A Large Nose May Be Beneficial to Your Health

The human nose comes in all shapes and sizes. It has a variety of functions such as containing the cells responsible for smelling. It takes inhaled air and conditions it making it more humid. Air needs to be moist, clean and warm before it passes into the lungs. Also the hairs in the nose help keep large particles from entering the lungs.

The nose is one of the most defining features of a human’s face and dissatisfaction with the appearance of the nose is very common. Every year more than half a million Americans consider nose surgery or rhinoplasty. Sometimes it is because they are unhappy with the appearance of their nose, sometimes because of injury or breathing problems. But nose reductions are the most popular surgeries of the nose.

Before you decide to reduce the size of your nose, you should consider the new research that has been conducted by the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Iowa. Dr Renee Anthony, an Assistant Professor, headed up the study of the relationship of nose and lip size and the inhalation of pollutants. Two sizes of artificial noses and lips were created and placed on artificial heads in different combinations. Their research found that larger noses inhaled 6.5% fewer particles and pollutants and also acted as a barrier to keep bacteria away from the mouth. Larger noses may also reduce the inhalation of pollens. Larger lips also reduced particle intake by 3.2%. This research was published in the Annals of Occupational Hygiene in April of 2010.

To summarize, the more your nose sticks out, the more protection if provides for the mouth which in turn could lower the risk of infections and problems with pollens. A larger nose seems to be more beneficial to your health than a smaller version.

Something to keep in mind the next time you gaze in the mirror and lament the size of your nose.