Why do we get runny noses during cold weather?

+1 vote
asked Jan 12, 2017 in Other- Health by Cmed (290 points)
In the winter when we're outside in the cold air our noses runs, snot seems to pour out and doesn't stop until we get inside where it's warm again.

I'm constantly having to blow my nose and wipe runny snot away.

Why does it seem like a valve turns on and let's the liquid snot pour out in the cold air?

1 Answer

0 votes
answered Jan 12, 2017 by Minty (132,850 points)
Our noses warm and humidify "add moisture" to the air we breathe as it travels down into the lungs. So when you inhale the cold, dry air, the moist tissue inside our nose automatically increases the fluid production to do its job of protecting our sensitive lung tissue.

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