The colour of your snot can tell you a lot about what’s happening in your nose. White, yellow, or green nasal mucus can mean you have a cold or an infection. But what about snot that is laced with blood?
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You blow your nose too hard
One reason behind bloody mucus is that you could be blowing your nose a little too hard. According to Dr. Philip Chen, associate professor of otolaryngology and rhinology at the University of Texas Health Science Centre:
The nasal mucosa is very delicate and has a very large blood supply.
And when you blow your nose hard, blood pressure rises quickly and significantly.
This sudden increase in pressure can rupture or tear some of the fragile blood vessels, resulting in small amounts of blood in the mucus. In order to repair these damaged blood vessels, you can try to moisturise the nasal passages with a humidifier, saline nasal spray, or saline nasal gels.
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Your nasal passage is dry or irritated
If you live in an environment that is too dry or arid, your chances of seeing blood in your boogers could be higher. ‘This is because dry climates cause dry and irritated noses’, says Dr Chen. In fact, every time we breathe, the air dries out the normal mucus in the nose and eventually irritates the nasal lining. Dr Chen adds:
Dry air can also come from turning on the air conditioner or, worse, the heater.
This is why nosebleeds are often more common in winter.
If you wake up with dried blood in your nose every morning, it’s likely that the air in your room is too dry. Again, in these cases, moisturising the nose is a must!
It is important to note that in most cases, bloody mucus is extremely normal. However, it can sometimes be an indicator of more serious conditions. If you have been seeing unusual amounts of blood in your boogers or have been experiencing it for an extended period of time, make sure to consult your doctor.
