A procedure for measuring nasal airway resistance using posterior rhinorheotnetry is descrihed. Baseline nasal airway resistances ± 1 S.D. at an airflow of 0.5 L/sec were found to be 1.077 ± 0.683 cm H2O for inhalation and 1.359 ± 0.792 cm H 2O for exhalation. Application of either cold water (4 to 6 C) or warm water (44 to 52 C) to the oral mucosa significantly increased nasal airway resistance. Application of tepid water (26 to 28 C) did not alter nasal airway resistance significantly.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Ralston, H.J. , and Kerr, W.J.: Vascular Responses of the Nasal Mucosa to Thermal Stimuli with Some Observations on Skin Temperature, Am J Physiol144:305-310, 1945.
2.
Josenhans, W.T. ; Melville, G.N.; and Ulmer, W.T.: The Effect of Facial Cold Stimulation on Airway Conductance in Healthy Man, Canad J Physiol Pharmacol47:453-457, 1969.
3.
Martin, J.S. , and Friedman, M.H.F.: Nasal Airway Resistance and Bloodflow , Physiologist15:209, 1972.
4.
Craig, A.B., JR.; Dvorak, M.; and Mcill-Reath, F.J. : Resistance to Airflow Through the Nose, Ann Otolaryngol74:589-603, 1965.
5.
Cass, L.J.: Measurement of Total Respiratory and Nasal Airflow Resistance, JAMA199:396-398, 1967.
6.
Glass, P., and Teller, F.F.: Assessment of the Dynamics of Nasopharyngeal Airflow, Am Rev Resp Dis99:437-439, 1969.
7.
Proctor, D.F. : Physiology of the Upper Airway, in Handbook of Physiology, Vol. VI, pp. 309-345. Am Physiol Soc, Washington, D.C., 1966.
8.
Martin, J.S. , and Friedman, M.H.F.: Absence of Relationship Between Nasal Bloodflow and Nasal Airway Resistance in Healthy Subjects, Physiologist16:389, 1973.
9.
Drettner, B. : Vascular Reactions of the Human Nasal Mucosa on Exposure to Cold, Acta Otol Laryngol Suppl166:1-109, 1961.
