
Yes, I think this is all true especially the part pollution plays.
WordChazer wrote on September 12, 2015, 6:02 AM
Now that's a response I hadn't expected. I wonder if it's all an ENT centred thing for you given that eating and breathing are both carried out in that area. From what I know about allergy alleviation, it sounds as if Integrated Physical Emotional Clearing could help you. It's a holistic treatment method based on addressing underlying causes which manifest as symptoms. I wrote a review about it a few months ago on my blog - let me know if you'd like more information.
LeaPea2417 wrote on November 14, 2015, 1:45 PM
I blow my nose otherwise my nose would run.
WordChazer wrote on November 14, 2015, 2:22 PM
Yup. That's me to a T, &leapea . I have been on the other side of that, not being able to blow my nose when it is running, because I lack the necessary hankie or tissue, and I know which option I would prefer.