Nasal cycle is fund in about 80% of normal population. It is regulated by hypothalamus, as a central role, and by afferent signals from airway or posture, as a peripheral one. Alcohol may have some depressant action on central nervous system, and
may
diminish sympathetic tone to sinusoidal capacitant vessel of nose. Alcohol exerts peripheral vasodilator effect, also. Both lead to swelling of nasal mucosa with nasal obstruction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate dynamic effect of
alcohol
ingestion on nasal mucosa according to time sequences.
Fourteen normal volunteers underwent acoustic rhinometry with 20minutes interval. Eleven subjects showed normal nasal cycle. After confirmation of nasal cycles, all subjects ingested 0.75g/㎏of body weight of alcohol. And subsequent acoustic
rhinometry
was conducted with 20 minutes interval.
Each subject showed normal nasal cycle. Overall duration and reciprocity was not changed after alcohol ingestion. The cross-sectional areas of I-notch and C-notch were not changed after alcohol ingestion. CA 3.3 changed after 120minutes and
lasted
for
60minutes. CA 6.4 has decresed after 100minutes and lasted for 100minutes. The decrement of total nasal volume rose slowly and returned toward the pre-alcohol measurement levels. (Korean J Otolaryngo1 39 : 6, 1996)
|