why exactly is it harder for you to take long drinks when you have a cold than when you’re healthy and your sinuses are clear?

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I think generally I understand it had something to do with your nose/throat area being swollen (???) but how does that actually cause your body to suddenly feel like its choking on liquid even though the first few sips went down fine?

In: Biology

Anonymous 0 Comments

My guess is that it’s to do with your body using your nose as a sort of “vent” when you swallow – this is why your sense of smell is so important to taste. When you swallow, a small amount of gas is pushed out of your nose, meaning you smell whatever it is you’re eating/drinking.

If you have a cold and the passage this gas travels down is more narrow than normal then it can become uncomfortable trying to push this gas out through your nose. Meaning that swallowing becomes harder as you create pressure.