Sniffing Trouble: A Cold Season Cautionary Tale

As the cold season approaches, it's wise not to overdo it when blowing your nose. A resident of Leicester, UK, found herself in the emergency room with swollen eyes and nearly blind after aggressively blowing her nose for four straight hours. While this may seem like a straightforward action, it turns out that even 'normal' nose blowing can be hazardous if done incorrectly. 

The young woman who nearly went blind due to nose blowing (Photo: BMJ Case Reports)

This unusual case was documented in a medical journal under the name "Orbital Emphysema," a phenomenon caused by air getting trapped in the delicate tissues around the eyes. "She arrived just in time," one of the doctors caring for her commented. "Due to the pressure the swelling placed on her optic nerves, she could have been permanently blinded."

The traumatic experience didn’t stop at swelling. It also included a fractured nasal bone, likely caused by forceful attempts to clear her blocked nose by blowing hard while it was still blocked.