Why do we breathe through one nostril? Secrets of the nasal cycle that doctors are silent about

Have you ever noticed that when you take a deep breath, especially in the morning or before bed, air flows freely through only one nostril, while the other seems slightly blocked? Do not rush to grab vasoconstrictor drops. This is not an allergy or an incipient cold. This is a natural physiological process known as the nasal cycle. Несколько раз в день, оставаясь незаметным для нашего сознания, организм переключает «рабочую смену» между ноздрями, и у этого процесса есть важная миссия по защите вашего здоровья.

Why does the body need to breathe through one nostril: Educational program about the nasal cycle

The nasal cycle is an automatic process that is regulated by the hypothalamus of the brain, writes xrust. During wakefulness, the “dominant” nostril changes approximately every 2-3 hours. During sleep, this rhythm may slow down as breathing rate and air volume decrease.

There are two key states in this mechanism:

• Congestion phase: In one the nostril there is a decrease in air flow due to swelling of the mucous membrane. This allows her to “rest” and recover.
• Depressurization phase: The opposite nostril is open and allows the main volume of air to pass through. At this time, it is vulnerable to drying out and pathogens, so after a couple of hours the body switches places of the nostrils.

Research shows that this process is associated not only with physiology, but also with brain activity. Scientists theorize that when the right nostril is dominant, the body is in a more alert state, and when the left nostril is dominant, the body is in a relaxed state.

Why the nose needs rest: protection and restoration

At least 12,000 liters of air pass through the nasal passages every day. The nasal mucosa is the first line of defense against dust, allergens and germs. A constant intense air flow would dry out the mucous membrane, depriving it of its protective properties.

It is thanks to the nasal cycle that the mucous membrane gets time to recover:

1. class=»notranslate»>__GTAG8__ Humidification. During the rest phase, blood flow to the vessels increases, which ensures tissue hydration.
2. Warming. The swollen mucous membrane helps warm the air that will go into the lungs when the nostril becomes working again.
3. Protection against pathogens. Alternating dominant nostrils reduces the risk of mucosal damage and makes it easier to protect the nasal passages from bacteria and viruses.

What disrupts the nasal cycle: from colds to curvature

Normally, a person does not notice the nasal cycle. However, there are factors that make it noticeable or disrupt its operation. Problems arise when tissue swelling becomes pathological.

Main causes of violations

Respiratory diseases. Colds and flu increase mucus production. The swelling becomes too strong, and the cycle stops alternating — both nostrils become blocked.

Allergies. Pollen, dust mites and other allergens cause severe inflammation of the nasal tissues, blocking the normal alternation of air flow. The symptom can last for weeks depending on the flowering season.

Medicines. Some medications, such as those for high blood pressure, can cause mucosal irritation because they affect blood vessels throughout the body. And abuse of nasal drops (more than five days in a row) causes drug-induced rhinitis — “rebound syndrome”, when swelling occurs precisely because of the antispasmodic.

Nasal polyps. Mucosal growths, which occur in 4% of people, physically block the passage of air. They restrict the passage of air through the nostrils, making the nasal cycle ineffective and causing a constant feeling of congestion.

Deviated septum. When the cartilage and bone plate between the nostrils is off-center, it can cause a persistent feeling of stuffiness in one nostril. In such cases, surgery is often required to improve breathing and sleep quality.

Body position. Even something as simple as lying in bed can affect the nasal cycle. When you lie down, blood pools in the tissues of the nose, and gravity causes the contents of the sinuses to move into the nostril closest to the pillow. This can block one of the nostrils, making breathing difficult.

Expert commentary

“Many patients come with a complaint of “permanently blocked one nostril,” considering this a characteristic of the body. It is important to understand: the nasal cycle is a shift lasting 2-3 hours. If you sleep on your side, your lower nostril may swell due to blood flow, and this is normal. But if you feel that a particular nostril is not breathing for days or weeks, this is not a cycle, but a reason for an endoscopic examination. Often this hides a curvature of the septum, which interferes with normal air exchange in the sinuses, causing chronic sinusitis,”
— comments Natalya Valova, an otorhinolaryngologist-surgeon.

When it's time to see a doctor

If you're worried about nasal congestion, it's most often due to infections such as colds and flu. It may take up to two weeks for congestion to clear. Sinusitis, which is an infection of the sinuses, can last up to four weeks.

Pollen allergies can also be a common cause of nasal cycle disruption. Taking antihistamines regularly during hay fever season can help reduce symptoms.

But there are situations when a visit to the doctor cannot be postponed:

• One nostril remains blocked constantly for more than 2-3 weeks.
• There is unusual discharge from the nose (mucus with blood or pus).
• You cannot sleep without vasoconstrictor drops.
• Congestion is accompanied by pain in the sinuses or headache.

Background

The phenomenon of the nasal cycle was discovered and described back in 1895 by the German physician Richard Kaiser. However, for a long time this remained only a curious observation. Modern studies using rhinoflow meters (devices that measure air flow) have confirmed that the classic cycle with an ideal change of dominant is not found in everyone.

Research shows that the nature of air flow fluctuations during the daytime in most people (almost 78.8% of cases) is irregular, and only during sleep the body builds a clearer breathing pattern. With age, the period of oscillations becomes longer, and the volume of breathing decreases, which confirms the theory about the influence of the central nervous system on this process.

Xrust Why do we breathe through one nostril? Secrets of the nasal cycle that doctors are silent about