Nose Picking Linked to Dementia? Doctors Reveal 5 Safe, Effective Ways to Clean Your Nose

Nose picking is something natural; whether you live in a dusty area or suffer from a cold, you tend to clean it often due to dry buildup in the nostrils. While the mucus traps germs, pollen, pollution,

and dry air, preventing them from reaching your lungs, in the long run, trying to clean it can be linked with an increased risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. According to studies, in cases where picking at your nose can lead to internal tissue damage, critical species of bacteria get a clearer path to the brain, which responds to their presence in ways that resemble signs of Alzheimer’s. In a study conducted recently, scientists from Griffith University in Australia ran tests with a bacterium known as Chlamydia pneumoniae, which infects humans and leads to pneumonia. According to the tests, C. pneumoniae has also been discovered in the majority of human brains affected by late-onset dementia. Since the study was conducted on mice, more research is needed to explain the link constructively.

What does the study say?

It was observed that in mice, the bacteria travel up the olfactory nerve, which joins the nasal cavity and the brain. It then causes damage to the nasal epithelium – the thin tissue along the roof of the nasal cavity – making nerve infections get worse. Scientists say it causes the mouse’s brain to deposit more of the amyloid-beta protein – a protein that is released in response to infections. Plaques of this protein are also found in significant concentrations in those with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists said they were surprised to find that C. pneumoniae took hold in the central nervous system of the mice, with infection happening within 24 to 72 hours. While the researchers are not sure that the effects can be the same in humans, or even that amyloid-beta plaques lead to Alzheimer’s, it is nevertheless important to follow up promising leads in the fight to understand this common neurodegenerative condition.

Easy ways to clean your nose without any side effects

To prevent any kind of nasal congestion, which can make your nostrils swollen with excess fluid, you can follow a few at-home remedies that relieve sinus pressure and clogging:

Drink lots of water

According to experts, one of the easiest ways to combat a congested nose is to stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids helps thin the mucus in your nasal passages, allowing it to move out of your sinuses. This relieves pressure and inflammation, allowing you to breathe more easily. Water is the most obvious choice for hydration, but warm, soothing beverages like tea, clear soups and broths, or water with lemon and honey can all help.

Apply a warm compress

Warm compresses help in general pain relief and are just as useful for congestion. The heat from the compress helps loosen mucus, relieving pressure and pain in the sinuses. If you have a few spare cloths lying around, you can make your own compresses at home.

Steam

Steaming helps combine the power of heat and hydration to loosen dry mucus and relax inflamed nasal passages. Taking a steamy shower and allowing the hot water to run over your forehead and face can help open your airways and offer sinus pressure relief.

Use a humidifier

Humidifiers and electric steamers can be used to bring moisture into the air around you. You can choose from either a warm-mist or cool-mist humidifier for your stuffy nose, as both are effective in relieving sinus congestion and pain.

Use a nasal spray

A nasal spray provides quick relief from nasal congestion and reduces inflammation in the nasal passages, helping to clear mucus and improve breathing.