one nostril blocked?
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Hello. i'd like to ask about smth.
recently, i went to an ENT clinic to have a checkup done on my nose. My complaint was that one nostril(either one) is blocked most of the time, and though it didn't really cause me much trouble, i just wanted to have it checked up.
The doc told me about the nasal cycle, and how most people only breathe through one nostril at a time normally. but anyway the doc used some scope to check my nose and found it congested, and i was found, using some skin prick test, to be allergic to the droppings and what not of dust mites.
I was prescribed a steroid-based nasal spray, and some other stuff, and was told how to keep dust mites away and all. But this isn't my main point.
Recently, I went for a medical checkup at the RSAF aeromedical centre. One of the tests was that the doc would place a metal plate in front of your nose, and ask you to exhale. The doc would check for airflow through both nostrils by looking at the condensation on the metal plate. Thankfully, at this point my nose was totally clear and i passed that one.
anyway, i would like to question then, if people usually breathe through one nostril, why is there such a test anyway? I was going through the checkup cuz i was applying for flight training.
Thanks in advance =) -
Flight training at very high altitudes, the pressure is high and air is much thinner up there. So if you cannot breathe properly, you are going to endanger your life.
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maybe usually, not always.
anyway i didnt feel like i am breathing through one nostril only. -
Breathing is automated in our bodies, so we don't feel it.
To prove that you are breathing through one nostrils most of the time, cover the one side of your nostrils. If you can breathe normally, then cover the other one. You will notice that you feel a little breathless when you cover the other side. The nostrils will alternate the breathing, meaning, like from 10am to 12pm, you are breathing through your left nostrils, and from 12pm to 2pm, you are breathing through the right nostrils. -
hi ndmmxiaomayi,
where did u get that piece of info from?
it would n helpful if u put any reference or url link here, so as to acknowledge that ur post is substantial.
thanks
meanwhile sgFish,
Dr Reno is not in for the moment, and wld b busy for the next few weeks or so.
do bear with us for awhile, see what e other mods can do for u when they log in subsequently.
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I have been worrying about this problem ever since i heard that they will be testing your breathing at aeromedical as all my life i have been breathing throuh either one of my nostril. Hope my nostrils can somehow breath properly on judgement day.
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I have this problem as well and I have to date visited 2 specialists, 3 - 5 GPs.. All of them told me that the problem is incurable and can only be alleviated through medication and usage of nasal sprays. -
Not "most" of the people breath through one nostril only, usually only those, who have some allergy, proctopolypus in the nose, problem wit the sinus and so on.Originally posted by sgFish:Hello. i'd like to ask about smth.
recently, i went to an ENT clinic to have a checkup done on my nose. My complaint was that one nostril(either one) is blocked most of the time, and though it didn't really cause me much trouble, i just wanted to have it checked up.
The doc told me about the nasal cycle, and how most people only breathe through one nostril at a time normally. but anyway the doc used some scope to check my nose and found it congested, and i was found, using some skin prick test, to be allergic to the droppings and what not of dust mites.
I was prescribed a steroid-based nasal spray, and some other stuff, and was told how to keep dust mites away and all. But this isn't my main point.
Recently, I went for a medical checkup at the RSAF aeromedical centre. One of the tests was that the doc would place a metal plate in front of your nose, and ask you to exhale. The doc would check for airflow through both nostrils by looking at the condensation on the metal plate. Thankfully, at this point my nose was totally clear and i passed that one.
anyway, i would like to question then, if people usually breathe through one nostril, why is there such a test anyway? I was going through the checkup cuz i was applying for flight training.
Thanks in advance =)
Only the healthy and strong persons are suitable for the flight training, becasue the hights, speeds, and changes of G are unnatural extremes for the body, a weak person can easily lose conscience or the senses stop to work properly.
Series of tests is used to select only the healthy and suitable persons. Breathing through both nostrils is one of the many criteria for a healthy person. -
You mean allergy?Originally posted by DriftingGuy:I have this problem as well and I have to date visited 2 specialists, 3 - 5 GPs.. All of them told me that the problem is incurable and can only be alleviated through medication and usage of nasal sprays. -
hmm really? mine seems to be much better just after 5 days of using the steroid based nasal sprays. one still has a little less airflow than the other, but its generally very clear now =)Originally posted by DriftingGuy:I have this problem as well and I have to date visited 2 specialists, 3 - 5 GPs.. All of them told me that the problem is incurable and can only be alleviated through medication and usage of nasal sprays.
well, about being able to breathe at high altitudes, can't you do it with your mouth? the only thing that i think worry them are that blocked nostrils might indicate blocked eustachian tubes, but they tested that during the checkup too, by asking us to do the valsalva(sp?) maneuver... -
I get my info from reading a book quite some time ago. I can't remember the book's title, some simple book (about 50 pages or so). I verified it with my biology teacher as to whether it is true and she said yes.Originally posted by alfagal:hi ndmmxiaomayi,
where did u get that piece of info from?
it would n helpful if u put any reference or url link here, so as to acknowledge that ur post is substantial.
thanks
meanwhile sgFish,
Dr Reno is not in for the moment, and wld b busy for the next few weeks or so.
do bear with us for awhile, see what e other mods can do for u when they log in subsequently. -
alright, thanks gal
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oh...that reminds me...why...when during flu...one nostril will get blocked totally?
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The Valsalva maneuver is used to assess autonomic reflex control of cardiovascular function. It is used as a diagnostic tool to evaluate the condition of the heart.Originally posted by sgFish:well, about being able to breathe at high altitudes, can't you do it with your mouth? the only thing that i think worry them are that blocked nostrils might indicate blocked eustachian tubes, but they tested that during the checkup too, by asking us to do the valsalva(sp?) maneuver...
The Eustachian tube is a membrane lined tube that connects the middle ear space to the back of the nose. Its function is to ventilate the middle ear, ensuring that the pressure inside the ear remains at near normal ambient air pressure and to drain any accumulated secretions, infection, or debris from the middle ear space.
Valsalva maneuver (close your mouth, hold your nose and try breath out holding your nose stuffed) causes that a small volume of air moves from the throat to the ears through the Eustachian tubes which connect them. This can be used to balance the pressure inside the ears.
About breathing with mouth in high altitudes - if you are about to become a jet pilot, you will get anyway oxygen to breath, the pilots have to put the breathing masks on when reaching certain altitude. Pilots simply must be healthy, breathing with your mouth isn't healthy.
I think you should ask this some pilot, becasue I really don't know if they get to breath normal air, or air with higher percentage of oxygen. -
When you have flu, the nostrils get blocked with the secretion (snot, but I hope this word isn't too rude, hehe). Also the mucous in the nose can get swollen (also by allergy) and you feel that breathing is harder. Both nostrils would getOriginally posted by StarPuppy:oh...that reminds me...why...when during flu...one nostril will get blocked totally?
blocked if the air stream coming in and out during breathing wouldn't keep its way open. You know that you have to empty your nose into a tissue or hanky, right? Often both nostrils get blocked, by me it happens usually at night when I have flu and my breathing gets so shallow, that the air stream by breathing isn't strong enough to keep its way atleast in one nostril, or when I stop to breath for 10 - 20 sec - what happenes to me sometimes at night.
The nasal sprays should help you to keep both nostrils free when you have flu. -
This is known as nasal patency test and it involves the assessment of both the nostrils. The nasal cycle that was explained to you by the ENT doctor involves the sinuses and not really the nostrils. This is advance physiology we are talking about, and so I may not be able to really reply you with the sufficient knowledge. This question would be better answered by the physiologist.Originally posted by sgFish:Recently, I went for a medical checkup at the RSAF aeromedical centre. One of the tests was that the doc would place a metal plate in front of your nose, and ask you to exhale. The doc would check for airflow through both nostrils by looking at the condensation on the metal plate. Thankfully, at this point my nose was totally clear and i passed that one.
anyway, i would like to question then, if people usually breathe through one nostril, why is there such a test anyway? I was going through the checkup cuz i was applying for flight training.
Thanks in advance =)
But it is suffice to say that we breathe through both nostrils, and there is no such thing as some of the forumnites have described that we breathe with one at one such duration and change to another one. -
The only way for this to happen is that you may have a block from the allergic rhinitis that you are coping with, which causes the posterior nasopharyngeal wall to swell up (the adenoids due to postnasal drip) or the engorged turbinates in the walls of your nostrils.Originally posted by eurofighter:I have been worrying about this problem ever since i heard that they will be testing your breathing at aeromedical as all my life i have been breathing throuh either one of my nostril. Hope my nostrils can somehow breath properly on judgement day.
Take your anti-histamines (loratidine) and you will be fine. Some people not responding to such medications will be switched to either oral or nasal steroid spray. -
oh i'd like to ask once again..i'm on a course of nasal steroids. after this course, would the effect of the spray be permanent or would my nose thing come back? cuz nowadays my nose is always rather clear thanks to the sprays and i really like the feeling of breathing through both nostrils >.< and i'm wondering whether to maintain this, i'd have to stay on medication for a long time. thanks =)Originally posted by renorenal:The only way for this to happen is that you may have a block from the allergic rhinitis that you are coping with, which causes the posterior nasopharyngeal wall to swell up (the adenoids due to postnasal drip) or the engorged turbinates in the walls of your nostrils.
Take your anti-histamines (loratidine) and you will be fine. Some people not responding to such medications will be switched to either oral or nasal steroid spray. -
Well, the effect isn't permanent. When you stop to use the spray, te symptoms return back after some time. You should stay on the medication as long, as your doctor has told you.Originally posted by sgFish:oh i'd like to ask once again..i'm on a course of nasal steroids. after this course, would the effect of the spray be permanent or would my nose thing come back? cuz nowadays my nose is always rather clear thanks to the sprays and i really like the feeling of breathing through both nostrils >.< and i'm wondering whether to maintain this, i'd have to stay on medication for a long time. thanks =) -
Wtf theory is that?Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:Breathing is automated in our bodies, so we don't feel it.
To prove that you are breathing through one nostrils most of the time, cover the one side of your nostrils. If you can breathe normally, then cover the other one. You will notice that you feel a little breathless when you cover the other side. The nostrils will alternate the breathing, meaning, like from 10am to 12pm, you are breathing through your left nostrils, and from 12pm to 2pm, you are breathing through the right nostrils.
You really think everything works in shifts? Time to cut off your supply of magic mushrooms. -
You have to understand that allergy to a certain allergen that trigger your "blocked nose" in the first place happens throughout your life (whenever you are exposed to it).Originally posted by sgFish:oh i'd like to ask once again..i'm on a course of nasal steroids. after this course, would the effect of the spray be permanent or would my nose thing come back? cuz nowadays my nose is always rather clear thanks to the sprays and i really like the feeling of breathing through both nostrils >.< and i'm wondering whether to maintain this, i'd have to stay on medication for a long time. thanks =)
Steroidal medications (they are safe) are for symptomatic relief (they treat the symptoms, they don't cure the disease). Hence once you are relieved symptomatically, there is an inevitable return of such symptoms once exposed to the things that you are allergic to. The body has these cells known as mast cells that release histamines in huge amount to trigger off such allergic symptoms. The thing is that the antibody IgE (which is the key to opening the door for the release of histamines by mast cells) is attached to mast cells after the first exposure to such allergens. Such attachment increases the rapidity of histamine release because they are already attached to the lock. What it needs is an allergen to sit on top of them (ref IgE) and turn them to open the door. Hence the analogy is that the mast cells are the door that contains histamine in the inside, the IgE is the key and the allergens are the hands that turn the key to open the door. (Note that none of the medications used can remove these IgE, antihistamines work by inhibiting the histamine chemical's effects on the receptors. Histamines once released will find their receptors and sit on them leading to allergic symptoms. Your loratidine works in such a way that it sits on these receptors first, but the magic is that they do not cause an effect. The histamines in the body would then be unable to sit on the receptors for they have been occupied. Steroids on the other hand works by easing up the bronchial muscles, reducing the inflammation and clearing the inflammatory chemicals from the site of the allergy, hence helping to reduce the symptoms).
The best way or the first line treatment is to avoid the things that you are allergic to. Remove your carpet if you have one in your bedroom or your house, keep your curtains clean (wash them weekly), reduce the number of pillows (hence the covering) or mattresses in your room, if you have pets and if you are allergic to their danders, its time to consider letting them out rather than in the house (if they are house pets), etc.
The severity of your blocked nose dictates the course and frequency of medication you will be put on. Your's is a type of allergy known as perrenial allergic rhinitis (happening throughout the year when exposed to certain chemicals or dust that you are allergic to). There is another one known as seasonal allergic rhinitis (but this happens more often in countries that have four seasons, and their blocked and irritatations of the nose comes only in particularly one specific season repeated annually). As yours is yearly, you would often face these symptoms frequently.
Heed your ENT specialist advice on your medications intake and you will be fine. -
oh okay. is there any cure for allergic rhinitis then? one of the nurses told me that there was a pilot project for a vaccine or smth against dust mite allergy. the sad thing is that i was underage...the minimum age was 18. Is there anything else that exists that can cure it permanently currently?
and thanks everyone for the replies so far =) -
i find it irritating also... when i have a flu, the nostrils will switch between themselves which one to be blocked one... and it's like. every 3 hours. damn zun one loh... so irritating...
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This is actually quite a common problem, so much so it's not a downgradeable condition in the Army.
I used to have this problem. Blocked nose and breathing through my mouth or one side of the nose most of the time.
It was due to the bone structure in my nose. Saw a specialist and corrected it via surgery. Now, it's perfect and I'm breathing normally again. -
Vaccine against dust mite is almost impossible, so to speak, even though there is such a randomized clinical trial study going on, it would be a blind research during the process.Originally posted by sgFish:oh okay. is there any cure for allergic rhinitis then? one of the nurses told me that there was a pilot project for a vaccine or smth against dust mite allergy. the sad thing is that i was underage...the minimum age was 18. Is there anything else that exists that can cure it permanently currently?
and thanks everyone for the replies so far =)
There is no cure as of up till now, and maybe a few more decades to come, there is only symptomatic relief and remission maintainence during the onset of the problem.