Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Fall 2019

12 VITALITY Fall 2019 COMMUNITY COM UNITY WELLNESS 12 facts to know about your nose 1} Your nose produces an estimated two pints of mucus every day. 2} Sneezing is a reflex that happens when your nose wants to get rid of an irritant. When you sneeze, air rushes out of your nose at a rate of 100 miles per hour. 3} The things you smell are actually molecules released by substances all around you. They stimulate specialized sensory cells way inside your nose. 4} You might not think of your nose as a vital organ, but it is. It filters the air you breathe, removing dust, germs and irritants. And it warms and moistens the air to keep your lungs and the tubes that lead to them from drying out. 5} Most nosebleeds occur because of colds or minor irritations. Very cold or dry air can cause nosebleeds too, and so can picking your nose (another reason not to do it). But repeat nosebleeds can be a warning sign of high blood pressure, a nose or sinus tumor, or a bleeding disorder. What’s one of the first things people notice about you? Here’s a hint: You couldn’t smell your favorite food—or your gym shoes—without it. The answer: Your nose, of course. But if that’s all you know about your sniffer, check out these facts: