Nasal reflexes: Implications for exercise, breathing, and sex

Abstract

Nasal patency, with both congestion and decongestion, is affected in a wide variety of reflexes. Stimuli that lead to nasal reflexes include exercise, alterations of body position, pressure, and temperature, neurological syndromes, and dentists. As anticipated, the vagal and trigeminal systems are closely integrated through nasobronchial and bronchonasal reflexes. However, perhaps of greater pathophysiological importance are the naso-hypopharyngea-laryngeal reflexes that become aggravated during sinusitis. None other than Sigmund Freud saw deeply beyond the facial adornment and recognized the deeper sexual tensions that can regulate nasal functions and psychoanalytical status. Wine, women and song are linked with airflow through the nose, the nose, that by any other name would still smell as sweetly.

Funktionen und Funktionsstörungen der respiratorischen Schleimhaut der Nase und der Nasennebenhöhlen

“…Cholinerge Fasern gelangen mit den N. maxillaris zur Tr ä nendr ü se [29] . Die Stimulation einer Seite f ü hrt physiologischerweise auch zu einer schw ä -cheren, kontralateralen Refl exantwort [28] (zu weiteren Refl exen siehe [32] ).…”

Physical Exercise Increases Nasal Patency in Asthmatic and Atopic Preschool Children

“…The reaction has been shown to reach maximum level in adults at 5-10 minutes and may persist for up to 30 minutes. [1][2]4,21,22 The overall increase in total anterior volume after exercise was 15%. In our previous study in school children aged between 6 and 14 years we achieved a significant change of 10% in total volume with a xylometazoline spray.…”

“…1,2,4 Exercise can be used instead of medical decongestion to decrease the mucosal thickness and to evaluate structural obstruction of the nose. 1 The nasal response seems to be similar in healthy subjects and in patients with rhinitis and asthma, 3 but it has only been studied in adults. Knowledge of exercise-induced changes in nasal mucosa in children is lacking.…”

Clinical Presentation and Management of Geriatric Rhinitis

“…Distinct mediators, such as nitric oxide and neuro peptides, have been demonstrated to produce specific nasal responses and symptoms [30]. Considering the variety of seemingly innocuous stimuli that can disturb the nasal reflex -such as exercise, dentistry and even sexual activity -VMR can have a tremendous impact on daily living [38].…”

“…One possible mechanism is the involvement of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 receptors for capsaicin that are recognized as transmitting a specific pain sensation and triggering glandular exocytosis. These receptors are also sensitive to temperature, alcohol, mint, menthols, garlic and mustard oil, and may be involved in gustatory rhinitis and other forms of NAR [38].…”