This is a fairly taboo topic. Nobody wants to admit that he/ she picks the nose. But the truth is that just about everyone does it. Etiquette dictates that people should not pick their noses in public. The extraction of -“things” from the nose should be done with the use of a handkerchief, tissue, or some other acceptable material. But in addition to the obvious reasons, there are some substantiated grounds for not picking one’s nose. After a bit of research, here is what I’ve come up with:
1- CATCHING COLDS
It is common knowledge that the cold virus is passed through the mucus membranes. So where does one tend to find the most mucus? In the nose, of course. Running your fingers across surfaces which are contaminated with the cold virus-and then sticking them in your nose is NOT the way to go. By doing so, you are transmitting the virus to yourself, causing an irritating bout of nasopharyngitis. In a few days, you’ll probably end up with a scratchy throat and a bout of sniffing and sneezing. Keep your fingers out of there.
2- NOSEBLEEDS
Though not considered a common problem, chronic nose-picking may cause nosebleeds. Sticking your finger in your nose too far is a great way of damaging the lining of the nose which is meant to protect the body from foreign airborne bacteria. Destroying that lining, or digging too hard could possibly cause your nose to bleed. Not only is this unpretty. It is also unnecessary and unhealthy.
3- INFECTION
In addition to a nasty cold, you could possibly open yourself up to what is known as a retrograde infection. This means that germs and bacteria can actually be pushed up into the nasal cavities and spread to other parts of the body, like the brain. We typically don’t think of nose-picking as an activity which sends material INTO the nose. But because that area is so small, it’s only natural that certain bits of material (microscopic or otherwise) are sent backwards into the body instead of forwards, out of the body.
4- HAIR LOSS
Many people don’t think about this. But when one picks his/ her nose on a consistent basis, they are actually removing some of the hairs from the nostril. This may not be a big deal on one or two occasions. But it has been revealed in numerous studies, that the nasal hairs are most important for filtering out dust, and other pollutants in the air. If you keep picking your nose, you are at risk of removing this important filter. Without this natural siftng mechanism, you are in danger of opening yourself up to all kinds of of illness and infection.
5- YOU COULD DIE
There are many far-fetched ways to die in this world. Picking your nose is one of them. Yes, it’s true. You really can die from picking that monster boogar. Simply put, there is a bone in the nose called the ethmoid bone. This bone separates the nose from the brain. Though you would more than likely need a really really long fingernail, or other long object to get up there, it is indeed possible to do so. As a matter of fact, if you accidentally poked through this bone, brain fluid could be leaked-causing meningitis, which definitely is a killer.
So you see, picking one’s nose seems harmless. And in most cases, it is. Sitting at that stoplight, in the private comfort of your vehicle, does not give you anonymity. But for some reason, it’s the most popular place for people to dive into their nasal cavities. In these instances where you feel compelled to see what’s up there, it’s best to wait until getting to a restroom. Make sure that before touching any “open” areas of the face (ie. eyes, nose, mouth) -that you wash your hands thoroughly, as this is how viruses are most frequently spread. In addition to that, you spare the rest of the world the horror of watching you dig for “gold.”
