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Where Does The Snot Go?


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Most of the blockage isn't actually snot, it's swelling of the cells which line the airways in your nose. Around the bridge of your nose the airways are very narrow normally and it doesn't take much swelling to have the air flow significantly reduced or the nose blocked completely- there's no snot there, just swelling.

 

The menthol compounds in Vicks, Olbas Oil and menthol sweets act as decongestants in two ways. Firstly they enable liquefaction of mucus meaning that it drains as normal (we have plenty of mucus when we don't have a cold, but it's liquid and drains down the back of your throat without you even noticing it) and they also act as an anti-inflammatory for the cells lining your airway, thus making you magically able to breathe again.

 

If you were looking for a disgusting answer about snot then I'm very sorry to have been so sensible.

 

Thank you Doctor!

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