{"id":934,"date":"2026-03-08T16:30:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T16:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/?p=934"},"modified":"2026-03-08T16:30:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T16:30:33","slug":"this-is-why-you-only-breathe-out-of-one-nostril-at-a-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/?p=934","title":{"rendered":"This is why you only breathe out of one nostril at a time"},"content":{"rendered":"

EDITOR\u2019S NOTE:<\/span>\u00a0 The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. is showcasing the work of<\/em>The Conversation<\/em>, a collaboration between journalists and academics to provide news analysis and commentary. The content is produced solely by The Conversation.<\/em><\/p>\n

One of the most bothersome things about being sick or having seasonal allergies is that it makes your nose stuffy and blocked. This makes breathing in through your nostrils frustrating \u2013 if not altogether impossible.<\/p>\n

But even when you aren\u2019t sick, perhaps you\u2019ve noticed that when you take a deep breath, only one of your nostrils seems to be allowing the air in. Before you panic and wonder if you\u2019re coming down with something, what you\u2019re experiencing is actually a normal bodily process.<\/p>\n

Multiple times a day, without us even noticing, the nostrils naturally switch between a dominant nostril for airflow. This process is called the nasal cycle and it plays an important role in the health of our nose.<\/p>\n

The body actually switches the dominant nostril as frequently as every two hours while we\u2019re awake. This switch is less frequent when we\u2019re sleeping as our breathing rate slows and the volume of air entering and leaving the body lowers.<\/p>\n

Read more: <\/strong>Breathing through your nose when you exercise may make your runs easier <\/strong><\/p>\n

There are two key aspects to the nasal cycle: congestion and decongestion.<\/p>\n

During the congestion phase, one nostril will experience reduced airflow, while the opposite nostril will be open, or decongested \u2013 allowing for more air to pass through it. The decongested phase actually fatigues the open nostril, as air dries it out and brings pathogens into contact with it. This is why it\u2019s important for the dominant nostril to swap.<\/p>\n

This alternating cycle is automatic, regulated subconsciously by the hypothalamus in the brain. However, some people have no nasal cycle (such as those who have a hypothalamic disorder). There\u2019s also evidence that the left nostril may be more dominant \u2013 particularly in right handed people.<\/p>\n

Studies looking at nasal breathing even suggest that when the right nostril is dominant, the body is in a more alert or stressed state. But when the left nostril takes over, the body is in a more relaxed state.<\/p>\n

The nasal cycle is important for a number of reasons.<\/p>\n

Read more: <\/strong>I have a stuffy nose. How do I know if it\u2019s hay fever or a cold? <\/strong><\/p>\n

First, it protects the lining of the nose and respiratory system. At least 12,000 litres of air pass through it each day, making it a key front-line defence from pathogens. Having the dominant nostril alternate reduces the risk of damage and also makes it easier for the nasal passage to protect against pathogens.<\/p>\n

The nose also has to rest and repair. Air exposure dries it out \u2013 so without time to recuperate, this could make it easier for pathogens and inflammation to cause damage.<\/p>\n

Part of the congestion process also sees increased blood flow to the nose\u2019s vessels. This ensures the nostrils are moistened properly for both the repair and recovery processes, and so that air is warmed and moistened as it passes through the nostril.<\/p>\n

Nasal cycle function<\/h3>\n

A number of things can affect the nasal cycle\u2019s normal function. Respiratory conditions such as colds and flu result in an increase in mucous production. This restricts how easily the nasal passages are able to alternate.<\/p>\n

Allergens such as pollen or dust mites can cause severe inflammation of the nasal tissues \u2013 again impeding proper function of the nasal cycle.<\/p>\n

Certain medications, such as those for high blood pressure, can cause irritation of the nasal lining, too. This is because these drugs effect the blood vessels throughout the body \u2013 including those in the nose.<\/p>\n

Overuse of nasal decongestants (for more than five days at a time) can cause rhinitis medicamentosa \u2013 a form of congestion that occurs when you overuse these drugs. The sudden swelling of the nostril tissues affects the nasal cycle.<\/p>\n

For others, structural issues interfere with their nasal cycle. Nasal polyps, which are found in up to 4% of people, are an outgrowth of the nasal lining that usually occurs in both nostrils. These limit how easily air can pass through the nostrils, making the nasal cycle ineffective and leaving both nostrils constantly feeling blocked.<\/p>\n

Read more: <\/strong>What air pollution does to the human body<\/strong><\/p>\n

A deviated nasal septum \u2013 where the cartilage and bone plate between the nostrils is off-centre \u2013 can also make the nostrils feel constantly congested or blocked. This often requires surgery to improve breathing and sleep quality.<\/p>\n

Even factors as simple as lying in bed or slouching over can affect the nasal cycle. When you lay down, blood pools in the tissues of the nose. Gravity also causes the contents of the sinuses to move into the nostril closest to the pillow. This can block one of the nostrils, making it harder to breathe and preventing the nasal cycle from working as normal.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re struggling with blocked nostrils, infections such as colds and the flu are usually the most common culprit. It can take up to two weeks to clear the congestion. Sinusitis, where the sinuses become infected, can last for four weeks.<\/p>\n

Pollen allergies can also be a common culprit of a abnormal nasal cycle. This symptom can last for weeks depending on the specific allergen you\u2019re allergic to. Regularly taking antihistamines during hay fever season may help to reduce symptoms and clear any congestion.<\/p>\n

But if you find one nostril is persistently blocked for more than two weeks, it\u2019s usually a good idea to get it checked out \u2013 particularly if there\u2019s mucus coming from your nose, or a discharge that doesn\u2019t look normal for you.<\/p>\n

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EDITOR\u2019S NOTE:\u00a0 The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. is showcasing the work ofThe Conversation, a collaboration between journalists and academics to provide […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":935,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/934","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=934"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/934\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/935"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=934"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=934"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parkmania.pl\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=934"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}