**4. Analyzing characteristic of nasal airflow in healthy subjects**

From the experiments conducted by recording nasal air flow from two nostrils, there exists predominant airflow in only one nostril that justifies the existence of nasal cycle. Twenty healthy subjects (mean age 21 years) were examined for every 15 minutes for a stretch of 8 hours per day. The same procedure was repeated for 8 days. It is observed that the nasal cycle exists for 90% of the population. **Figure 2** shows the airflow from both the nostrils indicating predominant airflow in left nostril recorded from a healthy subject.

The work was carried out with Hotwire Anemometer method to measure the small temperature difference between inhale and exhale. The output is measured separately and simultaneously from both right and left nostril and can be stored for analysis of breath characteristics. The nasal cycle was recorded and analyzed using data acquisition system model PowerLab 8/35 with LabChart Software from AD Instruments, Australia.

It is estimated from 20 healthy subjects that an average duration of nasal cycle is about 2.45 hours. Rhythm duration varies from person to person in the range of 20 minutes–4.26 hours. Much precaution was taken to measure airflow without disturbing the normal airflow during breathing. Even in the healthy subjects for the same subject, the nasal cycle duration varies from time to time based on physiological and psychological changes. The people with respiratory problem were excluded from the study.

**Figure 3.** Indicating predominant airflow in right nostril (red line—filtered signal) versus left nostril (blue line—filtered

Alteration in Nasal Cycle Rhythm as an Index of the Diseased Condition

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.70599

29

**Figure 4.** Indicating predominant airflow in right nostril (red line—filtered signal) versus left nostril (blue line—filtered

**Figure 5.** Indicating predominant airflow in right nostril (red line—filtered signal) versus left nostril (blue line—filtered

signal) during forced holding of breath after inhale in filtered signal. (a) Raw signal and (b) filtered signal.

signal) during normal breathing in filtered signal. (a) Raw signal and (b) filtered signal.

signal) during forced deep breath in filtered signal. (a) Raw signal and (b) filtered signal.

The existence of predominant airflow under normal and different state of forced breathing is illustrated in **Figures 3**–**7**.


**Figure 2.** Indicating nasal cycle with predominant airflow in left nostril in a healthy subject.

Alteration in Nasal Cycle Rhythm as an Index of the Diseased Condition http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.70599 29

healthy subjects (mean age 21 years) were examined for every 15 minutes for a stretch of 8 hours per day. The same procedure was repeated for 8 days. It is observed that the nasal cycle exists for 90% of the population. **Figure 2** shows the airflow from both the nostrils indi-

The work was carried out with Hotwire Anemometer method to measure the small temperature difference between inhale and exhale. The output is measured separately and simultaneously from both right and left nostril and can be stored for analysis of breath characteristics. The nasal cycle was recorded and analyzed using data acquisition system model PowerLab

It is estimated from 20 healthy subjects that an average duration of nasal cycle is about 2.45 hours. Rhythm duration varies from person to person in the range of 20 minutes–4.26 hours. Much precaution was taken to measure airflow without disturbing the normal airflow during breathing. Even in the healthy subjects for the same subject, the nasal cycle duration varies from time to time based on physiological and psychological changes. The

The existence of predominant airflow under normal and different state of forced breathing is

cating predominant airflow in left nostril recorded from a healthy subject.

8/35 with LabChart Software from AD Instruments, Australia.

people with respiratory problem were excluded from the study.

illustrated in **Figures 3**–**7**.

28 Pathophysiology - Altered Physiological States

• Holding breath at exhale condition

• Holding breath at inhale condition

• Holding breath both at exhale and inhale condition

**Figure 2.** Indicating nasal cycle with predominant airflow in left nostril in a healthy subject.

• Normal breathing

• Deep breathing

**Figure 3.** Indicating predominant airflow in right nostril (red line—filtered signal) versus left nostril (blue line—filtered signal) during normal breathing in filtered signal. (a) Raw signal and (b) filtered signal.

**Figure 4.** Indicating predominant airflow in right nostril (red line—filtered signal) versus left nostril (blue line—filtered signal) during forced deep breath in filtered signal. (a) Raw signal and (b) filtered signal.

**Figure 5.** Indicating predominant airflow in right nostril (red line—filtered signal) versus left nostril (blue line—filtered signal) during forced holding of breath after inhale in filtered signal. (a) Raw signal and (b) filtered signal.

very high when compared to the other nostril. The huge multivariate samples are collected with different disease from 260 samples. Out of 260, 154 subjects were classified under first group that belongs to subjects possessing a predominant nasal airflow in right nostril and remaining 106 subjects belong to second group possessing predominant nasal airflow in left nostril.

Alteration in Nasal Cycle Rhythm as an Index of the Diseased Condition

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.70599

31

It is determined that about 87% in group 1 exist a predominant airflow in right nostril and the subjects were suffering from anyone of the following diseases like peptic ulcer, eye diseases, hyper chloride, esopatic, gastritis, diarrhea, insomnia, liver disorder, gastro intestinal disorder, and cardiac diseases. Similarly 92% of group 2 possesses predominant airflow in left nostril and the subjects were suffering from anyone of the following diseases like loss of appetite, tuberculosis, allergy, respiratory disorders like wheezing, and bronchitis asthma.

Recently the field of chronobiology attracted many researchers all over the world toward Circaseptan cycle (seven-day weekly cycle). It is commonly noticed in most of the plants, insects, and animals other than humans possessing weekly cycles. Apart from being the key coordinating rhythm for many rhythmic activity in body, seven-day cycle has been found in blood pressure fluctuations, variation in blood acid content, heartbeat, red blood cells, urine chemistry and volume, oral temperature, the ratio between two important neurotransmitters, female breast temperature, norepinephrine and epinephrine, and the rise and fall of several

The research in biological rhythms attracted many scientists especially in the field of chronotherapy, the application of biological rhythm to therapeutic procedures may be achieved by synchronizing drug concentration in drug delivery system with rhythms in disease activity that will improve the healing nature [35]. Furthermore research on this nasal cycle may pave a way for a new diagnostic and therapeutic technique in the medical field. A data base can be maintained for various diseases based on airflow pattern, which can be utilized by the

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

[1] Eccles RB. A role for the nasal cycle in respiratory defence. The European Respiratory

body chemicals such as cortisol, the stress coping hormone.

researchers to train the neural network-based disease classification.

Address all correspondence to: reachemk@gmail.com

**6. Conclusion**

**Author details**

**References**

Elangovan Muthu Kumaran

Journal. 1996;**9**(2):371-376

**Figure 6.** Indicating predominant airflow in right nostril (red line—filtered signal) versus left nostril (blue line—filtered signal) during forced holding of breath after exhale in filtered signal. (a) Raw signal and (b) filtered signal.

**Figure 7.** Forced exhale hold and inhale hold indicating predominant airflow in right nostril (blue line—filtered signal) in both the cases in filtered signal. (a) Raw signal and (b) filtered signal.

#### **5. Analyzing characteristic of nasal airflow in diseased subjects**

The experimental investigation was carried out at Government Siddha Medical College Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu, India. Totally 260 diseased patients participated in this study from both in-patient and out-patient sections. After receiving a waiver of informed consent form from the Institutional Human Ethical Committee, a retrospective study from various patients is undertaken under the supervision of physician. The nasal airflow for the duration of about 3 minutes is recorded at every 20 minutes to the stretch of 8 hours. Then, the average period of nasal cycle rhythm is calculated. In normal case, the nasal cycle exists for the period of 2–2.5 hours (average) ranges between 20 minutes and 3.6 hours. Whereas in diseased case, the cycle duration greater than 4.5 hours or existence of predominant airflow in particular nostril is very high when compared to the other nostril. The huge multivariate samples are collected with different disease from 260 samples. Out of 260, 154 subjects were classified under first group that belongs to subjects possessing a predominant nasal airflow in right nostril and remaining 106 subjects belong to second group possessing predominant nasal airflow in left nostril.

It is determined that about 87% in group 1 exist a predominant airflow in right nostril and the subjects were suffering from anyone of the following diseases like peptic ulcer, eye diseases, hyper chloride, esopatic, gastritis, diarrhea, insomnia, liver disorder, gastro intestinal disorder, and cardiac diseases. Similarly 92% of group 2 possesses predominant airflow in left nostril and the subjects were suffering from anyone of the following diseases like loss of appetite, tuberculosis, allergy, respiratory disorders like wheezing, and bronchitis asthma.
