how come if your left nose is plugged and you turn to lay on your right side your left nose unplugs? (and vice versa)

Question

Edit: y’all, didn’t you know we have two noses and one nostril sheesh 🤧

In: Biology

Answer 1

There is a congestion cycle: one sinus is mostly open and the other one mostly clear, at most times. The clear one may dry out and get a bit damaged, then it recovers while it’s congested. Incidentally, this cycle is interrupted by adrenaline, and Sudafed activates the adrenaline receptor, opening both nostrils.

There was a theory that this cycle evolved to make you change position when you sleep.