27.03.2023
It is often embarrassing when we are spotted in public picking our nose. In addition to this bad habit, studies have shown that this disgusting habit is not healthy and may have serious health complications.
“Don’t dig in unscrewThis is what we have been hearing since childhood. Children usually pick their nose shamelessly and widely, like thumb sucking. Often they do it out of boredom or a love of discovering what is hidden in the dark vaults behind my nostrils. the nose. It is actually normal, but it can also be dangerous.
Bacteria can pass from the nose to the brain
There is hardly anyone who disinfects or sterilizes his fingers before putting them in his nose, knowing that our hands are full of bacteria. If the immune system is weakened and the mucous membrane is not intact, bacteria can enter the brain and cause what is known as bacterial meningitis. If bacteria get there, they can cause inflammation, which can lead to symptoms such as fever, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, and confusion.
Bacterial meningitis is a serious condition that can cause other complications. These include brain damage, strokes, and seizures, as well as the risk of hearing loss. The doctor usually treats the disease with antibiotics that are given intravenously.
The role of the nose in maintaining human health
Our nose is a complex ornamental structure with regarding five to ten million olfactory cells located in the upper nasal cavity. The nose filters pathogens and pollutants such as pollen and dust from the air before they reach the lungs, and protects the respiratory system from infection and damage. In addition, the nasal mucosa moisturizes the air we breathe and prevents it from drying out, and the mucus picks up bacteria and viruses, which are transported from the nose through the cilia.
And most people dig in their nose when they feel unattended. For example, when waiting in front of a traffic light, quite a few drivers clear their noses. And 62 percent of men, slightly more than women at 51 percent, dig their noses.
Gudrun Heise / A.A.