What actually happens, really.

[theleeroy55]

What happens when u get a bunged up nose, why is it so hard to breath and what happens when u eat a mint and it goes?

[Scarlett]

According to the advert, the blood vessels in your nose are swollen due to infection and that is why breathing is difficult. Not sure about the mint though!

[NiceCupOfTea]

I can't breathe because my nose is bunged up with bogies, never mind blood vessels!

[RAYMAN]

The only relief I have is by using a steriod nose spray

called Dexa-Rhinaspray Duo which I have prescribed deflates and opens the airway, great for breathing during the night.

[morg_monster]

The primary cause of a blocked nose during a cold is excess mucus / snot - this is mainly made up of millions of alive and dead cold viruses - they've got to go somewhere! Irritation such as constant blowing of the nose can inflame the lining which only makes things worse. (For someone with allergies, this inflammation is the main cause of a blocked nose when they come into contact with whatever they are allergic to).

Menthol and eucalyptus actually work by irritating the nasal lining - this stimulates the nose to run and this helps move the snot and unblock the nose. The same effect will occur if you chop an onion, or eat some spicy food - it causes the nose to run and unblocks it. Of course it doesn't prevent it blocking back up again once you've finished the curry / strepsils etcetera!

Also, watch out for using decongestant sprays continually for too long, if you just have a regular cold - they can destroy the hairs in the nose if you use them for days and days on end. Then when you come off them, the congestion is worse because the hairs aren't there to keep all the mucus moving along. (nice)