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This results in greater airflow through one nostril with periodic alternation between the nostrils. It is a physiological congestion of the nasal conchae, also called the nasal turbinates (curled bony projections within the nasal cavities), due to selective activation of one half of the autonomic nervous system by the hypothalamus.
A deviated septum is an abnormal condition in which the top of the cartilaginous ridge leans to the left or the right, causing obstruction of the affected nasal passage. It is common for nasal septa to depart from the exact centerline; the septum is only considered deviated if the shift is substantial or causes problems. [3]
Many problems can affect the nose, including: Deviated septum - a shifting of the wall that divides the nasal cavity into halves; Nasal polyps - soft growths that develop on the lining of the nose or sinuses; Nosebleeds; Rhinitis - inflammation of the nose and sinuses sometimes caused by allergies. The main symptom is a runny nose.
It is safer, if time permits, to attempt to open the Eustachian tubes by swallowing a few times, or yawning, or by using the Valsalva technique of breathing a minimal amount of air gently into nostrils held closed by the fingers as soon as mild pressure is felt before it increases to the point that its release would be painful.
The Valsalva maneuver can also help to temporarily unblock or equalize the pressure in the middle ear. To do this, simply pinch your nostrils closed with one hand and blow air through your nose ...
Nasal obstruction characterized by insufficient airflow through the nose can be a subjective sensation or the result of objective pathology. [10] It is difficult to quantify by subjective complaints or clinical examinations alone, hence both clinicians and researchers depend both on concurrent subjective assessment and on objective measurement of the nasal airway.
The "Toynbee maneuver": pinching the nose and swallowing. Swallowing pulls open the eustachian tubes while the movement of the tongue, with the nose closed, compresses air which passes through the tubes to the middle ear. [2] The "Valsalva maneuver": pinching the nose and closing the mouth and trying to breathe out through the nose.
Other causes can include acid reflux, asthma, allergies, or other chronic medical conditions, adds Richard Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease physician and professor of medicine at the Northeast ...