Ear, Nose and Throat
Center

The nose admits and expels air for respiration, and is the primary organ for smelling. The nose processes the air that you breathe before it enters your lungs, cleaning, warming and/or humidifying it. Most of this activity takes place in and on the turbinates, located on the sides of the nasal passages. In an adult, 18,000 to 20,000 liters of air pass through the nose each day. Because the connection between the nose and lungs is so important, paying attention to problems in the nose can reduce or avoid problems in the lungs, such as bronchitis and asthma. Ignoring nasal symptoms such as congestion, sneezing, runny nose, or thick nasal discharge can aggravate lung problems and lead to other problems. Due to the special nature of the blood supply to the human nose and surrounding area, it is possible for retrograde infections from the nasal area to spread to the brain. For this reason, it is crucial to maintain good nasal health.