Make Nose Plugs to Stop a Runny Nose
Some people have runny noses that don't stop running for several months at a time. If you're in a meeting or a job interview and your nose keeps running, it's inconvenient (and very irritating) to blow it every ten seconds. If you have a runny nose, one way to stop it inconspicuously is to make your own nose plugs. Much in the same way that stopping a nosebleed involves putting a piece of tissue or cotton in your nostril, this solution involves making nose plugs from a straw and tissue. It is similar to commercial products available in some parts of the world (for example, Japan) where hay fever is very common. The final product is easily replaced and will not be obvious when in your nose.
Steps
- Cut a little section (about 3 cm, a little over an inch) off the straw.
- Press the section and make it flat.
- Cut it as shown in the pictures.
- Tear two strips of tissue.
- Open the straw and pull the tissue strips through the holes at both ends.
- Roll each strip into a ball that will fit comfortably in your nostril and cover the ends of the straw.
- Put a tissue ball in each nostril, pushing the straw snug against your nose.
- The circles show where the contraption goes into the nose and where it curves around the end of your nose.
Tips
- The size of the tissue ball should be big enough to fit snugly in your nose, but not so tight that you can't breathe.
- When you're cooking, this is a great time to use this contraption, to avoid messiness or the temptation to wipe your nose with your fingers during preparation.
Warnings
- Handling the tissue with your bare hands will introduce bacteria to the tissue, and then if you put that in your nose, you've introduced bacteria into your nose. Normally, your body has defenses against the incursion of pathogenic bacteria, but this method could result in the defeat of those defenses, making your nasal passages more susceptible to infection.
- This could cause an unsafe buildup of mucous in the nasal pharynx.
- Make sure the cut straw doesn't have sharp edges before inserting into the nose. Sharp edges can irritate the nose and may cause bleeding.
- This is measure to address a symptom and it is a treatment not a cure.
Things You'll Need
- Clear straw
- Tissue paper
- Scissors
- Ruler (optional)
