Variation in Nasal Mucosa Congestion during Rest

Since the late nineteenth century, the physiological variation in nasal mucosa congestion has aroused considerable interest (Kayser, 1895). It has been claimed in several reports that a cyclic variation exists in humans at rest (Hasegawa & Kern, 1977; Keunig, 1968). This cyclic variation of the congestion has been found in as many as 80% of the subjects studied (Heetderks, 1927). The measuring methods used in these studies have been rhinoscopy and rhinomanometry, neither of which can be regarded as ideal for the purpose. The accuracy level of rhinoscopy is rather low. Rhinomanometry, on the other hand, is an indirect method utilizing the air pressure and air flow in the nose as parameters. The relationship between these parameters and mucosal congestion is, however, not yet established. An optical measuring method was recently invented that allows the registration of even small changes in the position of the nasal mucosa surfaces (Juto & Lundberg, 1982). Consequently it was decided to apply this method to the study of the variations in mucosal congestion during rest in healthy individuals.