Effects of unilateral nostril breathing on blood pressure and heart rate in right-handed healthy subjects.

The effects of unilateral forced nostril breathing (UFNB) on systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate (HR) were studied in 88 male and 41 female right-handed subjects. In men, both the right and left unilateral forced nostril breathings significantly increased the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and HR, but had no effect on the diastolic blood pressure (DBP). In women, the right UFNB increased, but the left UFNB slightly decreased the SBP and DBP. The results suggested that there may be a nostril laterality affecting the autonomous nervous system differentially.