Purpose of nasal sinuses (and how to clean them out?)

[topless_mike]

Yo funk doc, what it do?

Question yo.

What exactly is the purpose of one's Sinuses? When they get clogged or congested, why dont they just probe and extract the mung out of there? Seems to me that would really solve some problems.

[Dr Steve]

Yo funk doc, what it do?

Question yo.

What exactly is the purpose of one's Sinuses? When they get clogged or congested, why dont they just probe and extract the mung out of there? Seems to me that would really solve some problems.

Sinuses do a lot of things:

1) they're air-filled (ususally), decreasing the weight of our big fat skulls. Without the sinuses, those areas would be filled with bone.

2) providing "airbags" for blows to the head. Hit a sinus and the impact is distributed widely rather than being transferred directly to the brain.

3) providing humidification to the nasal passages.


you can't get to them really easily...the holes that offer access are hidden in folds of tissue. You can open these up surgically in severe cases. You can try to wash them out with a Neti Pot, if you like, as well.

http://minnesotagal.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/neti-pot.jpg

you'll look stupid, but it does help :smile: