Blocked nose? Sometimes it's just a feeling

Blocked nose? Perhaps it is only from the air we breathe. A U.S. research at the Monell Center in Philadelphia, published on the online open access journal PLoS One , has shown that nasal congestion is often caused by a real obstruction of airflow in the nose, but felt that the altered 'air to pass with more difficulty.

STUDY - The proof comes from a study of 44 volunteers in which the bioengineer Kai Zhao a box made ​​from breathing air at different temperatures and humidity: in one case was in the air temperature and humidity, in the second box was dry and temperature environment, the air was cold in the third. The participants also reported feeling the least felt the stuffy nose, breathing cold air, followed by the air at normal temperature, but dry. Everything would depend on the sensitivity of the "cold sensor" that we have in the nose: "As the air passes into the nose cools the nasal cavity - Zhao explains -. If the effect of "cooling" is more consistent because the air is cold or inhaled, being dry, encourages more evaporation inside the nasal cavity, the most "cool" translates into the perceived sensation in the nose to breathe better ". With the warm humid air rather the opposite would happen, because it would accentuate the feeling of congestion and nose plugged even when there is a real obstacle to the flow of air. "In other things being equal, being in the desert, you feel the nose more" free "than being in the jungle", specifies Bruce Bryant, senior researcher in the field of sensory receptors that collaborated in the experiments.

Fumigations - According to U.S. researchers maintain proper temperature and moisture in the nose could help so many struggling with congestion from colds or allergies to feel better, since it is often hard to help them in the nose because there is no real obstruction airflow. Breathing cold air or cold dry to masquerade seems to go against all common sense: what they do then the fumigations of ancient memory from childhood that we were required to free your nose? Giorgio Walter Canonica, director of the Clinic for Respiratory Diseases at the University of Genoa, on the findings of fact hampers U.S.: "It should be noted that the cold air does have a decongestant effect, but also triggers asthma attacks more easily: rhinitis cold skiers' is a classic - the pulmonologist notes -. The dry air instead of stimulating the evaporation can reduce nasal secretions that too, in case of colds, are an important defense mechanism of the airways. " So do not go the usual fumigations in the attic? "Indeed, they are a good remedy for anti-cold, even if, while you breathe the vapor, the sensation of nasal congestion temporarily worsens - Canon responds -. Vapors "melt" the mucus, helping to eliminate it and avoiding the possibility that a cold turns into sinusitis may also have anti-inflammatory effects also if you add hot water a few drops of drugs best suited to his case, asking the chosen doctor or pharmacist. "