♪ ♪ >> THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW ARE THE PROMISE OF BETTER DAYS.

WHAT DO THE COLOR OF PHLEGM AND MUCOUS TELL US?

STAY WITH AS WE TALK WITH RHINOLOGIST Dr. THOMAS HIGGINS ABOUT SNOT NEXT ON "KENTUCKY HEALTH."

>> "KENTUCKY HEALTH" IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY.

♪ ♪ AT REST, THE TYPICAL ADULT BREATHES 12 TIMES A MINUTE WITH EACH OF THESE BREATHS, ABOUT A HALF LITRE OF AIR IS MOVED THROUGH THE NOSE FOR A TOTAL OF SIX LITRES PER MINUTE.

IN ADDITION TO OXYGEN, OTHER GOOD THINGS IN THE AIR THAT WE BREATHE INCLUDE THE ENTICING AROMA OF DINNER BEING COOKED.

PETRO CORE, THE EARTHY SMELL IN THE AIR AFTER A RAIN STORM AND SPECIAL SCENT OF A LOVED ONE.

SADLY THERE ARE SOME BAD THINGS IN THE AIR SUCH AS POLLEN, IRRITANTS, POLLUTANTS, INFECTIOUS AGENTS THAT MAY CAUSE IRRITATION AND DISCOMFORT.

STEVEN WRIGHT, THE PHILOSOPHER COMEDIAN OPINED, IF A COW LAUGHED WOULD MILK COME OUT OF HER NOSE?

I CAN'T SAY THAT I HAVE SEEN THAT, BUT WHETHER WE CALL IT MUCOUS, PHLEGM OR SNOT, I HAVE SEEN THAT COMING OUT OF THE NOSE OF MY FELLOW HUMANS.

UNLESS YOU ARE TALKING TO OUR GUEST, I DOUBT ANY OF US EVER BEGAN A CONVERSATION WITH, LET ME TALK ABOUT THE STUFF THAT CAME OUT OF MY NOSE TODAY.

TO TELL ALL ABOUT THE WONDERS OF SNOT AND RELATED SUBJECTS, WE HAVE AS OUR GUEST Dr. THOMAS HIGGINS.

Dr. HIGGINS EARNED HIS DOCTOR OF MEDICINE AND HIS MASTER OF SCIENCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND INFORMATION SCIENCES RESPECTIVELY.

HE COMPLETED A RESIDENCY IN OTOLARYNGOLOGIST AT THE EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA AND FOLLOWED THAT WITH A RHINOLOGY FELLOW SHIP AT THE JOHN HOPKINS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE INSTITUTION.

AND HE ALSO DID AN EXECUTIVE MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AT QUANTIC SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY.

Dr. HIGGINS IS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE GREATER LOUISVILLE MEDICAL SOCIETY AND CO-FOUNDER, PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF ENT CARE CENTERS PLLC, THE CORPORATE ENTITY OF KENTUCKIANA ENT AND ENT ASSOCIATES.

GERMANE TO TODAY'S DISCUSSION, HE IS THE CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE SNOT FORCE ALLIANCE.

AND I WILL LET HIM TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT.

Dr. HIGGINS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> ALMOST MESSED UP THERE.

I WANTED TO SAY OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGIST BUT NOW IT'S JUST OTOLARYNGOLOGIST.

WHEN DID THE RHINO GET TAKEN OUT?

>> INTERESTINGLY, IT IS USUALLY USED IN THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES BUT RHINOLOGY SHOULD BE INCLUDED.

BUT WE HAVE THE LONGEST NAME IN MEDICINE IT SEEMS OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGIST, HEAD AND NECK SURGERY CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR EVERYONE TO PRONOUNCE.

>> HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO GET INTO EAR, NOSE AND THROAT WORK OR ON THE OWE LARGE OTOLARYNGOLOGY.

>> IN MEDICAL SCHOOL, YOU THINK YOU LIKE THE DIAGNOSTIC MEDICINE TYPE OF SPECIALTIES.

DO YOU LIKE THE SURGICAL TYPE OF SPECIALTIES?

I LEAN TOWARD A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

I LIKE-- I DEFINITELY LIKE TO BE HANDS ON AS IN SURGERY.

I REALLY LIKE THE HEAD AND NET ANATOMY.

IT'S VERY COMPLEX AND IT'S INTRICATE FOR A HUMAN BEING, BUT ALSO, IN EVERY, NOSE AND THROAT, IT'S KIND OF THE SPECIALTY OF PRIMARY CARE.

EVERYBODY HAS HEAD AND NECK ISSUES AND IT REALLY AFFECTS THEM.

AND I SAW THAT WHEN I WAS SEEING PATIENTS AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I COULD DO GOOD.

I COULD MAKE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER IN THIS SPECIALTY.

>> WHAT DO YOU TELL THAT YOUNG WOMAN WHO IS SITTING THERE NOW WATCHING, SAYING I WANT TO DO WHAT THIS GUY DOES?

WHAT DO THEY NEED TO DO TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THAT JOB?

>> WELL, THERE IS A LOT OF EDUCATION.

YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED TO LEARN A LOT AND EXPERIENCE A LOT.

>> ANYTHING TO DO DURING HIGH SCHOOL OR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL TO GET THEM READY?

>> WELL, IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHADOW ANYONE OR JUST GOING TO ANY SORT OF MEDICAL FACILITIES, TO SEE WHAT IT ITSELF LIKE, MAYBE FIND A JOB THAT IS IN MEDICINE.

A LOT OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS NOW HAVE PROGRAMS FOR HEALTH SCIENCES AND IN GENERAL, THE FIRST THING AT THAT AGE IS TO SEE, DO YOU LIKE THIS AREA?

>> SO IT CAN BE DONE.

>> UH-HUH.

>> THE LITTLE KID IN ME GIGGLES EVERY TIME I SAY THE WORD SNOT.

AM I WRONG?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I LOVE THE WORD.

I LOVE THE WORD.

AND I DEAL WITH SNOT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> I MEAN RIGHT NOW PARENTS ARE CRINGING, COVERING UP LITTLE KIDS' EARS.

>> EXACTLY.

WELL, THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SNOT IS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE THE LITTLE KIDS.

>> OKAY.

>> AND ONE OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS I GET FROM PATIENTS IS WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS SPECIALTY?

AND, AGAIN, I JUST THINK IT'S FASCINATING AND WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO STOP THE SNOT, YOU ARE REALLY ABLE TO HELP SOMEBODY AND THEY FEEL GOOD.

>> I MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING THAT ABOUT SIX LITRES OF AIR GOES IN AND OUT THROUGH OUR NOSES ON A TYPICAL MINUTE.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING IN THAT MAY GIVE US SOME PROBLEMS?

>> IT DEPENDS ON YOUR ENVIRONMENT.

BUT THERE COULD BE MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO OBVIOUSLY POLLUTION IS A SIGNIFICANT ONE, PAR TICK-- PARTICULATE MATTER IS AN IMPORTANT ONE.

IT GETS INTO THE NOSE AND THE REST OF THE AIR WAY.

AND THEN ALLERGENS ARE AN INTERESTING PHENOMENA BECAUSE REALLY WE SHOULDN'T-- OUR BODIES SHOULDN'T FEAR AN ALLERGEN OR A POLLEN BUT IT DOES AND THE NOSE IS THE FIRST PLACE TO BLOCK ANY SORT OF PATHOGEN THAT COULD COME IN.

AND AN ALLERGEN, WHEN A BODY REACTS TO AN ALLERGEN, IT'S OVERREACTING TO SOMETHING THAT IS NOT TRULY HARMFUL.

WHEREAS WITH POLLUTION, OBVIOUSLY THAT CAN BE HARMFUL BUT IT'S TRYING TO REACT IT TO.

THAT'S WHY EVERYTHING GETS SWOLLEN AND WHY IT BLOCKS UP THE AIR WAY SO IT IS THAT FIRST PATHWAY OF DEFENSE.

>> SO YOU MENTIONED, I GUESS THERE IS A MECHANICAL OBSTRUCTION.

WHAT OTHER THINGS ARE THERE THAT HELP BLOCK THE ALLERGENS OR IRRITANTS FROM GETTING INTO US, THAT ARE IN THE NOSE?

>> WELL, THAT'S PART OF WHERE SNOT COMES IN.

SO SNOT USUALLY HAS-- I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT MUCOUS.

MUCOUS IS COMPRISED OF CELLS IN THE BODY THAT ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THE BOD #E-- THE BODY AND ALSO LIQUID.

THE LIQUID CAN BE THIN AND RUNNY, SO THAT A LOT OF TIMES, WHEN YOU GET AN ALLERGY, YOU HAVE A RUNNY NOSE OR IT CAN GET THICKER WHEN IT GETS THICKER, IT COULD BE THAT IT HAS GOTTEN DRY OR THAT THERE ARE CELLS IN THERE THAT ARE TRYING TO BATTLE SAY AN INFECTION OR INFLAMMATION.

>> YOU ARE A SPECIALIST WITHIN A SPECIALTY.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS IN THE NOSE THAT MAKE IT UNIQUE AS FAR AS OUR BODY PARTS ARE CONCERNED?

>> SO, THE NOSE IS MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU MAY INITIALLY REALIZE.

SO ONE, AS I SAID, IT PROTECTS THE AIR WAY.

IT ALSO MOISTURIZES THE AIR THAT COMES IN TO TRY TO HELP FLOW OF THE MUCOUS AND HELP THE ENTIRE REGULATORY SYSTEM.

YOU ALSO HAVE SMELL.

WE HAD MAJOR ISSUES WITH COVID-19 WITH SMELL LOSS AND OTHER VIRUSES THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.

AND SMELL IS A VERY IMPORTANT SYMPTOM ITSELF.

AND IT CAN BE FAIRLY COMPLEX BECAUSE THERE IS NOT JUST ONE THING THAT CAN CAUSE IT.

SO ONE COULD BE A NERVE-RELATED ISSUE BECAUSE THE SMELL NERVES ARE NERVES.

THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE NERVES IN YOUR HEAD THAT TAKE IN ANODOR AND THEN WILL DISCERN WHICH-- WHAT SMELL IT IS AND PROCESS IT IN THE BRAIN.

SO THAT WHOLE NEURAL SYSTEM, IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT, THEN YOU CAN HAVE SMELL LOSS IT CAN ALSO BE OBSTRUCTION.

IF YOU CAN'T BREATHE IN YOUR NOSE, YOU CAN'T GET ANODE RESISTANT IN YOUR NOSE TO DETECT IT.

ON TOP OF THAT, 80 TO 90% OF TASTE COMES FROM YOUR SMELL.

WHEN YOU TASTE SOMETHING, ONE OF THE THINGS THINGS YOU ARE DOING IS INHALING AND SMELLING IT.

MASTER DILL STILLERS AND CHEFS TELL YOU THAT THAT SMELL IS A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT.

>> WHAT ARE SINUSES.

>> DIFFERENT TERMS FOR SINUSES.

SINUSES IN GENERAL ARE AIR FILLED SACKS.

THEY CAN BE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BODY.

FOR THE NOSE, IT'S CALLED PARA NASAL SINUSES.

AROUND THE NOSE SINUSES.

AND SO THOSE ARE NOT NECESSARILY INSIDE THE NOSE BUT THEY'RE AROUND IN THE FACE AND WHY WOULD THEY EXIST?

THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS WHY THEY EXIST.

ONE IS THAT MOISTURIZATION PROCESS THAT HAPPENS.

ANOTHER IS HELPING US WITH TRAUMA, PROTECTING THE HEAD.

BECAUSE IT'S A CRUSH ZONE.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE SOME SORT OF TRAUMA OR, YOU GET HIT IN THE HEAD, IF THOSE CRUSH, THEN THAT RELIEVES PRESSURE THAT OTHERWISE WOULD CAUSE BRAIN DAMAGE.

AND IT ALSO LIGHTENS THE HEAD.

AND SO YOU CAN IMAGINE, IF YOU HAD A BOWLING BALL AS A HEAD, YOU WOULD HAVE PROBLEMS BUT WITH THE SINUSES, IT HELPS TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD.

>> WHEN WE HEAR PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY HAVE A STUFFED NOSE, WHAT ACTUALLY IS STUFFED?

PEOPLE SAY I GOT A STUFFY NOSE AND YOU TRY TO TAKE A BREATH IN AND YOU CAN'T GET THE AIR IN.

WHAT IS CAUSING THAT OBJECT STLUX?

>> SO-- WHAT IS CAUSING THAT OBSTRUCTION?

>> THAT DEPENDS WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE NOSE.

SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES LOOKING IN THE NOSE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

A COUPLE OF THE MORE COMMON THINGS THAT CAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING CALLED A DEVIATED SEPTUM, A SEPTUM IS IN THE MID LINE OF THE NOSE AND IT CAN BE OFF TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

WHETHER OR NOT IT'S FROM TRAUMA OR IF IT'S FROM JUST THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NOSE, MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE THAT DEVIATION OF THE SEPTUM.

NOT EVERYBODY HAS OBSTRUCTION FROM IT BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN CAUSES.

ANOTHER CAUSE THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT OR MAYBE HAVEN'T HEARD OF, IS SOMETHING CALLED INFERIOR TURBINANT.

STRUCTURES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE SEPTUM THAT EXPAND AND CONTRACT WITH ALLERGIES AND IRRITANTS.

ANYTHING THAT'S COMES IN OBSTRUCTS.

SAY YOU ARE SLEEPING AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR NOSE STOPS UP AND THEN LATER, LEFT SIDE STOPS UP.

THAT'S THE NASAL CYCLE AND THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING.

THAT IS ALSO WHERE THE SPRAYS WORK AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE OBSTRUCTION CAN OCCUR.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST THOSE STRUCTURES.

THERE CAN BE THINGS WITHIN THE NOSE OR SINUSES THAT BLOCK IT UP.

AN INFECTION.

AN INFECTION, THICK MUCOUS CRUSTING ANYTHING LIKE THAT CAN ALSO OBJECT INSTRUCTS-- OBSTRUCT THE NOSE.

NASAL POLYPS, DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER POLL-- OTHER THAN THE POLYPS AROUND THE BODY BUT THESE ARE LIKE GRAPES IN THE NOSE.

CONSISTENCY OF THAT WITH WATER AND INFLAMMATION.

AND THEY CAN COMPLETELY BLOCK UP THE NOSE AS WELL.

AND THEN ONE OF THE CONCERNS OCCASIONALLY IS YOU CAN ACTUALLY STILL GET TUMORS IN THE NOSE AS WELL.

SO IT'S GOOD TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT.

>> MOST OF US HAVE HAIRS IN THE NOSE.

SOME OF US HAVE LONGER AIR HIGHER HIGHER LONGER HAIR THAN OTHERS.

DOES THIS SERVE A A FUNCTION OR THERE TO IRRITATE THE DEVIL OUT OF US.

>> BOTH.

THE HAIR DOZEN HAVE FILTRATION COMPONENTS.

SO WHEN PEOPLE, SOME PEOPLE WILL TRIM THE LAYER-- WILL TRIM THE HAIRS AND IT CAN INTERFERE WITH SOME OF THE COOLING PROCESS, SOME OF THE FILTRATION PROCESS ITSELF.

BUT JUST LIKE ANYTHING, AND LIKE THE EARS THAT-- THE THE-- LIKE THE HAIRS IN YOUR EARS, IT CAN BE AN IRRITANT IF IT IS LONG AND STIFF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TELL ME ABOUT THE SNOT ALLIANCE.

FULL NAME AND HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THIS?

>> SO, IT'S CALLED THE SNOT FORCE ALLIANCE, INC. BECAUSE IT IS A 501c3 NON-PROFIT.

SEVERAL COLLEAGUES AND I THROUGHOUT ACTUALLY THE U.S. AND WE WERE ALL SNOT DOCTORS SO RHINOLOGISTS AT DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS AND/OR IN PRACTICE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND ALSO IT STARTED TO INCLUDE ALLERGISTS AND THEN OTHER DIFFERENT SPECIALTIES AND WE HAD KIND OF A VISION OF, WELL, WE WERE DOING THINGS TOGETHER.

WE WERE DOING RESEARCH.

WE WERE DOING INVESTIGATION AND WE STARTED TO FIND OUT THAT THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF THIS THAT WE DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND BECAUSE IT STARTS TO GO BEYOND WHERE OUR SPECIALTY IS.

AND SO, IN ORDER TO KIND OF GO THROUGH AND BETTER LOOK INTO A MISSION, WE NEEDED TO CREATE A NON-PROFIT TO GO WHERE WE WANTED TO GO.

SO THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO BRING SPECIALISTS TOGETHER THAT TREAT NOSE, SINUS, ALLERGY, AIR WAY CONDITIONS.

AND THEN LRN AND HELP DEVELOP TREATMENTS ON THE BEST WAY OF TREATING THAT.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, IT STARTED OFF WITH SAY, EAR, NOSE AND THROAT AND ALLERGISTS AND WE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS, WHEN PEOPLE COME TO EITHER OF THESE SPECIALTIES, THEY HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS.

THEY MAY HAVE ITCHY, RUNNY NOSE.

THEY MAY HAVE DRAINAGE IN THEIR THROAT, SOME SMELL-OFFS AND THE PATHWAY OF TREATMENT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE TRAINING AND BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU SEE.

BUT IF YOU BRING THOSE SPECIALISTS TOGETHER, AND WE TALK TOGETHER AND WE SAY HERE IS THIS PATIENT ACCOUNT HOW-- HOW WOULD YOU MANAGE IT.

WAIT A MINUTE.

I THINK THERE IS SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU START TO-- THAT CONSERVATION BUILDS ON-- THAT CONVERIZATION HELPS TO BETTER IMPROVE TREATMENT AND SO WE NOW HAVE OVER 2,000 MEMBERS NATIONWIDE.

WE EVEN HAVE A COUPLE INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS.

WE HELP PROVIDE CME MEETINGS AND WEBINARS FOR THE DOCTORS.

WE HAVE AN ANNUAL MEETING THAT IS HELD HERE IN LOUISVILLE EACH YEAR AND IS COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER.

WHERE WE BRING DOCTORS FROM ALL OVER THE U.S., ALL DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS FROM CLEVELAND CLINIC, VANDERBILT, JOHN HOPKINS AND OTHERS TO HERE AND WE HAVE A PANEL DISCUSSION AND WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE KNOWLEDGE.

>> THAT IS A REALLY IMPRESSIVE THING.

AND I'M SURE I GIGGLE AND OTHER PEOPLE GIGGLE AND I'M SURE YOU GIGGLE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SNOT FORCE ALLIANCE BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF BRINGING IN DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS, IT CAN'T HELP BUT MAKE TREATING THE PATIENT BETTER AND I GUESS ONE EXAMPLE, TO ME MIGHT BE SLEEP DISORDERS BECAUSE THE PULMONARY PERSON TREATS IT ONE WAY, ENT PERSON MAY TREAT IT ANOTHER WAY.

ALLERGIST, USING THAT AS AN EXAMPLE THAT EVERYBODY SEEMS TO HAVE THESE SLEEP DISORDERS.

HOW DO YOU FIND THAT OF BEING A BENEFIT BY HAVING DIFFERENT PEOPLE LOOK AT THAT?

>> THAT IS A GREAT ETCH.

SO-- THAT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

SO SLEEP PROBLEMS CAN BE CAUSED BY EVERY AREA OF THE AIR WAY.

IN THE SNOT FORCE ALLIANCE, WE CALL OURSELVES THE PROTECTORS OF THE UNIFIED AIRWAYS.

>> HAVE YOU T SHIRTS.

>> WE HAVE T SHIRT, SHIELD, LOGO, EVERYTHING.

BUT IF A PULMONOLOGIST SEES A PATIENT, THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SLEEP DISORDERS, OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA, MAYBE A SLEEP STUDY IS IMPORTANT.

AN ENT MAY SEE THE PATIENT AND SAY HEY, WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR NOSE?

YOU CAN'T BREATHE THROUGH YOUR NOSE.

LET ME LOOK AT THAT, LET ME LOOK AT YOUR MOUTH.

LET ME LOOK IN THE BACK OF YOUR MOUTH, YOUR THROAT, HOW MUCH IS THAT CONTRIBUTING.

THAT GOES INTO DENTISTRY.

THE JAW LINE CAN KIND OF AFFECT SLEEP ISSUES AND SO ALL OF THAT KIND OF COMES TOGETHER.

BUT IF YOU HAVE DIFFERENT SPECIALISTS TREATING THINGS SEPARATELY, THEN IT'S HARD TO GATHER WHAT, FROM A HOLISTIC PATIENT, WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP FOR THEM.

AND I WILL MAKE ONE OTHER POINT ABOUT THE SNOT FORCE AND ACTUALLY WHY IT'S KIND OF NAMED A LITTLE BIT LIKE THAT AND WHY WE HAVE TEE SHIRTS AND EVERYTHING BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AND ESPECIALLY YOU HAVE VERY SMART PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, THEY HAVE OPINIONS THAT ARE VERY GOOD.

BUT THEN YOU START TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AND IT CAN GET A LITTLE BIT CONTENTIOUS OCCASIONALLY.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A SNOT FORCE ALLIANCE AND EVERYBODY IS JUST HAVING FUN, ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT BACKS DOWN AND LET'S LEARN FROM EACH OTHER, LET'S RELAX AND HAVE A NICE FIRE SIDE CONVERSATION.

AND IT'S AMAZING WHAT COMES OUT AND WHAT PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT AND LEARN.

>> YOU LET THE SCIENCE GUIDE THE WAY THE DISCUSSION WILL GO.

>> RIGHT.

>> AROUND HERE, WE ARE IN LOUISVILLE, WE HAVE THE OHIO RIVER.

EVERYBODY HAS THIS THING, THE OHIO RIVER CRUD.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING I HEARD ABOUT IN 1994 WHEN I MOVED HERE.

TELL ME ABOUT HOW THIS AFFECTS YOU AND WHAT YOU DO?

>> WELL, ANY CONTAMINANT CAN CAUSE WHATEVER THE PARTICULATE MATTER, WHAT HAVE YOU, AFFECT YOUR NOSE AND THROAT AND LUNGS.

IN ARIZONAI FOR INSTANCE, IT MAY BE REALLY DRY WEATHER AND THAT AFFECTS IT AS WELL.

IN THE DESERT, IT IS SAND AND SO FORTH.

IN THE OHIO VALLEY, WE REALLY HAVE SOME ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE IS ONE BEAUTIFUL TREES, GRASSES AND WEEDS.

AND WITH THOSE COME THE CRUD, COME THE REACTION TO THE ALLERGENS.

SO IT'S REALLY HEAVY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

THERE ARE OTHER ENVIRONMENTS THAT CAUSE OTHER ISSUESES OF THE AIR WAY BUT THIS ENVIRONMENT DEFINITELY DOES.

>> WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE EITHER HAVE A COLD OR AN ALLERGY, THE MUCOUS HAS DIFFERENT COLORS.

FROM CLEAR, BROWN, GREEN, RED.

WHAT DO THESE DIFFERENT COLORS MEAN?

OR DO THEY HAVE ANY MEANING WHATSOEVER TO US?

>> WELL, THEY CAN HAVE MEANING.

I LOVE THIS TOPIC.

THIS IS SNOT.

AND SO ONE, YOU THINK ABOUT COLORS, YOU THINK ABOUT SNOT AND YOU THINK ABOUT BURGERS, BASICALLY DRIED SNOT.

THAT'S WHY THAT HARD...

OKAY.

QUALITY DEFINITIONS HERE, RIGHT?

>> QUALITY DEFINITIONS.

>> BUT THE DIFFERENT COLORS CAN HELP, BUT THEY'RE NOT-- IT'S NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE.

SO A CLEAR-- WE CALL IT MUCOID, IT COULD BE A SIGN OF ALLERGIES OR VIRUSES.

WHEN IT TURNS TO YELLOW OR A GREEN TYPE OF COLOR, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK AUTOMATICALLY THAT'S AN INFECTION, THAT THAT IS A BACTERIAL INFECTION.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS.

SOMETIMES IT CAN BE THAT CLEAR SECRETION NOW DRYING A LITTLE BIT AND IT BECOMES A LITTLE YELLOW BUT SOMETIMES IT CAN BE AN INDICATION OF BACTERIA OR OTHER CAUSES OR INFECTION.

WHEN YOU GET INTO BROWN SNOT, NOW YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT LIKELY A LITTLE BIT OF BLOOD IN THAT, IT'S OLD BLOOD THAT CAN CAUSE THAT.

SOMETIMES IT CAN ALSO JUST BE THE DRYNESS.

RED, YOU GOT TO SEE IF YOU ARE HAVING A NOSE BLEED.

THAT CAN BE INDICATIVE OF THAT.

>> YOU MENTIONED DRYNESS A COUPLE OF TIMES.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TREATMENTS THAT WE CAN DO FOR THAT?

>> SO,-- >> AND IS IT MORE COMMON IN THE WINTER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT DEPENDS ON THE CAUSES AND THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT CAUSES.

EVERY WINTER IT GETS REALLY DRY HERE.

AND SO MOISTURIZING THE NOSE IS ONE WAY SO IT COULD BE TOPICAL TYPE OF EITHER SPRAYS OR GELS OR WHAT HAVE YOU TO MOISTURIZE THE NOSE ITSELF.

THERE IS ALSO HUMIDIFIERS ARE IMPORTANT AT THAT TIME TO MOISTURIZE THE AIR AROUND YOU.

IF YOU ARE ON A LOT OF MEDICATIONS, A LOT OF THE MEDICATIONS HAVE SEVERE DRYING EFFECTS AS WELL.

AND SO THEY CAN AFFECT THE DRYNESS IN THE NOSE.

AS WE AGE, IT ACTUALLY, THE SECRETIONS BECOME A LITTLE LESS OF THE WATERY SECRETION AND SOMETIMES A LITTLE THICKER SO THAT CAN BE DRY AS WELL SO THOSE ALL PLAY A ROLE.

BUT DEFINITELY, I THINK DRYNESS ACTUALLY PLAYS-- CAN CAUSE SEVERAL SYMPTOMS THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE AND, FOR INSTANCE, JUST-- IT CAN MAKE THE NOSE UNCOMFORTABLE.

IT CAN CAUSE PAIN IN THE NOSE ITSELF BECAUSE IT'S NOT-- IT WANTS TO MOISTURIZE IT AND IT WANTS TO HAVE SECRETIONS ITSELF.

>> I GUESS I OWE YOU AN OFFICE VISIT FOR THAT PIECE OF ADVICE.

TELL ME REAL QUICK.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT USING THE PRINCE RINSES, RINSING OUT THE SINUSES.

>> I THINK THEY'RE GOOD.

SO IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD ANY SINUS SURGERY, YOU ARE REALLY RINSING THE NOSE, NOT THE SINUSES.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THAT.

BUT IF YOU ARE HAVING A PARTICULARLY YOU ARE HAVING A COLD OR IF THERE IS A LOT OF THESE SECRETIONS GETTING IN AND OUT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER.

YOU SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE YOU APPLY WHEN YOU ARE RINSING YOUR NOSE BECAUSE IN THE BACK OF YOUR NOSE IS THE OPENINGS THAT WILL GO TO YOUR EARS.

EUSTACIAN TUBES.

WHEN PEOPLE RINSE THE NOSE, IT CAN GET INTO THAT AND THEY WILL FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A STOPPED UP EAR.

AND SO BE CAREFUL ON THAT.

WHEN PEOPLE HAVE HAD SINUS SURGERY, THAT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF SINUS SURGERIES, THAT THE SINUSES ARE OPEN AND WHEN YOU RINSE, YOU ACTUALLY GET TO RINSE INTO THE SINUSES.

>> THE BENEFITS OF SINUS SURGERY IS RUNNING THE WATER ALL THE WAY UP IN THERE.

I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT BEFORE.

WITH ABOUT A MINUTE TO GO, TELL ME THREE TAKE HOME POINTS YOU WANT US ALL TO KNOW ABOUT OUR NOSES.

>> SO, I THINK FIRST, IF YOU HAVE OBSTRUCTION OF YOUR NOSE AND IT LASTS FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, IT'S PROBABLY GOOD TO SEE SOMEBODY ABOUT IT AND GET AN EVALUATION.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLEX THAN SOME PEOPLE REALIZE.

AND MOSTLY IT COULD BE ALLERGIES.

IT COULD BE DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE STOPPED UP ALWAYS.

THERE ARE REMEDIES FOR THAT AND IF YOU DO THE WRONG THINGS, SOMETIMES YOU CAN MAKE IT WORSE.

BUT ALSO THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE IN THE NOSE.

IT IS GOOD TO BE ABLE TO EVALUATE THOSE.

THE OTHER IS THERE IS REALLY A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NOSE AND THE SINUSES.

AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH MY SINUSES BUT ACTUALLY IT IS THE NOSE.

SO IF THEY'RE STOPPED UP, A LOT OF TIMES IT IS JUST THE NOSE.

THE REMEDY IS THE NOSE, NOT NECESSARILY ANTIBIOTICS.

SO AND THEN IF IT IS IN THE SINUSES, THEN BEING ABLE TO KIND OF FIGURE OUT THE TREATMENT OF THAT AND, AGAIN, BACK TO THE POINT OF INFECTION, NOT ALWAYS INFECTION.

IT CAN BE INFLAMMATION AND SO ANTIBIOTIC OVERUSE IS A REAL THING.

AND SO THINKING THAT THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT CAUSES AND GETTING A GOOD EVALUATION CAN BE VERY HELPFUL.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT BUT WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE YOU COME BACK AGAIN NEXT TIME FOR US, ANOTHER TIME SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT NASAL SPRAYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, Dr. HIGGINS.

I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BE WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A GREATER APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THE THINGS THAT OCCUR IN OUR NOSES AND THE ROLE THAT MUCOUS AND PHLEGM PLAY IN KEEPING US HEALTHY AND HELPING US GAUGE OUR STATE OF HEALTH.

IF YOU WISH TO WATCH THIS SHOW AGAIN OR AN ARCHIVED VERSION OF PAST SHOWS PLEASE GO TO WWW.ket.org/HEALTH.

IF HAVE YOU A QUESTION OR COMMENT ABOUT THIS OR OTHER SHOWS WE CAN BE REACHED AT KYHEALTH@ket.org.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON THE NEXT "KENTUCKY HEALTH" AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE NEXT TIME YOU BLOR YOUR NOSE AND BE RESPECTFUL OF THAT.

IS THERE A SECRET HAND SHAKE FOR THE ALLIANCE.

>> THERE IS NOT BUT WE CAN MAKE IT UP.

>> I'M SURE IT'S SOMETHING BLOWING THROUGH THE NOSE.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> "KENTUCKY HEALTH" IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY.