# Sinus vacuum?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinus-vacuum/471014>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 4, 2008, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinus-vacuum/471014 "2008-11-04T08:29:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinus-vacuum/471014/1 "2008-11-04T08:29:01Z")

</div>

My wife, who can’t sleep at 3am, would love a sinus vacuum. Does such a thing exist? (We have a neti pot, but once she’s congested, it doesn’t do much for her.)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinus-vacuum/471014/2 "2008-11-04T10:17:44Z")

</div>

There are those those little bulb syringes that you use on infants - will that help?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinus-vacuum/471014/3 "2008-11-04T10:24:26Z")

</div>

I’m told that before bulb syringes became common, parents in some parts of the world would suck their babies’ mucus out their little noses by mouth.

So if all else fails and you hear your wife getting stuffy next to you, I suppose you could just lean over and . . .

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinus-vacuum/471014/4 "2008-11-04T11:18:32Z")

</div>

Possible problems:  
You’ll suck your brain out.  
You’ll suck your eyes out.  
You’ll destroy your hearing.

Using suction you have the possibility of damaging your sight, brain, and hearing. One of those bulbs they use on a baby are not likely to hurt you. A vacuum cleaner is not something you should try. A Doper did something similar last year and was lucky.

Try a sinus wash.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2008, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinus-vacuum/471014/5 "2008-11-04T11:39:50Z")

</div>

Due to genetic and occupational factors I have been seen by an otolaryngologist many times in my life. Examinations often involve what seems like the use of a vacuum; when the device is inserted in the mouth and the nostrils pinched together, a sensation is produced akin to having one’s skull pulled through a straw. By which I mean painful, though of short duration.  
Seeing an Ear Nose and Throat physician is strongly recommended, your wife may have congenital formations remediable to good, long lasting effect.