Physiology of nostril breathing exercises and its probable relation with nostril and cerebral dominance: A theoretical research on literature

This article discuss about scientific basis of benefits of practicing slow pranayama, especially alternate nostril breathing pranayama. It explains the basis of benefit of alternate nostril breathing exercises and its probable relation with nasal cycle, cerebral dominance and autonomic nervous system. The airflow through one nostril is greater than next at any point of time which later switches to another. This is called nasal cycle. The nasal cycle lasts from 30 minutes to 2-3 hours. The nasal cycle occurs naturally. This nasal cycle is related with the cerebral dominance. When one nostril is dominant, the contra lateral hemisphere is active. The right nostril breathing leads to increased sympathetic activity while left nostril breathing decreases sympathetic activity and increases parasympathetic tone. So it has been speculated that these three phenomenon viz. nasal cycle, cerebral dominance and autonomic activities are correlated. This review also suggests that practicing alternate nostril breathing (Nadisodhan pranayma) regularly keeps the two hemispheres active and balances the sympathetic and parasympathetic activities in the body. Sympathetic or parasympathetic activity alternates automatically in our body which is important for our survival. Due to our hectic and stressful life, this naturally occurring alternate breathing cycle gets disrupted and we suffer from different ailments. These ailments are due to imbalance of autonomic nervous system which can be resolved by practicing alternate nostril breathing, the Nadisodhan pranayama. It’s just like returning back to nature.

Studying on patient's nasal cycle of OSAHS with acoustic rhinometry / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective:To study the effect of OSAHS on adult nasal-cycle.Method:The nasal cycle of 20 healthy adults,18 patients of snoring and 22 patients of OSAHS were examined with acoustic rhinometry,which was performed every 30 minutes in 7 hours.Result:The ratio of nasal cycle in healthy adults was(19/20,95.0%), in snoring patients was(15/18,83.0%),in patients of OSAHS was(15/22,68.2%). The mean alteration amplitude of nasal cycle in healthy adults was significantly larger than that in patients with OSAHS (P<0.05).The distribution of the healthy adults and patients with OSAHS between the typical cycle categories was significantly different(P<0.05).Conclusion:The characteristics of nasal-cycle in of OSAHS patients were different with healthy adults,which maybe owing to change of physical function of nasal cavity.

Cyclic Changes of Nasal Obstruction with Nasal Cycle in Septal Deviation Patients / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: he purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between cyclic changes of unilateral nasal obstruction and nasal geometry in patients with septal deviation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-one young adults with anteriorly located septal deviation were selected. With acoustic rhinometry, we measured minimum cross-sectional area (MCA) and nasal volume (NV) in 20 minutes interval for 7 hours. The patients were required to assess their own unilateral nasal obstruction on a linear visual analogue scale immediately prior to acoustic rhinometric measurements. After plotting of MCA and VAS as a function of time, we determined whether cyclic changes were present or not. Correlation between subjective scores and objective measurements were calculated using Pearsons correlation coefficient. We calculated delta (sigma) value in patients with cyclic changes of MCA and VAS to compare the unilateral MCA changes to corresponding VAS changes of each nasal cavity. The formula for calculating Delta value was Delta value=m(Npeak-Wtrough)/m(Wpeak-Wtrough): where m is the sample mean, Npeak the peak of narrow side, Wpeak the peak of wide side, Wtrough the nadir of wide side. RESULTS: Fifteen subjects showed classic alternating nasal cycle in MCA and ipsilateral VAS with significant positive linear correlation. Despite the diverse distribution of delta value of MCA cycle (sigma(M)), the mean delta value of VAS cycle (sigmaV) was about 0.8, thus representing a small difference of patency of each nasal cavities in patients with septal deviation. CONCLUSION: In most patients, nasal sensation of patency fluctuated with a similar amplitude with each other regardless of the degree of septal deviation.

The Characteristics of Nasal Cycle and Nasal Cavity Volume inLaryngectomees Using Acoustic Rhinometry / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The nasal cycle of laryngectomized patients has been thought to be far different from the normal subjects. This study was performed to evaluate the difference in the patterns and activities of nasal cycles, the total nasal cavity volume, and the degree of change in the nasal cavity volume between laryngectomees (LG) and normal controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twentythree laryngectomized patients and twenty-three normal controls were studied. Acoustic rhinometry measurements were taken 3 times from each nostril at intervals of 30 minutes during 8 hrs. The total nasal cavity volume was measured from the first 7 cm of nostril. RESULTS: There were four types of nasal cycle patterns in both laryngectomees and controls: classical pattern in 6 (26.1%) LG and 5 (21.7%) controls, in concert pattern in 3 (13.1%) LG an 8 (34.8%) controls, mixed pattern in 4 (17.4%) LG and 3 (13.0%) controls, irregular pattern in 11 (47.8%) LG and 6 (26.1%) controls. In laryngectomees, the total nasal cavity volume was increased (p0.05). CONCLUSION: Although the afferent input from the airflow receptor in the nasal cavity may play a role in modulating the pattern of nasal cycle, we suggest that the central nervous system is more important than the feedback mechanism for regulation and control of nasal cycle.