You may have heard of people getting breast exams, right? But what are these structures and what are their functions within the human body?
Many people imagine the respiratory system as follows: air enters through the nostrils and goes directly to the lungs, but this is not true. The fact is that before reaching the lungs, the air must be heated to bring it closer to body temperature. Furthermore, it must be filtered, preventing bacteria and unwanted particles, such as pollen or dust, from entering our body.
All this happens thanks to an ingenious system we call breasts, divided into four pairs, on both sides of our face.
Where are the breasts?
The sinuses are divided into four categories: maxillary, frontal, ethmoidal and sphenoid sinuses.
The maxillary sinuses are located near the nose and cheeks, one on each side of the face. The frontal sinuses are above the eyes, near the forehead. The ethmoid sinuses are located on the bridge of the nose, near our eyes. Finally, the sphenoids are located inside the skull, behind the eyes.
In addition to helping the respiratory system, these structures also prevent impacts on our face from directly reaching the brain, contributing to the protection of this organ. Another important point is that these empty spaces on our face reduce the weight of the head, which also makes breathing easier.
Why are my sinuses congested?
The sinuses produce mucus and, although we find it disgusting, it is necessary for these cavities to carry out their functions. In some cases the sinuses cannot cope with external agents that enter through the air.
For example: Imagine that you are in a dusty place. Excess dust enters your body through the air, but cannot reach your lungs. The sinuses begin to use mucus to deal with this problem. But there is so much dust that the cavities can’t handle it. This generates a reaction from the body which is inflammation, which, in turn, generates even more mucus and the sinuses become clogged, making it difficult to breathe and creating secretions that will drip down the nose.
The one just described could be a dust allergic sinusitis, which is extremely common. In fact, this is one of the differences between sinusitis and rhinitis. Sinusitis affects the sinuses, while rhinitis affects the nasal passages.
In either case, the symptoms usually go away within five days, but if they bother you a lot, you can seek medical help. To reduce the symptoms of sinusitis, the Ministry of Health recommends a minimum daily consumption of 2 liters of water and the application of a maximum of 3 drops of saline solution into the nostrils.
The saline solution can be prepared at home by boiling a liter of water and adding a teaspoon of sugar and a teaspoon of salt. Drip the cold solution into your nose several times a day.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
