“Nasal breathing releases Nitric Oxide (NO), which regulates homeostasis in many of the body’s functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration.
As ambient oxygen (O2) passes through the sinuses, it diffuses across the nasal epithelium and can be used by the cells to produce NO. As the sinuses produce NO and air is continuously inhaled, NO reaches the lungs and is diffused into the capillaries of the surrounding alveoli, expanding vessels and increasing O2/CO2 exchange.
Lundberg noted that the release of NO helps to control blood flow via diffusion to the underlying smooth muscle cells. The powerful vasodilating effects of NO lead to increased oxygen uptake, a reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance, and arterial oxygenation.
The benefits of enhanced NO productivity include increased aerobic capacity, reduced hypertension, increased insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, capitalization and angiogenesis, and even long-term potentiation (LTP) associated with cellular models for learning and memory. An additional benefit of enhanced NO productivity is neurogenesis, which is the process by which new neurons form in the brain.
These physiological conditions can either positively influence an athlete’s performance or impair the outcome. Nitric oxide, through nasal breathing, regulates autonomic functions like heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and digestion along with mood, sleep cycle, fluid balance, and reproduction.
The increase of blood flow derived from NO synthesis may improve recovery processes as well. According to Lacomb, nasal breathing, due, in part, to increased flow rates of air throughout the lungs, reduces exercise-induced asthma and bronchoconstriction.
Nitric oxide is a gas that improves blood flow in areas of the lungs that are getting air, increasing the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. Nitric oxide also reduces the workload of the right side of the heart, which is under extreme stress during lung failure.
In humans, nitric oxide is generated within the blood vessels and regulates blood pressure, and prevents the formation of clots and also destroys potential toxins, said Dr. Pankaj Arora, an assistant professor of cardiovascular disease. His team plans to study the cardiovascular effects of high-dose inhaled nitric oxide as part of the primary clinical trial.” WebMD News from HealthDay
The nitric oxide video below explains in depth about the lack of nitric oxide results in atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can result in a heart attack. People should know that breathing in through the nose and breathing out through the relaxed lips increases the nitric oxide in the blood circulation. Watch the video below where Dr. Van Dyken discusses the top food sources to optimize nitric oxide levels.
