Why does congestion move from one nostril to another?

This pattern happens when there is more blood flow to the structures inside the nose, such as the turbinates, which are the round masses that you may see if you look into the nostrils. Increased blood flow causes congestion in one nostril for about 3 to 6 hours before switching to the other side.

Why is only one nostril clogged when sick?

It’s down to what’s known as the ‘nasal cycle’. We might not realise it, but our bodies deliberately direct the airflow more through one nostril than the other, switching between nostrils every few hours.

Why is it harder to breathe out of one nostril?

If one nostril is harder to breathe through than the other, you probably have a deviated septum. Deviated septums have the potential to cause a variety of problems, including a blocked nasal passage, snoring and/or trouble sleeping, mouth breathing, nosebleeds, or recurring sinus infections.

Why is only one of my nostrils runny?

Sometimes, people experience a runny nose on one side, through just one nostril. Rarely, this can be a sign of an anatomical problem, like a leak of cerebrospinal fluid. It could also be caused by a deviated nasal septum.

Can allergies affect just one nostril?

This swelling usually occurs in the only one nasal passage at a time. Most individuals are not even aware of these natural ‘nasal cycles’ which may last from 30 minutes to four hours. However, when there is additional congestion or the passages are small, these nasal cycles may become more apparent.

Why is my nose so congested when I’m Sick?

But when you are sick, blood flow to your nose increases even more, sparking more swelling and greater mucus production in your nasal region, says Dr. Roditi. Even though you’re congested throughout your entire nose, you feel it more strongly in the one nostril where the turbinate is already swollen as part of the normal nasal cycle.

Why do I have a stuffy nose on one side?

If one side is more obstructed to begin with from a deviated septum or swelling of the soft tissue structures, it will be more noticeable when that side decongests. Here are other reasons for congestion in one nostril: Side sleeping. People also experience stuffiness in the nostril that faces down when they sleep on their side.

Why do we breathe through one nostril at a time?

Because your nostrils split their workload. Throughout the day, they each take breaks in a process of alternating congestion and decongestion called the nasal cycle. At a given moment, if you’re breathing through your nose, the lion’s share of the air is going in and out of one nostril, with a much smaller amount passing through the other.

Why does one nostril always smell worse when you lie down?

“Increased blood flow causes congestion in one nostril for about 3 to 6 hours before switching to the other side. There is also increased congestion when one is lying down, which can be especially noticeable when the head is turned to one side,” Jennifer Shu reports for CNN. It’s believed that this cycle helps round out your sense of smell.