Is breathing through one nostril bad? ( is it curable?)

A thorough evaluation of nasal breathing can be one of the
most complex assessments done by a facial plastic surgeon. Categorically the
sources of obstruction can be divided into two groups. Mucosal disease (puffy
and stuffy nasal lining) or structural/anatomical issues.


The first category can be due to a variety of reasons, the
most common ones being allergies, infections, chemical irritations, or systemic
diseases. These are diffuse processes that will affect both sides of the nose
equally. One of the common areas of obstruction with this regard is considered
to be the inferior turbinate hypertrophy, referring to the spongy tissue on the
sidewall of the nose that can chronically expand and limit the nasal airflow. However,
understanding the concept of nasal cycle is key in assessment and interpretation
of turbinate hypertrophy. Nasal cycle refers to the universal phenomenon that
every couple of hours one side of the nose becomes dominant for breathing, as
the other side gets engorged with more blood flow. Thus, a snapshot visualization
of turbinates might not be an accurate indicator of their role in an individual’s
obstructive symptoms, as one would not know their cycling state.


The structural category of obstruction starts with deviation
of nasal septum (midwall partition of the nose) as the most common cause. This
can be either congenital (patient is born with deviation) or acquired (for
example, due to previous trauma or surgery). It is known that around 70-80% of
people have a noticeable septal deviation on the exam. However, not all those
people will complain of subjective nasal obstruction. Thus, it is usually the
degree of deviation and/or presence of another underlying constrictive factor
that makes the patient symptomatic. Such distinction could be one of the most key
and challenging aspects of nasal congestion evaluation. The pattern of
deviation could be such that patient can recall being consistently obstructed
on one side. However, in some severe cases, the deformed septum can have turns
and twists affecting both sides and making the assessment more challenging. Other
major structural issues contributing to nasal obstruction include internal or external
nasal valve constriction, adenoid hypertrophy, polyps, concha bullosa, and
tumors.  

Breathing through one side at a time is normal for the nose. it is called the nasal cycle. This has to do with the nasal turbinates. A crooked nasal septum can make one side always more blocked. You might need medical treatment by an otolaryngologist or allergist. This can sometimes fix the issue. Bur you should get an exam by someone who is well versed in nasal function.

Breathing through one nostril that switches from side to side can be due to allergic rhinitis causing swelling intermittently on one side of the nose and then the other one, referred to as the nasal cycle. This can be treated with medication. If the obstruction is more static, then a septoplasty may correct it.

Nasal obstruction that alternates sides is most commonly due to turbinate hypertrophy. The turbinates are often reduced during septoplasty or other nasal surgical procedures in order to improve the nasal airway. The turbinates swell in response to inflammation such as allergens, smoke, etc. If symptoms do not response to medical management, such as a nasal steroid spray, then surgery may be an option.
Be sure to see a nasal surgery expert.
All the best,

Hello Ivan and thanks for your question.Given that the nose and nasal breathing passages are three dimensional structures, a complete examination is needed to determine the diagnosis and the exact reason for breathing difficulty. In our office we used a headlight and other instrument to come up with the exact cause for this issue.  
The following are the 3 main reason for mouth breathing and difficulty breathing through the nose:1. Septal deviation2. Turbinate enlargement3. Nasal Valve collapse4. Major allergic rhinitis5. Any combination of the above.I would highly recommend visiting a few plastic surgeons who specialize in this exacting and artistic procedure. In our office we provide patients with a personalized, individualized and complementary consultation to address these similar issues.
For more information and many before and after examples please see the link below.
Best wishes and good luck.
Dr. Sajjadian

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS STRANGE THEIR ARE TYPICALLY PEOPLE WHO DO ONLY BREATHE OUT OF ONE NOSTRIL. YOU COULD HAVE A DEVIATED SEPTUM THAT MAY NEED TO BE REPAIRED. YOU SHOULD DEFINATELY CONSULT A ENT OR PLASTIC SURGEON.

It is normal to breathe predominately out of one side then the other in what is called "the nasal cycle".  Difficulty in breathing out of one side may be related to a deviated septum (most commonly), enlarged turbinates (sausage like appendages on the sides of the inside of your nose), weak cartilages, infection, inflammation, or growths.  An examination by a facial plastic surgeon is key to figure out what's going on and to establish an appropriate plan of care, which may involve surgery.  I wish you well!

Breathing only out of one nostril can be a sign of a deviated septum. Generally speaking nasal allergies would cause difficulty breathing out of both nostrils, but you can have nasal allergies on top of other problems such as a deviated septum. Other causes of unilateral nasal obstruction include nasal valve collapse and/or turbinate hypertrophy. The best advice is have a complete exam of your nose which may include a nasal endoscopy. Make sure you feel comfortable with the surgeon. They should explain exactly what contributes to your obstruction. Again, this may include several components or only a deviated septum. As far as the switching sides of your obstruction, this is part of the normal nasal cycle but once your nose is improved from a medical and possibly surgical standpoint you may not notice it. 

Hello and Thanks for the Question, What you are experiencing is fairly common and something that can be addressed with medications but most likely a small surgical procedure. If medication are not able to treat the nasal breathing issue, you can consider a  outpatient procedure such as nasal septoplasty. This is common procedure to help individuals who have a difficult time breathing through the nose due to a deviated septum. See an ENT surgeon or Facial Plastic Surgeon for optimal evaluation and treatment of this common complaint. Good Luck and I hope this helps. Dr. David

Breathing through one nostril at a time is a common problem. Many times it is multi-factorial relates to seasonal allergies, enlarged turbinates, previous nasal trauma, deviated septum, narrow nasal valve, etc. It is hard to say what the exact cause is but a majority of time there is a solution. For allergic rhinitis or symptoms related to allergies, your doctor may prescribe a nasal steroid or antihistamine nasal spray to help reduce intranasal swelling and inflammation. If there is an anatomic deformity, then this typically does not respond to medical management and requires surgery for management. I would not say that it is a bad thing but it can be nuisance and make it more difficult when exercising or if you have a cold/ URI. Furthermore, it can potentially affect your quality of sleep and you may find yourself acting as a mouthbreather which can result in snoring and poor quality of sleep. I would recommend that you undergo a formal evaluation to determine what the cause(s) are and help find a plan that would work for you.