Scientific research supports the idea that nitric oxide has a positive effect on athletic performance. | Tom Wheatley/Unsplash
Scientific research supports the idea that nitric oxide has a positive effect on athletic performance. | Tom Wheatley/Unsplash
There is scientific evidence supporting the hypothesis that nitric oxide can affect athletic performance and reduce chronic sinusitis symptoms.
Chronic sinusitis is mostly caused by nasal allergies, nasal obstruction, nasal polyps or infections, according to Healthline. Nitric oxide is a colorless gas and is known as a “signaling molecule.” Its biological functions are vast, making it one of the most important molecules in the body, according to Wikipedia.
According to LVI Global, the effects of nitric oxide include anti-inflammatory properties, immune defense against viruses and parasitic organisms, hormonal effects, influence on the secretion of hormones, regulation of bladder function and protection of the skin from ionizing radiation.
“Sinusitis occurs when the linings of your nose, sinuses and throat become inflamed, possibly from a preexisting cold or allergies,” Dr. Nicholas Hollenkamp of Indianapolis Sinus Center told South Indy News. “Chronic sinusitis is when this inflammation lasts three months or more.”
Chronic sinusitis corresponds with more than a 50% reduction in nasal nitric oxide levels. According to the journal Acta Oto-laryngologica, evidence suggests that lack of nitric oxide may even contribute to the development of the disease.
In a Clinical and Experimental Allergy study of 82 patients, nitric oxide levels were significantly lower in patients with nasal polyps than those with uncomplicated allergic rhinitis.
Nitric oxide inhaled during nasal breathing improves blood oxygenation. Therefore it is hypothesized there may be an effect on athletic performance.
In an assessment from the European Respiratory Journal, patients can naturally increase nitric oxide concentrations simply by humming. One study from the JAMA Network found that levels increased sevenfold during humming.
In one case report in Medical Hypotheses, chronic rhinosinusitis symptoms such as postnasal drip, facial or maxillary sinus pain, and inflammation of sinus were essentially eliminated in four days by using a humming regimen, possibly due to antifungal properties of nitric oxide.
To learn more about this article or to take a sinus self-assessment, visit Indianapolis Sinus Center.
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