The Annoying Reason Why Only One Side of Your Nose Is Blocked At A Time

You’re always breathing more heavily from one nostril than the other, even if you’re not aware of it unless you’re sick.

During the day, the sides switch and the opposite nostril enters “work mode,” but why?

This process is automated by the autonomic nervous system, which is the same system that controls many of your body’s functions on its own, such as digestion and heart rate.

This system regulates your nose’s ‘nasal cycle,’ ensuring that each nostril works properly.

According to the US National Library of Medicine, the nasal cycle occurs several times throughout the day and is only brought to your attention if your nose is more clogged than usual.

To close one side of your nose and open the other, your body inflates tissue with blood in the same way that a man gets an erection, except in your nose.

“Congestion occurs in one nostril for 3 to 6 hours before switching to the other side due to increased blood flow. When lying down, there is also increased congestion, which is especially noticeable when the head is turned to one side “Jennifer Shu is a CNN correspondent.

This cycle is thought to help round out your sense of smell. According to Matt Soniak of MentalFloss, some smells are better detected by fast moving air through your nose, while others take longer and are detected better by slow moving air.

You can smell everything if one side of your nose is wide open and the other is slightly closed.

The procedure also gives each side of your nose a rest, as a constant stream of hot air can dry it out and kill the small hairs that protect you from foreign contaminants.

When you’re sick, the entire process can become unbearable because the one nostril that is effectively ‘turned off’ feels far, far more clogged than the other, according to Soniak.

Essentially, the cold exacerbates the clogged-up sensation.

So, the next time you feel like you’re only breathing from one side of your nose, remember that it’s a natural, automatic system working to keep you smelling properly and prevent your nose from becoming dry from a constant onslaught of dirty air.