Why I Only Breathe Through One Nostril And You Do Too!
Have you ever noticed that you only seem to breath through one nostril at a time?
If so, you are not alone. Apparently 90% of the world's population only breath through one nostril at a time and that is how it is supposed to be... crazy, right? Even more interesting, there is a cyclical pattern that occurs where we switch breathing between nostrils every 3 hours or so. The time interval can very from person to person based upon their nasal congestion, body position, etc. but that is the average length of time.
I first realized this several days ago when my left nostril was blocked and it felt like I couldn't breath, which didn't make much sense to me considering my right nostril was free and clear to take in as much oxygen as possible. It took me 30 years to realize this mind blowing phenomenon, so don't feel bad if it's something you haven't noticed just yet.
Richard Kayser was the first known person to study this alternating nostril breathing cycle in 1895. He was a German nose specialist who made the same observation that I smartly noticed this week. The nose switches back and forth all day long between nostrils at fairly consistent intervals.
How does this happen?
The nostrils "clog" and "unclog" via erectile tissue in your nose... yes that's right, that is the same tissue found in the male genitalia... The erectile tissue swells up with blood in one nostril, blocking it, while the tissue shrinks in the other nostril, opening it up for breathing. So, the next time someone calls you a "dickhead", you can educate them on how they are actually not that far off ;)
Why does this happen?
It is not entirely clear, but one physical reason is that the nostril that is blocked tends to retain moisture. Thus switching between the two ensures that your nose won't get "dried out".
Even more surprising, there also appears to be effects on the body and brain as a whole depending on which nostril you are breathing through...
A study out in the late 1980's showed that right nostril breathing significantly increased blood glucose levels, and breathing through your left nostril decreased blood glucose levels. Thus, it has been speculated that possibly an abnormal nasal cycle, one in which you breath through the right nostril for long periods of time without switching, could be a contributing factor in diabetes as well as other diseases... mind blowing, right?
There was also a study done in the early 1990's that showed breathing through the right nostril uses significantly more oxygen than when breathing through the left nostril.
However, the most surprising study came in 1994 when it was shown that breathing through your right nostril will make the left hemisphere of your brain more active and dominant, and breathing through the left nostril will make the right hemisphere more active or dominant. Thus, the side of the nose you are breathing through will impact the way you think and solve problems!
Can we artificially change the nostril we breath through?
Not surprisingly... yes! Although from what we have already learned, we may not want to do that because each nostril seems to serve a very specific purpose.
By plugging one nostril you can force air through the other and change the nostril you are breathing through. Also, if you lay on one side for 15 minutes or so, the erectile tissue on that side of the nose will begin to swell up and the other side will become easier to breath through. The opposite happens when you switch sides. Perhaps this is your body's way of making sure you don't suffocate yourself if you lay on one side of your face for too long? Or, maybe it is gravity taking over and making the blood and swelling move to the nasal of least resistance?
Either way, it has been postulated that this nasal cycle is why people feel the need to roll over when they are sleeping after laying on one side for a period of time even if they were perfectly comfortable. The body may need to switch nostrils so the brain tells the body to roll over to the other side.
Some other interesting thoughts
The nasal cycle is thought to be regulated by the autonomic nervous system, which is nice because I am glad I don't have to remind myself which nostril I need to be breathing through on a daily basis!
The nasal cycle tends to weaken as you get older... just like something else that uses erectile tissue... maybe further studies should look at the implications of viagra for the nose! :)
I hope you learned something from this and found it as interesting as I did.
Live well my friends!
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I watched some asian tv couple of years back. if you cant breath, put a bottle under your arm. it somehow will widen your nostil and you can breath better after that
An empty bottle or full one? Cold or room temp? Does it matter the arm? This is potentially a life saving tip... I need the details! :)
Hey, if I remember correctly it was a cold full bottle. there was some scientific explanation but I don't remember it 100%. I will try to research it and write a post for you
Thanks! Let me know when you get it out!
I never noticed.
The most fun that I have with noses it telling people to plug their nose and then hum.
Ha! Do you notice now that you are thinking about it?
Actually, I already forgot until I saw your reply.
Have you tried humming with your nose plugged yet?
Just now... I almost passed out... good one!
HAHAHA!
Geez I learned something new tonight and choked while trying to hum w my nose plugged 😝
Really interesting! It's true!
Did you ever notice before reading this?
No, never before!
Interesting. You should invent the viagra-nose stuff asap... You could get rich ^^
Haha I need to put a *TM after that line in my post...
Sure! :)
amazing.
Did you ever notice that before reading?
No but whenever my nose is blocked cos of the flu am only breathing through one nostril. I never had it where both were clogged.
I always noticed this an just attributed it to my allergies. Also, can you maybe look into why one sac hangs slightly lower than the other and also if they alternate? Would make for interesting topic.
Sac... or testicle?
There is a very simple and highly effective yogic breathing exercise, that anybody can do, called Nadi Shodhana
"It infuses the body with oxygen
Clears and releases toxins
Reduces stress and anxiety
Calms and rejuvenates the nervous system
Helps to balance hormones
Supports clear and balanced respiratory channels
Helps to alleviate respiratory allergies that cause hay fever, sneezing, or wheezing
Balances solar and lunar, masculine and feminine energies
Fosters mental clarity and an alert mind
Enhances the ability to concentrate
Brings balance to the left and right hemispheres of the brain"
I use this breathing exercise all the time. It really is highly beneficial.
If anyone is interested in giving it a go, check out this youtube video, which explains the process:
Great, article explains a lot that I already knew about in a more technical way. You really explained well the practical reasons of practicing Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique(Nadi Shodhan Pranayama).