Just for perspective: I am a man in my mid-40s and for as long as i can remember i had this question… is it normal that i can shut my nose close just with some muscles?

I always wondered why some people hold their nose shut with their fingers while jumping into a pool or when exposed to some horrible smell… i never had this need. Changing my sons diapers? No problem! Cleaning the latrines while in the army? Just a breeze!

Ehm… yeah… just thought about this…

  • squaresinger@lemmy.world
    1·
    14 hours ago

    At least not in my case. If I blow out a candle, my nose passage closes.

    Maybe try the following:

    • Start with the motion of blowing out a candle.
    • While doing so, close your mouth, so that no air escapes through your mouth or nose, still holding the pressure of blowing.
    • Release your nose and feel the air popping out right at your nose.

    It’s not the bottom end of the nose, but the top end of it. It’s certainly not the laryinx, at least not for me.

    • stelelor@lemmy.ca
      1·
      10 hours ago

      I just tried that and I can definitely say the closure happens at the pharynx for me, which is also what I do consciously when I hold my breath.

      • squaresinger@lemmy.world
        2·
        4 hours ago

        Strange. Ok, can you make a snorting sound at the front of your nose? If you can, try to make a knocking sound with your nose. For that, build up pressure inside your nose using your tongue and release the sound by opening your nose.

        It’s similar to what you do when you have to sneeze and try to suppress it.