Nasal Cycle

I have (at least partly) control over when this happens for me. If one of my nostrils is clogged (without any pathological reason) and I focus on it, I can open up my airways again quite quickly.

Sometimes I even hear a squeeky sound as the tissue inside the nose contracts.

I am very well aware of the nasal cycle personally. If I'm in a dusty environment for too long, I get an itchy, achy swelling high up in one side of the nasal cavities, and only on that side, until it changes after a few hours.

The first few times it happened was at 40 y/o, and at work in an office building. I mistook it for migraine, and was flummoxed when my migraine pills did not work. When I understood that the irritant was in the office air, I tried to take it up with people higher up but to no avail, so I had no choice but to quit that job.

Luckily, Aspirin (-type drugs: "NSAID") work against symptoms, but is not a long-term solution.

So in simple terms, does it mean whatever flows out of a running nose is produced by left and right sides which take turns. And change every few hours?

Trying to sleep when you have a bad cold makes one overly aware of this cycle. It is bliss when the unplugged side gives way for air.

Interesting. I’ve always thought that this was an uncommon defect in my body

I love those knowledge i submissions!