During cold seasons, drier, freezing air cause cracks in the mucus membranes in our noses. Such periods necessitate harsh breathing of dry and cold air during the day. The crank breathing dries up our nostrils making the covering film susceptible to cracks. When the the membrane cracks, bleeding follows. The blood produced mixes up with mucus forming bloody boogers.

 

What cause bloody boogers?

Two factors come to play; the vigorous breathing and dry air constantly blowing across our ideally wet nasal tissue. When the dry boogers come out, chances of it tearing our already delicate nostrils are high. Naturally, you’ll try to blow your nose more often and harder to get out the dry snot potentially rupturing your teeny blood vessels. The resulting cracks expose our blood vessels which then bleed. When your nasal cavities are irritated to produce mucus, it mixes with the blood and comes out as bloody boogers.

 

Effects of infections

In the event of an infection, such as flu and the common cold, mucus can block the passage or the nasal lining can swell (or both) causing nasal constriction. The infection also fuels excessive boogers production, coupled with the nasal congestion, tears the nasal lining resulting in bloody mucus. Infections, therefore, aggravate the effect of cold, dry air on our noses by increasing mucus production and cramming nasal passage both of which deal a blow on the nasal linings. Other common infections on nasal cavities include:

1. Nasal Vestibulitis; This is an infection that affects nose vestibule, the front section of our nose near the nose tip. It often manifests itself as bleeding crusts on the entrance or inside your nose. In most cases, these infections aren’t grave (also known as, low grade) and associated with small boils around the same area it affects. Some people notice a red swelling of the tip of the nose or the nostril.
2. Rhinitis is a common severe upper respiratory tract infection whose symptoms include nasal congestion and profuse nasal discharge. The disease causes the mucous membrane to swell (called edema), and the small blood vessels of the nasal cavity lining open wider (dilates), increasing the susceptibility of your nasal lining to bleeding. Rhinitis can be chronic particularly in hay fever (also referred to as allergic rhinitis).
3. Sinusitis; an infection in which the sinuses in your face (especially the paranasal sinuses) is inflamed. Symptoms of this infection include nasal congestion accompanied by green to yellow mucus, tenderness and pain around the sinuses and headache. Severe sinusitis manifests itself in the presence of a fever in addition to visual disturbances (red or sore eyes as well as a poking pain).

 

Dangers of bloody boogers

1. Reinfection

If you leave the cracks causing bloody boogers untreated for a long time, widespread infection of the nasal cavity occurs putting your life at grave risks. Subsequent secondary infections on the unhealed wounds further aggravate the problem. Should symptoms of bloody mucus persist, seek urgent medical attention?

2. Low Iron level in your body

Excessive loss of blood due to excessive bleeding results in anemia. When the rate at which you lose red blood cells exceed the speed of production of new cells, your body rapidly draws water from tissues outside your blood streams to keep your blood vessels filled. Consequently, your blood is diluted as the hematocrit its reduced significantly. Your bone marrow responds by producing red blood cells to correct the situation. However, if the problem persists, the amount of iron in your body reduces, such that your bone marrow cannot replace the lost cells by producing new red blood cells.

 

How to deal with bloody boogers

For persons spending most of their time in warm climatic conditions, only making a trip, occasionally, to areas experiencing cold climates, the threat is worse. Individuals with existing sinus, nasal or allergic problems are also more vulnerable to bloody boogers during the cold seasons. The reason is our nasal linings are inflamed already, and our noses do not moisturize and humidify adequately. Since we can’t pack and go at the onset of a cold season, we are, therefore, left with the option of dealing decisively with it. How? In addition to avoiding picking your nose and excessively blowing your nasal passages, adopt the following strategies;

1. Invest in a humidifier

Use the humidifier to humidify the air particularly in the room where you sleep since dry and cold night time air contributes considerably to drying out of your nasal passage thus worsening the problem. There are different types of humidifiers; some affordable while others are costly. Invest in one that meets your budget make the season tolerable.

2. Buy a saline spray

You can also purchase and use the spray severally throughout the day to keep your nasal passage lubricated and moist. The moisture helps prevent the drying out and hardening of nasal mucus. It, thus, safeguards our noses from pain, discomfort, and cracks that result in bloody boogers. Whenever you nose suddenly dries out, use the spray to moisten your nasal mucus before blowing your nose and expelling the mucus more efficiently.

3. Take a hot shower

Take the hottest bath that you can tolerate and your room will fill up with steam. Alternatively, boil water, using a tea kettle, and inhale the fumes. The extra heat and humidity will loosen your nasal mucus, permitting you to blow your nose safely thereby clearing your nasal passage. When sleeping at night, use nasal strips, small pieces of fabric or plastic designed to be placed outside your nose so as to hold open your nasal passages as you sleep.

Conclusion

Take any symptom of bloody boogers seriously. Just like many other medical conditions, addressing correctly at the right time goes a long way in alleviating the inconveniences it causes. So, immediately you notice any of the symptoms above, use a humidifier, inhaled nasal sprays or you can use homemade remedies such as boiling and breathing in hot water. Also, exercise safe practices like blowing your nose gently. If symptoms persist, consult your physicians. Dangers associated with acute infections are life threatening, and as such you should avoid at all costs.