Monthly Archives: April 2019

Your nose gets dribbling wet when the temperature drops, but why do sniffly noses and winter or just being in a very cold air-conditioned place just seem to go together?

The cold air seems to trigger nervous system reflexes in the nose that cause glands in the nasal membranes to produce mucus; the problem may be particularly common in those with allergies.

How the nose responds to cold air

When cold air enters the nose, it stimulates the sensory nerves within the nasal cavity to activate a process via a cholinergic reflex or pathway. It causes the vessels in the nasal cavity to expand and become engorged, leading to congestion and mucus secretion which produces a runny nose. It’s a compensatory mechanism that’s trying to maintain ideal conditions inside the nose by adding humidity and warmth while filtering the air.

Cold air affects an important defense mechanism called mucus transport. The entire respiratory system is coated with a very thin mucus blanket. Cold air stimulates an increase in mucus production. In addition, mucus (like other substances) becomes thicker in colder temperatures.

In addition to the congestion, the mucus in the nose increases and becomes thicker. This happens more in some people than in others. Thus cold air, by itself, can produce both nasal congestion and stuffiness. These can be treated with decongestants and/or antihistamines.

Are some people more sensitive to changes in air temperature?

You Could Be Having Skier’s Nose If Your Nose Runs When Exposed To Cold Air
A 1991 study published in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology found that nearly 100 percent of skiers complained about runny noses while participating in their sport. This syndrome is called Skier’s Nose.

While a runny nose is annoying in just about any season, it’s not harmful.  If you’re really bothered by your runny nose caused by cold air, try taking an over-the-counter decongestant or avoid being exposed to very cold air, if possible.

And you can always follow mom’s advice: Before you go out in the cold, cover your nose and mouth with a scarf!  I cover my nose and mouth with a thin blanket when I sleep in my air-conditioned room and this helps with preventing the sniffles in the morning.  Air breathed through fabric will be warmer and more moist, which can cut down on those annoying drips.

I am a tea lover.  My favorite tea varieties are green tea, Osmanthus tea, Jasmine tea, Oolong tea, just to name a few.  Much as I love tea, I cannot drink too much of it, or drink it on an empty stomach. The repercussions are often extremely uncomfortable with such side effects as nausea, dizziness, feeling light-headed, stomach discomfort, heart palpitations and not to mention, insomnia. Thus, I always avoid drinking tea in the evening.

How can excessive tea drinking cause adverse effects? It is common knowledge that wine and other alcoholic drinks can make someone drunk; unknown to some, though, this same effect can occur from overindulging in tea, causing repercussions similar to what comes from consuming too much alcohol: some of the most common effects of overindulgence in tea may be heart palpitations, irregular heart beats, tinnitus, which is a persistent ringing in the ears, or a feeling of bloating or nausea from drinking tea on an empty stomach.

How Can Excessive Consumption of Tea Cause Adverse Effects

1. Drinking tea, especially stronger varieties, on an empty stomach can cause nausea and dizziness, similar to being drunk.
2.  Tea can aggravate digestive or stomach problems such as ulcers or acid reflux.
3.  People used to drinking higher-fermented teas such as black, oolong, and pu-erh can experience these effects in greater amounts when they switch to tea of a much lower fermentation level, such as green or white.
4.  Freshly picked tea leaves can make these effects stronger, and if you are not used to drinking tea, you might be more sensitive to these effects as well. No matter what, if you drink a large amount of tea in a short period of time, you can possibly get “tea drunk”.

How to Reduce ‘Tea Drunkenness”

1.  Never drink tea on an empty stomach
This dilutes your natural gastric acid, preventing you from digesting food as well, and the high absorbance rate of water in the tea will also cause your body to absorb caffeine more easily, causing dizziness, stress, and even weakness or tingling in your hands or feet. If you are prone to tea-drunkenness, always consume something with a high sugar content or meat before drinking tea.

2.  Avoid freshly-picked teas
First-flush tea leaves picked during the spring are usually the highest grade and therefore best quality of leaf. Because these leaves have been stored for less than a month, they often contain a much higher concentration of caffeine, active alkaloids, and other such aromatic substances than older teas might. This heightened chemical load can stimulate the central nervous system and stomach, which can cause that feeling of inebriation or illness. tBecause of this, it might be better to let the tea age for at least half a month before drinking it.

3. Drink light/diluted tea
People who seldom drink tea should keep their tea light since the excessive theophylline and caffeine contain in strong tea will both affect your mental state and physical health.

4. Never Overindulge
As with overindulgence of any kind, drinking too much tea can bring adverse consequences. Even though tea is known to have a myriad of health benefits, if you drink more than 10g of tea a day, it can irritate the stomach and esophagus lining. Hot tea presents a greater risk of this, and can also lead to the development of ulcers and acid reflux, and can increase the symptoms of GERD and IBS. Also, drinking tea that’s too hot can increase your risk of esophageal cancer.

Be sure to exercise common sense when drinking tea – don’t drink too much, allow it to cool a little before drinking, don’t drink tea that is too concentrated, and don’t drink tea that may interfere with any medication that you’re taking. Following these simple steps may help ensure that your favorite cup of tea doesn’t cause negative health effects.

If you have some health issues, always check with your healthcare provider to make sure that tea is safe for you, or if you have any questions or concerns about the side effects of tea.

When you drink tea at a proper time and in proper amounts, tea can be one of the best drinks for the health of your body and mind. Tea is extremely low in calories (provided no sugar is added to it) and by following the above guidelines you can reap the full health benefits of tea.