Can Blowing Your Nose Too Hard Cause Dizziness?

Yes, you might feel dizzy if you blow your nose too hard. That’s because forcefully blowing your nose can affect your ear, which also controls your sense of balance. In rare cases, blowing your nose too hard could cause other ear issues.

Stuffy noses know no season. Whether it’s a bad winter cold or a seasonal spring allergy, you might find yourself blowing your nose often and, sometimes, with a lot of force.

But blowing your nose too hard could have negative consequences. In some cases, blowing your nose too hard can affect your ears. It could cause your ears to feel like they’re going to pop. It could even affect your sense of balance, as your inner ear plays a role in your balance.

Dizzy spells after blowing your nose are usually short lived. Still, they can be scary and uncomfortable. In this article, we’ll explain how blowing your nose can cause dizziness and provide tips on how to blow your nose safely.

Your ear is responsible for more than just hearing. Your inner ear is home to your vestibular system, which controls your sense of balance. If you feel dizzy after blowing your nose, it might be due to the transmission of pressure to your inner ear.

Your nose is connected to your middle ear through a canal called the eustachian tube. The eustachian tube works to equalize pressure on both sides of your eardrum. But if you blow your nose with too much force, the air that moves through the tube puts intense pressure on the little bones of your inner ear.

The vestibular system in your inner ear controls your sense of balance. It does this by sending signals to your brain about the position and movements of your head. The buildup of air pressure in the inner ear, combined with the movement of your head while sneezing, causes your brain to perceive a change in balance.

The dizziness you might feel from blowing your nose too hard is typically short lived and goes away without treatment. If your ears pop open, they might soon stuff up from sinus congestion.

Dizziness and popped ears

If your ears feel stuffy, it’s usually due to a blockage in the eustachian tube. This happens if you have cold or allergy symptoms. Blowing your nose too hard can cause your ears to pop, as the excess force relieves pressure in the eustachian tube.

Dizziness can often accompany this ear popping sensation. Blowing your nose can have a similar effect on your ears as the Valsalva maneuver, which involves pinching your nose, closing your mouth, and attempting to exhale.