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Understanding of the sinuses can explain why we should never dive with a cold.
Introduction
Sinuses are important cavities in the skull that are lined with the same kind of membranes that line the nose, and they are connected to the inside of the nose through small openings about the size of a pencil lead.
What do sinuses do?
Sinuses are part of the nasal air and membrane system that produces mucus. Normally, the nose and sinuses produce between over a litre of mucus and secretions per day. This mucus passes into and through the nose, sweeping and washing the membranes, picking up dust particles, bacteria, and other air pollutants along the way. The mucus then flows backward into the throat where it is swallowed, down into the stomach where acids destroy any dangerous bacteria. Most people do not notice this mucus flow because it is just a normal bodily function.
Sinuses must be pressure equalised as the diver descends and ascends. This will happen quite naturally unless one or more of of them are blocked, for example when diving with a cold. Should this occur then the diver should feel pain, however in some circumstances they may not, and the walls of the sinus may release fluid and blood to equalise the pressure, on surfacing the fluid will be forced out by increasing pressure.
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