Why is it when you have a cold that sometimes one nostril is blocked and the other you can breathe out of?

Question

I don't have a deviated septum, and I've asked others and they said they've had the same problem, so it's not a problem just I have.

Usually the breathable nostril changes every hour or so, then the other one goes clogged. Does anyone know why this happens?

Answer 1

I guess the mucous moves migrates from one nostril to the other because it is liquid. It happens to me a lot and usually I breathe ok through the one nostril.

When I am trying to go to sleep it can be a big problem. Whichever side I turn over on, all of the stoppage goes to that side. If I lay on my back they both get clogged somehow. I have to get up and blow my nose in order to be able to breathe and fall asleep.

Eat something spicy so it loosens up, then blow your nose.

Answer 2

Im not a doctor or something but i read about that in a little brochure that helped me see what's deep in human's nose. hehehe, not so exciting but anyways, your sinus had two chambers that have these many (tenticles) or these tiny things that filters the air you breathe in. When these things get too dirty that's when you develop cold which produces mucus to clean the tenticles. The 2 chambers are somewhere below your eyes one on each side of your nose. Yes, they are connected via their point of entry to your nose that drains them. That's why fluid moves from one to the other when you lay on one side. If, ofcourse, you lay upright;(on the back of ur head) both will be clogged. Drinking hot water, or eating something spicy steers up ur sinus and loosen up the mucus.
However, in the lamest terms...one side of your nostril stays open simply for you to be able to breathe in clean air...lol..hope this helped you understand your sinuses...peace..

Answer 3

We do not generally breath through both nostrils at the same time. We do switch back and forth. If your nostril is blocked by mucus from your sinuses, the sinuses do not drain equally, nor does one have to be draining just because the other one is.