What does your nose say about your stress levels?
- eqeo
- Oct 13
- 1 min read
The BBC recently shared a fascinating study from the University of Sussex showing that when we experience acute stress, like being asked to do mental arithmetic in front of strangers — the temperature of our nose drops by several degrees.
Why? Because our nervous system redirects blood flow away from the face toward areas that help us look and listen for danger, a deep, evolutionary stress response.
What’s even more interesting is how quickly people’s noses warmed up again once the stressor passed. This recovery time is a measurable sign of how well we regulate stress — and it’s here that breathing comes in.
Slow, conscious breathing is one of the most effective ways to signal safety to the body, calm the nervous system, and help us recover from stress faster.It’s not just about “relaxing” — it’s about restoring physiological balance.
If our nose temperature could show it, mindful breathing might literally make our faces glow warmer again.
