Physical dilatation of the nostrils lowers the thermal strain of exercising humans.

Increased nasal air flow during exercise was examined as a possible heat loss avenue contributing to selective brain cooling in hyperthermic humans. On 2 separate days, eight subjects [mean (SE) age, 26.4 (1.2) years] exercised on a cycle ergometer in a warm room [28 (0.2) degrees C; 28 (5)% relative humidity] to induce a moderate level of hyperthermia. In one session the nostrils were physically dilatated [average dilatation 1.55 (0.17) times] and in the other they were not (control). Both sessions started with a 5-min resting period; then subjects pedaled at 60 W for 5 min, 100 W for 15 min, and 150 W for 20 min. During dilatation both tympanic temperature (Tty) and forehead skin blood flow, estimated by laser doppler velocimetry, were significantly lower than during the control exercise of 150 W. Rates of increase of Tty during the 100-W exercise were the same in both conditions; however, during the 150-W exercise with dilatated nostrils Tty increased at a rate significantly lower than during control [1.1 (0.3) degrees C.h-1 vs 1.5 (0.4) degrees C.h-1]. The change in the rate of increase of Tty between conditions was significantly correlated to the degree of nostril dilatation (r = -0.77, P = 0.02), suggesting that the lower Tty observed was due to nostril dilatation. Facial skin temperature was not significantly different between sessions. The results suggest that the nasal cavity may act as a heat exchanger in selective brain cooling of exercising humans.