Can you breathe through both nostrils at the same time?

[IBlameTheDog]

Sorry for the random question.

I've been ill since December with congestion and dizziness. ENT consultant has said he doesn't know what's causing it. MRI fine, bloods mostly fine except for low ish ferritin and slightly raised rheumatoid marker.

But... my head is bunged up all the time. Like ALL the time. And I can only ever breathe through one side of my nose. Is this normal? I get it when I'm lying on my side, that makes sense but why when I'm standing up? I'm currently sitting on sofa and I can feel the pressure behind my nose. I can take my own pulse! I'm sure this can't be normal?

I can only ever breathe through one side at a time. This changes over every hour or so. I seem to recall that there's some kind of cycle of breathing that's quite normal (read about it as a teen so a long time ago!) However I'm not 'bunged up' unless I have a cold or allergy reaction to something, so I don't really notice the nostril breathing thing.

Have you tried antihistamines to see if it's a reaction to something, maybe in your house/bedding?

I think it’s normal to only breath out of one nostril at a time… and it swaps sides… I believe?

I have just been holding my fingers under my nose and I am sure I am breathing through both nostrils at the same time I might be totally weird.

I definitely breathe through both!

Both, but I get a lot of congestion, when it switches to just one. No snot, just seems inflamed and irritated high up. I have allergies that anti-histamines don't seem to sort out, or maybe make worse by drying out my nose. Saline sprays etc don't work. I get a blocked ear to go with it.

This is not something you are supposed to do, but it's the only thing that helps me. I put a massage gun against the side of my nose (with a thick towel inbetween) on lowest setting for a couple of minutes. Sorts it out.

Yeah it's completely normal to breath through both nostrils at the same time.

I seem to have got myself confused with a yoga thing:

https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-to-know-about-alternate-nostril-breathing

I am only breathing through one side

No I generally have one blocked nostril at any one time. Often both. Bit of a mouth breather and maybe because nose breathing is a challenge? Don't know. A lad in my class in about year 4 called me notty nose. I think that says it all.

Really? I always breathe through both at the same time, unless I’m bunged up.

Unless I’m unwell, I breathe out of both.

Yes both.

However I currently have a sinus infection and am
Blasting my sinuses with salt water every day to keep them clear otherwise I feel bunged up and get pain.

No, that isn't right. There's no mechanism that shuts off one nostril at a time.
You breathe through both, but we can cope ok when one is blocked.

There's quite a neat way of checking what's happening with a cold shiny piece of metal. See:

https://geekymedics.com/nasal-examination-osce-guide/

(from 2:13).

I also was taught this. I think you breathe out of both (because when ones blocks from a cold you feel it) but breathe out of one more. That's how you tell which side of your brain is in control and if you're trying to write but can't, wait 45 mins for the creative side of your brain to be in charge.

Normally you should be able to breathe out and in via both nostrils. If you can’t you are congested due to hay fever, illness or deviated septum.

Hi, I have this same problem and have been unable to breathe out of my left nostril for months, after many appointments and being fobbed off with hayfever I have been told I have a deviated septum and will more than likely require surgery - currently on nasal drops to help with inflammation aswel. I would get a second opinion!

Also try nasal douching to clear out sinuses if not already doing so

Both

I thought it was one at a time, on a cycle. Or at least one more dominant. Think it might have been on QI.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasal_cycle

www.iflscience.com/your-dominant-nostril-changes-through-the-day-and-can-correlate-to-brain-activity-61010

www.rockhurst.edu/counseling-center/relaxation-zone/alternate-nostril-breathing#:~:text=the%20sides%20of%20the%20brain,nostril%20will%20also%20be%20dominant.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4728953/

Funnily enough, whenever we did this in my yoga class, one of my nostrils would become blocked.
Other people seemed to find it relaxing though.

Both but one is always more blocked, this changes all the time and I've often wondered myself why

When I first replied to this thread, I was breathing through my right nostril. Now, it's my left. Try holding a finger to block the airflow and see whether you can inhale through both. I can't. But I am subject to hayfever so that might make it more noticeable for me.