Smelling is a sense that we use every day without realizing it. We smell through the nose which is a crucial part of our bodies.
The nose is one of the most important features of human beings. It helps us to smell, balance and even regulates our breathing.
Not only this, but it also aids in fighting diseases by detecting harmful substances in the air before they are inhaled. But what makes it so special? Here are 15 reasons why the nose is important.
15 Benefits Of Nose That Help In Breathing
The nose is an important part of our body that helps to regulate temperature and humidify the air. In addition to being an organ on its own, the nose plays an integral role in the respiratory system by acting as the passageway for air when breathing in and out.
1. Nose Helps Us Smell
Our noses are essential for the sense of smell. It sends signals to our brain by making olfactory nerves that sense chemical particles in the air and sends them to the olfactory bulb. This allows us to recognize different scents and enjoy the sense of smell.
The nose allows us to detect smells through the air which helps our brains recognize different objects. It also sends messages to the brain about what chemicals are in the air and allows them to identify whether something is poisonous or not.
2. Nose Helps Us Breathe
The main purpose of breathing is to deliver oxygen into our blood and remove carbon dioxide which is created by human cells when they break down food.
When we breathe air in, it goes through the nostrils and hits the back wall of our nose called the nasal septum. This separates the nasal cavity into left and right to make breathing easier.
Hence our nose aids us in breathing. As we breathe in and out, our noses filter impurities and harmful microbes from the air before it reaches our lungs.
3. Nose Guards Against Harmful Microbes
The nose helps us to breathe by acting as a filter for the air that we inhale and exhale. A layer of mucus traps dirt, dust, pollen, and other micro-organisms from the air before it reaches our lungs which makes breathing healthier.
It also warms up the cold air that we breathe in by opening the nasal cavity to allow it to pass through, at the same time recoiling down our throats.
Your nose guards to prevent foreign substances and microorganisms from getting into your respiratory system. It’s a conscious effort of our body to recirculate expired air while blocking foreign particles at the same time.
4. Nose Balances The Mind And Body
With its ability to help us maintain a stable body temperature, which helps our bodies function properly even in extreme weather conditions, the nose opens up the nasal cavity during the cold seasons and closes it down in warmer temperatures so we remain grounded.
The nose is also referred to as the middle element”of our three breath bodies, composed of skin, wind, and warmth. This helps us avoid illness and catch diseases early at times when they can be healed more easily.
In addition to such functions, the nose helps balance our bodies with our ears.
Related Video – A Journey in Your Nose to See How Smell Works:
5. Nose Is A Humidifier For The Air We Breathe
When air enters our nose, it contains a lot of water vapor. The nose serves as a warm and moist area perfect for evaporation. It is here that the particles of water evaporate so they can mix with the air before it enters the lungs.
If you have a dry throat, it indicates that the air in this passageway has not been humidified.
The larynx is a small, bean-like structure located just above your vocal cords that control the sound of your voice. This is also where the tone of your voice is formed as air passes through and the passage expands or contracts.
6. Nose Links To Other Body Organs
The nose might seem like a small, insignificant part of the human body but it’s actually closely attached to other vital parts such as the heart, brain, eyes, and throat. All these are connected through the nerve network that allows messages to be sent between them.
The human heart rate also changes with nasal airflow which means that breathing affects our bodies even though we might not be aware of this.
7. Nose Can Impact Heart Health
The connection between the heart and the nasal cavity is really strong. The cardiovascular system can be affected by how we breathe, especially when we have asthma or allergies because they create inflammation in the bronchial tubes which causes them to swell and block the airflow.
This decreases our lung capacity by limiting the amount of oxygen that can be absorbed into the bloodstream.
8. Nose Influences Brain Health
The brain and the nose are connected too. Researchers claim that this is how we learn to smell even before we’re born, through the amniotic fluid that’s carried around our nasal cavity in utero.
It is believed that the health of our brain is impacted by how we breathe because the nerve connections between the heart, eyes, and nose are really strong. If you can’t breathe well due to a cold or flu, it makes your thinking a lot slower and even affects your behavior too.
If you’ve ever had a stuffy nose, you’ll know that it can definitely make you feel irritable and inattentive.
9. Nose Regulate Body Temperature
Our body’s hormone system also has an impact on the nose, by regulating blood pressure and temperature and preventing allergies from occurring.
The nose helps us maintain an ideal body temperature by opening the nasal cavity during cold weather, allowing air to flow across it rapidly, and heating the air before it reaches deep into our lungs.
During hot days, our nose prepares for the heat. The nasal passage closes to protect the throat from getting burned when you breathe, and blood vessels get smaller to keep cool.
Our body’s hormone system also has an impact on the nose, by regulating blood pressure and temperature and preventing allergies from occurring.
10. Nose Purifies The Air We Breathe
There are also tiny hair cells in the nose that trap particles of dust and dirt, preventing them from entering your lungs. This is helpful for people with allergies or respiratory problems who want to avoid infection.
On average, the nose moves air at a rate of one liter per second so breathing is not prepared for by our heart because it does it automatically.
11. Nose Health Impacts Lungs
The condition of your nose can definitely affect the health of your lungs. If you have allergies or a stuffy nose, this can cause respiratory problems and infections in your nasal cavity.
Strep throat is also linked to the health of the nose because it causes swelling which leads to blockages that stop air from being breathed in properly. Exposure to secondhand smoke can also lead to respiratory issues, lung cancer, and heart disease.
12. Nose Can Enhance Sexuality
Your nose might not seem like an important body part when it comes to sex but it can actually enhance your sexual experiences too.
This is because the nose’s ability to expand and contract allows for deeper breathing which means more oxygen in the body, increasing your stamina.
According to new research, women react to male fragrance chemicals in the same way. Because the study was small, it might reveal one way in which sexual preference is responded to by the brain.
13. Nose Can Determine Your Sense Of Taste
Your nose plays a role when it comes to your sense of taste because the smell of food will define the way its actual flavor registers on your tongue.
That’s why food is more appetizing when it has a pleasant fragrance. Not only that, but the smells we encounter daily can affect our preferences and dislikes.
14. Nose And Sinus Is A Powerful Duo To Bring Immunity
The nose has a part to play in immunity, especially when it comes to preventing disease. It makes sure that bad air does not enter our lungs.
The sinuses are constantly moving in and out to clean the nasal cavity which is full of tiny hairs called cilia. Cilia help push mucus containing dust, pollen, and dirt up through the nostrils so they don’t get trapped in your lungs.
Your nose and sinuses work together to regulate the amount of nitric oxide in your body and lungs. It also contributes to your immunity.
15. Nose Breathing Is Beneficial In Sleep
Breathing through your nose is much better for you when you are sleeping because it ensures the air passes over the nasal cavity to prevent snoring.
When you sleep, your muscles become more relaxed allowing these muscles to fall back towards the throat which leads to snoring sounds. If you are not breathing through your nose, this can make noises louder and lead to sleep apnea.
Nose breathing has both immediate and long-term consequences on your health. It optimizes your oxygen levels, enhances cognitive performance, and maintains your oral health.
The Importance Of Nose – Conclusion
The nose is not only important because it allows us to breathe easier but there are other health benefits that it brings too.
It’s important to focus on the nose for maintaining better health since that would result in better living.
References
- https://www.physio-pedia.com/Olfactory_Nerve
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17708456/#:~:text=The%20major%20function%20of%20the,the%20surface%20of%20the%20epithelium.
- https://www.news24.com/health24/medical/sinusitis/news/is-your-stuffy-nose-stuffing-up-your-brain-20210421-4#:~:text=If%20you%20suffer%20from%20a,who%20had%20no%20sinus%20inflammation.
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155412
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3987372/
- https://www.scienceworld.ca/resource/taste-smell-connection/
- https://www.prontosleep.com/breathe-your-way-to-a-better-nights-sleep/
A sophomore in engineering, I’m a budding writer and an adventure enthusiast. My passion leads me on to try my hands on different things. I enjoy music, food, and good company. Making my way through life in my own ways, you’ll find me holding a camera and capturing what this world has to offer.