Humming and Nitric Oxide
Nitric oxide is produced and released in the nasal airways during nose breathing. It is released from nasal tissue and inhaled into the lungs. Nitric oxide is not produced or released with mouth breathing. In healthy sinuses nitric oxide levels are high. Congested airways lead to lower levels of nitric oxide and mouth breathing. Nitric oxide is important for many things including smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation.
Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden hypothesised that humming would produce oscillating airflow-enhancing nasal airflow, resulting in higher release of nitric oxide in the nasal passages. Ten healthy, non-smoking subjects participated in the study measuring nitric oxide in exhaled air from both the nose and the mouth. Measurements were taken at rest with gentle breathing and again while humming.
Humming resulted in a 15-fold increase in nasal nitric oxide levels compared to relaxed breathing. During relaxed nasal breathing, nitric oxide levels were 189 nanolitres/minute and increased to 2,818 nl/minute with humming. Nitric oxide levels with relaxed mouth breathing averaged 103 nl/minute and were 104 nl/minute for mouth breathing and humming. Air needs to pass through the nasal passages to trigger the release of nitric oxide. With mouth breathing and humming there was no increase in nitric oxide levels. Nose breathing produces more nitric oxide than mouth breathing. When humming is added to nose breathing, nitric oxide production increases significantly.
Clinical Implications: Encourage mouth breathing patients to hum with the tongue resting on the palate to ensure nose breathing. This will increase nitric oxide production while practising lips together posture, tongue on the palate nasal breathing.
Weitzberg, E., Lundberg, J.: Humming Greatly Increases Nasal Nitric Oxide, Am J Respir Crit Care Med 166(2):144-145, 2002.
Dean O'Rourke - curator Breathing Mechanics website
Nitric oxide is produced and released in the nasal airways during nose breathing. It is released from nasal tissue and inhaled into the lungs. Nitric oxide is not produced or released with mouth breathing. In healthy sinuses nitric oxide levels are high. Congested airways lead to lower levels of nitric oxide and mouth breathing. Nitric oxide is important for many things including smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation.
Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden hypothesised that humming would produce oscillating airflow-enhancing nasal airflow, resulting in higher release of nitric oxide in the nasal passages. Ten healthy, non-smoking subjects participated in the study measuring nitric oxide in exhaled air from both the nose and the mouth. Measurements were taken at rest with gentle breathing and again while humming.
Humming resulted in a 15-fold increase in nasal nitric oxide levels compared to relaxed breathing. During relaxed nasal breathing, nitric oxide levels were 189 nanolitres/minute and increased to 2,818 nl/minute with humming. Nitric oxide levels with relaxed mouth breathing averaged 103 nl/minute and were 104 nl/minute for mouth breathing and humming. Air needs to pass through the nasal passages to trigger the release of nitric oxide. With mouth breathing and humming there was no increase in nitric oxide levels. Nose breathing produces more nitric oxide than mouth breathing. When humming is added to nose breathing, nitric oxide production increases significantly.
Clinical Implications: Encourage mouth breathing patients to hum with the tongue resting on the palate to ensure nose breathing. This will increase nitric oxide production while practising lips together posture, tongue on the palate nasal breathing.
Weitzberg, E., Lundberg, J.: Humming Greatly Increases Nasal Nitric Oxide, Am J Respir Crit Care Med 166(2):144-145, 2002.
Dean O'Rourke - curator Breathing Mechanics website