# Loud Breathing

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-breathing/88095>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 17, 2001, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-breathing/88095 "2001-10-17T23:30:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Eskimo\_Spy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/96bed5/32.png) [@Eskimo\_Spy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eskimo_Spy)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-breathing/88095/1 "2001-10-17T23:30:24Z")

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Why is it that some people seem to breathe loudly out of their nose constantly while others you cant hear their breathing at all.

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**Author:** ![Lodrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@Lodrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lodrain)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-breathing/88095/2 "2001-10-18T21:02:39Z")

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Nasal geometry, diaphragm strength, physical activity, oxygen demand and the method used in breathing help. If you have low oxygen demands, a large nose and breath shallowly, then your breaths will be pretty quiet. But if you have high demand for oxygen, with a small nose and deep, drawn-out breaths - then it’ll be audible. That’s the principle behind airhorns - lots of air rushes past a small opening, making an earsplitting noise.