Is the other nostril blocked? That’s right, says the professor

In spring pollens can cause nasal congestion. The same goes for the flu.

Sometimes, even when we are healthy, we feel that only one nostril lets air in.

There’s no need to worry about that, reassures the professor of anatomy Adam Taylor from Lancaster College. Breathing through the other nostril is normal.

Nostrils usually do not work identically.

nostrils “ventilation” has been investigated. They change tasks several times a day. We usually don’t notice it.

One nostril becomes constricted while the other nostril is open. More air passes through it.

It has been calculated that when awake, the body changes the dominant nostril up to every two hours. Some shifts can last up to six hours, Taylor writes in Conversation magazine

When sleeping, the pace is not so fast, because the frequency of breathing slows down in sleep. The amount of incoming and outgoing air also decreases.

Nasal cycle is the term scientists use when talking about the alternation of nostrils. The exchange is automatically regulated by the brain’s hypothalamus.

There is a reason for shift work. That way, the nostrils reduce the risk of damage and infection.

More than 12,000 liters of air pass through the nose every day. The air flow dries the mucous membrane of the nostrils and brings pathogens to it.

One purpose of the cycle is that the mucous membranes of the nostrils can recover and regenerate. The front line defense against infections remains intact.

When the nostril narrows, the blood flow in its blood vessels increases. Vigorous blood circulation also promotes the recovery of the mucous membrane. It also warms and humidifies the air passing through the nostrils.

Just in bed lying or stooped position can affect that the responsibility of the nostrils changes.

When lying down, gravity acts so that the contents of the cavities are transferred to the nostril that is closest to the pillow. This can block the other nostril.

Some humans do not have a nasal cycle. There is evidence left nostril may be more dominant, especially in right-handed people.

Research also suggests that when the right nostril dominates, the body is a little more on alert.

Respiratory diseases, such as the flu, cause the nose to secrete mucus. It limits the alternation of the nostrils. So does allergic rhinitis.