Many studies, such as this one, that compare nasal to oral breathing deduce that, during exercise, oral breathing tends to be favorable because not enough air can be inhaled through the nose. Even for those of us with physiologically “perfect” noses, nasal breathing during exercise (especially without a nasal dilator) has to be practiced in…
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Our noses evolved to be our body’s air conditioners: our nasal passages humidify air and filter out particulates so that the air we inhale into our lungs is as non-irritating as possible. The internal nose alone provides 90% of the respiratory system’s air-conditioning requirement. This means that your lungs and throat have to nearly double…
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Our moods are affected by our brain and our nervous system. Studies have shown that our nose is linked to the function of our amygdala, which contributes to our ability to feel emotions and perceive them in others, and our parasympathetic nervous system, which is associated with feelings of centeredness and relaxation. When we breathe…
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Researchers believe the link between nasal breathing and cognitive function has something to do with our sense of smell, which evolved as a survival sense. In a 2018 study* published in the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers had participants smell several different scents, and then spend a period of time either breathing through their nose or…
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A study in the US National Library of Medicine found that cyclical nasal breathing influences cognitive function, specifically tasks performed by the hippocampus (which is responsible for processing and storing short-term memory) and the amygdala (which regulates emotions and moods). While nasal breathing is linked to better memory recall and lower levels of depression and…
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Blood circulation is a fundamental part of your body’s overall health and resilience. Your heart pumps blood through your circulatory system, where it delivers oxygen and vital nutrients to your muscles, organs, and extremities, and promotes healthy cell growth. Even your skin benefits from increased circulation, making it more resistant to external bacteria and infections. …
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Vasodilation is the widening of the blood vessels and occurs naturally in the body when an increase in blood flow to muscles and issues is needed. During exercise, vasodilation has several benefits: it helps your body cool itself down, it allows oxygen to travel more quickly to your muscles and organs, and it increases blood…
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The immune system is one of the body’s most complex systems, second only to the nervous system, and acts as a guardian against harmful agents in order to keep us healthy. One of the body’s first defenses against airborne pathogens and bacteria exists in the paranasal sinuses: when we breathe in and out through our…
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We’ve all heard it’s better to breathe through your nose, but when push comes to shove and you’re hitting that sprint or pedaling up that hill, your nose suddenly doesn’t seem like a very viable breathing machine. And in fact, it’s not–studies have shown that most noses are physiologically incapable of inhaling adequate amounts of…
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When we think of our respiratory systems, we generally think of our noses, mouths, and most importantly, our lungs. However, our lungs don’t just move on their own – they are supported by a very important muscle, the diaphragm, that performs a critical function in our involuntary exchange of oxygen. This muscle deserves some tender…
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