why when i have a cold and then take a hot shower why does my stuffed up nose clear up?

Could you post anything more stupid?

could you be any more of a jerk?

...now that we have the thread openers and greetings over with.

Could it be that dryness of the air (lack of humidy in the nasal passages) causes the stuffiness or plugging of the passages? That increasing the humidy reduces the irritation thus a decrease in the overfunctioning of mucus production...

Just a thought.

I would have said it was the Congealed Mucus melting through an exchange of State, from Solid to Liquid.

Yes, I think you haven't discovered a method of clearing your nose, but you have found the Melting point of Snot.

Feel proud there's a nobel prize in the post.

Damn... and here I thought it was due to the heat of the water causing my brain to expand, forcing its way into other cranial orifices, thus displacing the congealed mucus and freeing my respiratory patterns.

Peace.

It's also a survival thing.
The instictual thing to do when faced with a torrent of water is to not breathe thru the mouth. This confuses the brain which sets about opening the other air passages to optimise oxygen intake.

Forget the shower next time and just try holding your breath. It works !:D

cool bbcboy, i never thought of that one!