The effects of unilateral forced nostril breathing on arterial blood pressure in healthy sportsmen

Abstract

Nasal cycle, which is regulated by sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system, is a simultaneous congestion - decongestion response in the nasal cavity. This shows a dynamic lateralisation of the autonomic nervous system. It is suggested that unilateral forced nostril breathing (UFNB) selectively produced hemispheric stimulation in the opposite side. In present study, the effect of unilateral forced nostril breathing (UFNB) on arterial blood pressure (ABP) in sportsmen was investigated prospectively. Nasal dominancy determined in 26 healthy sportsmen. Blood pressure measurements were carried out prior to testing. Then, sportsmen whose right nostrils were obstructed with a piece of wet cotton forced to breath from unilateral nostril for 10 minutes with 30% performance. Following the forced breathing, blood pressure values were determined. After that, left nostrils were obstructed with wet cotton and forced unilateral nostril breathing performed via the same manner. Blood pressures have been determined after testing. The forced left nostril breathing decreased arterial blood pressure in 93% of sportsmen who had right nasal cycles dominancy (p < 0.01). But the forced right nostril breathing increased arterial blood pressure in 92% of sportsmen who had right nasal cycles dominancy (p < 0.01). These results suggest that unilateral forced nostril breathing can affect the performance of sportsmen, changing arterial blood pressure.