Total lung capacity, functional residual capacity, and residual volume all decreased significantly with total nasal obstruction and with surgical relief of chronic nasal obstruction.
Researchers concluded that “these findings imply that the resistance to expiration provided by the nose helps maintain lung volumes and so may indirectly determine arterial oxygenation.”
What does it mean?
Mouth breathing reduces lung volume and negatively affects how much oxygen gets from your lungs to your blood.
Nose breathing increases arterial oxygen tension
Lundberg JO. Nitric oxide and the paranasal sinuses. Anat Rec (Hoboken).2008 Nov;(291(11)):1479-84
“Nitric oxide (NO) is released in the nasal airways in humans. During inspiration through the nose this NO will follow the airstream to the lower airways and the lungs. Nasally derived NO has been shown to increase arterial oxygen tension and reduce pulmonary vascular resistance, thereby acting as an airborne messenger.”
What does it mean?
When you breathe through your nose, you inhale nitric oxide deep into your lungs. Nitric oxide helps more oxygen get into your blood.
Your nose performs 30 functions on behalf of your body
Timmons B.H., Ley R. Behavioral and Psychological Approaches to Breathing Disorders. 1st ed. Springer; 1994
“According to Dr. Maurice Cottle, who founded the American Rhinologic Society in 1954, your nose performs at least 30 functions, all of which are important supplements to the roles played by the lungs, heart, and other organs.”
What does it mean?
In the nose breathing vs mouth breathing debate, the nose comes out on top every time. The nose performs 30 functions on behalf of the body. When it comes to breathing, the mouth performs no function, except as a back-up if the nose is blocked or exercise is so intensive you need to breathe a significantly greater volume of air.
During nose breathing, nitric oxide concentrations increase
Lundberg J, Weitzberg E. Nasal nitric oxide in man. Thorax.1999;(54):947-952
“Since NO is continuously released into the nasal airways the concentration will be dependent on the flow rate by which the sample is aspirated. Thus, nasal NO concentrations are higher at lower flow rates.”
What does it mean?
When you breathe more slowly, you’ll breathe a greater concentration of NO into your lungs.
Nose breathing is better for your health and plays an important role in immune system function
Lundberg J, Weitzberg E. Nasal nitric oxide in man. Thorax.1999;(54):947-952
“Among the various biological properties of nitric oxide (nasal cavity) are its effects on the growth of various pathogens including bacteria, fungi, and viruses.”
What does it mean?
Nitric oxide offers a natural first line of immune system defense against airborne pathogens such as viruses.
It’s important to breathe both in and out of your nose
Strohl KP1, Arnold JL, Decker MJ, Hoekje PL, McFadden ER. Nasal flow-resistive responses to challenge with cold dry air. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1992 Apr;72(4):1243-6.
“To determine if mucosal surface heat and water loss influence the nasal functional response to cold air, we measured nasal resistance by posterior rhinomanometry. During the challenge period, the subjects breathed either in and out of the nose or in through the nose and out through the mouth. No changes in nasal resistance developed when subjects breathed exclusively through the nose.
However, when subjects breathed in through the nose and out through the mouth, nasal resistance was increased 200% at 1 min (P less than 0.01) after the challenge and returned to baseline values by 10 min after cessation of the challenge.”
What does it mean?
