The relationship of chronic rhinitis and sinuitis with pathology of the bronchi and lungs

As you know, only nasal respiration is considered physiological [10, 11]. For the normal functioning of the lungs, for the implementation of sufficient gas exchange, it is necessary that the inhaled air, upon entering the upper respiratory tract, meets a certain resistance, which entails the tension of the respiratory muscles necessary for breathing [10]. As you know, the area of ​​the nasal cavity accounts for 47% of the resistance of the entire respiratory tract. In addition, the nasal cavity is one of the most important regulators of the excitability of the respiratory center. Hence it is clear that any change in the patency of the nose leads to a breakdown of a number of functions. Switching off nasal breathing leads to a decrease in intrapleural pressure by 25-30%, and this, in turn, causes an insufficient excursion of the lungs. When nasal breathing is turned off, the normal nasopulmonary reflex disappears (K. A. Shukarev), the protective function of the nose drops out. DI Zimont believes that the fact that insufficiency of nasal breathing plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases of the lungs is undoubted, since breathing through the mouth causes constant irritation of the respiratory tract, leading to the development of catarrhal phenomena.