Breathing is Your First Line of Defense Against Covid19

Because the coronavirus is an upper respiratory disease that attacks the lungs, breathing is your first line of defense against the virus.   Thankfully, God created us with a powerful immune system to fight against evil viruses and bacteria so it's time to harness the power of breathing in order to stay healthy.

This weekend, I listened to a super informative webinar by breathing expert, Patrick McKeown of the Buteyko Clinic.  I learned about the power of nasal breathing and how our body produces nitrous oxide, a powerful defense against the coronavirus.

Patrick explained that nitrous oxide (NO) is a powerful gas that is naturally produced in the paranasal sinuses (aka, nose) through nasal breathing.  Our nose hairs trap NO and distribute it throughout the body.  

The benefits of nitrous oxide:

1.  Sterilizes air going into the lungs.  Nitrous oxide is proven antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobe
2.  Bronchodilator.  NO opens UP the lungs to fight the breathlessness of the COVID19 virus

3.  Increases lung surfactant.  Surfactant in lungs is responsible for elasticity and movement of lungs.  Covid19 decreases lung surfactant, nasal nitrous oxide increases lung surfactant. 

Healthy lungs create surfactant which allows for movement and elasticity of the lungs.  

Bad news:  Coronavirus, aka COVID9 and/or SARS2, decreases surfactant.   

Good news: Nasal breathing creates nitrous oxide which improves surfactant.  

Here's an awesome breathing drill to increase nasal nitrous oxide production and get the NO into the blood for use:  Nasal breathing IN and Hum OUT.

As a health educator, I appreciate the power of prevention and know that the choices made today will affect health and vitality of tomorrow.  Just do it.  What do you have got  to lose?