Minneapolis – This week's outdoor challenge could make for a chaotic and volatile experience. It's one of the downsides of winter. Why do our noses run in cold weather? Is it worse for some than others? Good question.
Brutal, but beautiful. The wrath of winter is still welcome, but the skier knows his nose doesn't have as much fun, and these wipes are a must-have.
“When a cold wind blows, the sensation in the nose will run,” said Dr. John Sweet, medical director of the Allergy Clinic at Hennepin Healthcare. “The purpose of the nose is to warm and humidify the air before it enters our lungs to prevent irritation.”
The human nose can instantly turn air with a temperature below zero into 80 degrees. The back of the nose also contains 100% moisture, adding much-needed moisture before the air reaches the lungs.
“The blood vessels (in the nose) actually swell and dilate. This causes the sensation of congestion or stuffy nose,” Sweet said.
Mucus production is also increased to keep the air moist, turning some noses into taps.
“Sometimes you come here and you can just see beards and everyone has things falling everywhere,” skater Marcus said.
George Clerk/Getty Images
How much mucus can your nose produce when you go out in cold weather? More than you can imagine. The nose can produce a pint (16.9 ounces) or more if it has a strong response, Sweet said.
Vasomotor rhinitis, also known as “skier's nose,” is worse for people with allergies, asthma, eczema, and women over 50.
“They react strongly to other environmental allergens, so they have a much stronger reaction when they are exposed to cold, dry air,” Sweet said.
“It definitely can take away from the vibe a little bit,” said Addie, another Theo Wirth skater. “It's just part of winter sports as a whole.”
The problem doesn't just happen during winter sports. Spicy food, cigarette smoke, and even strong smells like perfume can irritate our noses in the same way that cold air does. In the summer, when you enter an air-conditioned room after being exposed to the heat outside, your nose can also start to drip.
But there are ways to relieve symptoms.
“A good way to help prevent this is to try to warm the air before it gets into the nose,” Sweet said.
This can include wearing a scarf or belt over your face. Over-the-counter medications also work. Sweet suggests using azelastine nasal sprays and antihistamines.
