# Why is my nose stuffed up on only one side? Why does it switch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 3, 2014, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-nose-stuffed-up-on-only-one-side-why-does-it-switch/700273 "2014-10-03T13:11:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-nose-stuffed-up-on-only-one-side-why-does-it-switch/700273/1 "2014-10-03T13:11:35Z")
Having the occasional stuffy/runny nose is the closest that I get to being sick, and whenever it happens I always have the same observation. I am only stuffed up on one side of my face while the other side is crystal clear. To which then I notice that a couple of hours later, it’s switched on me! Is there a physical reason for this? Or is this a case of an illusion created by my senses? ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-nose-stuffed-up-on-only-one-side-why-does-it-switch/700273/2 "2014-10-03T14:30:14Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Having the occasional stuffy/runny nose is the closest that I get to being sick, and whenever it happens I always have the same observation. > > I am only stuffed up on one side of my face while the other side is crystal clear. To which then I notice that a couple of hours later, it’s switched on me! Is there a physical reason for this? Or is this a case of an illusion created by my senses? There is a definite physical reason for it. You may be surprised to learn that you have erectile tissue in your nose: > [@Wikipedia](#): > > The turbinates compose most of the mucosal tissue of the nose and are required for functional respiration. The turbinates are enriched with airflow pressure and temperature-sensing nerve receptors (linked to the “trigeminal” nerve route, the fifth cranial nerve), allowing for tremendous erectile capabilities of nasal congestion and decongestion, in response to the weather conditions and changing needs of the body.[2] The flow of blood to the nasal mucosa, in particular the venous plexus of the conchae is regulated by the pterygopalatine ganglion and heats or cools the air in the nose. For some reason, the degree of engorgement of the turbinates cycles from side to side every few hours. You only notice this if you are congested, because otherwise the engorged side is still open. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-nose-stuffed-up-on-only-one-side-why-does-it-switch/700273/3 "2014-10-03T14:59:30Z")
It can also switch at night if you sleep on one side versus the other due to blood pressure. The side closest to the ground may get more congested due to engorgement of blood in the turbinates. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-nose-stuffed-up-on-only-one-side-why-does-it-switch/700273/4 "2014-10-03T15:08:36Z")
erectile tissue? So depending on which side of my nose is horny at the time, the mucus moves from one to the other to get away from it? My nose is high school? ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-nose-stuffed-up-on-only-one-side-why-does-it-switch/700273/5 "2014-10-03T17:27:58Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > erectile tissue? > > So depending on which side of my nose is horny at the time, the mucus moves from one to the other to get away from it? > > My nose is high school? Not mucus, blood. When blood flows into the tissue, then the tissue swells and blocks off airflow. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-nose-stuffed-up-on-only-one-side-why-does-it-switch/700273/6 "2014-10-03T17:30:39Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > Not mucus, blood. When blood flows into the tissue, then the tissue swells and blocks off airflow. Wow, that’s really interesting. I also always assumed sleeping on one side did something, but this finally confirms it ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2014, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-nose-stuffed-up-on-only-one-side-why-does-it-switch/700273/7 "2014-10-04T07:15:56Z")
Why is there erectile tissue there? Fuck nose. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2014, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-nose-stuffed-up-on-only-one-side-why-does-it-switch/700273/8 "2014-10-04T08:25:10Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Why is there erectile tissue there? > > Fuck nose. Golf clap. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2014, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-nose-stuffed-up-on-only-one-side-why-does-it-switch/700273/9 "2014-10-04T10:42:42Z")
> [@Shmendrik](#): > > There is a definite physical reason for it. You may be surprised to learn that you have erectile tissue in your nose Now I’m wondering if this is why nosebleeds are visual shorthand for intense sexual arousal in anime. ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-nose-stuffed-up-on-only-one-side-why-does-it-switch/700273/10 "2014-10-04T22:58:26Z")
So _that’s_ why decongestants like pseudo-ephedrine work so fast. They apparently make your nose’s erectile tissue go flaccid. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-nose-stuffed-up-on-only-one-side-why-does-it-switch/700273/11 "2014-10-05T00:15:24Z")
So if my nostrils stay erect for more than four hours, do I need to see a doctor? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-nose-stuffed-up-on-only-one-side-why-does-it-switch/700273/12 "2014-10-05T00:44:20Z")
Almost everyone has different airflow between one nostril and the other, and it tends to switch every few hours. You typically only really notice it when you’re congested, but for most of us, it’s always there, and it apparently has to do with [optimizing our sense of smell](http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v402/n6757/full/402035a0.html). It seems that our ability to detect smells and judge them depends on the airflow, so the differential gives us greater sensitivity and discrimination. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-nose-stuffed-up-on-only-one-side-why-does-it-switch/700273/13 "2014-10-05T00:57:38Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > It can also switch at night if you sleep on one side versus the other due to blood pressure. The side closest to the ground may get more congested due to engorgement of blood in the turbinates. I’ve noticed this and it’s annoying. But now at least I know why. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-nose-stuffed-up-on-only-one-side-why-does-it-switch/700273/14 "2014-10-05T01:34:24Z")
[Jimmy Durante] Dat ain’t no banana, lady. Dat’s my nose. [/Jimmy Durante]