Coronavirus Wellness at Home Tip #3: Nasal Breathing

Breathe in and out of your nose to reduce risk of coronavirus infection!

I'm not a doctor.  I'm not an infectious disease specialist.  I am a nervous system specialist and I've been reading a lot of government and medical suggestions to help you stay healthy at home.

I'm here to share simple, holistic practices that you can EASILY incorporate into your daily routine.  This one is as easy as it gets; breathe through your nose!

Why?

• Nose hairs trap pathogens.  
• Nose hairs increase carbon dioxide (good gas needed in blood/gas balance).  
• Nose hairs increase nitrous oxide which has been shown to defend against airborne viruses.  Nitrous Oxide is produced in the paranasal sinuses.
• Nasal breathing is the body's first line of defense against infection

I suggest breathing in AND out of the nose.  If necessary, exhale through the mouth.  Try to breathe in and out of the nose.  I have a "Relaxator" in my mouth in this video.  A Relaxator is a respiration training tool that forces you to breathe in the nose and long, strong exhales through the mouth. 

The more actions you take, the safer you will be....after all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

From Conscious Breathing (Relaxator maker), 

another important reason why you should breathe through your nose:

1. A COLD NOSE WILL INCREASE THE RISK OF VIRUS INFECTIONS:  Our nose can be compared to a highly efficient heat exchanger that warms up and moistens the air. 

When inhaling, our nose becomes cooled and dry as it moistens and heats the inhaled air, which is usually cooler than our body temperature. 

When we exhale, the temperature inside our nose is raised, and the area is moisturized by the 37 degree Celsius (98.6° Farenheit) temperature and 100% moist air being returned from the lungs. 

If we, on the other hand, breathe in through our nose and out through our mouth, the nose will not restore it’s warmth and moisture upon exhalation. And if we breathe both in and out through our mouth, our nose will be constantly cold and dry.

Research shows that the rhinovirus, which is known to cause colds and infections in the upper respiratory tracts, will multiply when the nose cools down. The colder it is in the nose, the more the immune system is suppressed, which will create a favorable environment for the rhinovirus to reproduce (ref 2). Now, we do not know exactly how the coronavirus behaves, but it is not inconceivable that a cold nose offers an environment that is favorable for this virus to also propagate.substance.

CoronaVirus Prevention Daily Routine Tip #2: Bag Breathe

Hi!
I hope everyone is doing well during this stressful time in history.  As we "Shelter in Place", I wanted to share a very helpful breathing tip to help calm you down and give your brain the nutrients it needs for healthy function.

I explain what's going on when you bag breathe in the video but in a nutshell, we need carbon dioxide for healthy blood.  The medulla monitors our blood gas balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide. When it's off balance, the kidneys are stimulated, the lungs are turned on and hormones are turned off/on to balance it out.

The take home:  You need carbon dioxide because it is a messenger molecule that takes the blood oxygen INTO the cell so the brain can use it.  Carbon dioxide gives the brain energy.

We're a bunch of shallow breathers and do too much mouth breathing.  Overoxgyenation stresses your brain and body out.  In times of stress like now, we're shallow breathing, mouth breathing and not doing enough exhaling!

Start breathing into a bag to DE-STRESS YOUR BODY AND BRAIN.  Carbon Dioxide dilates blood vessels, allowing more blood flow, especially in the brain.

Watch video to see how.   Then practice breathing into a bag 30-45 seconds, 4-5 times per day and calm down.  Exhale longer than you inhale.  Be aware.  Exhale.

The 

Coronavirus: Daily Routine to Stay Healthy at Home Tip #1: GARGLE!

We're in a national emergency situation.  Everyone is confined to their homes to avoid potential contact.  Everything is shut down.  Well, the gym is closed and for some, that's everything!  People are stuck inside; lifestyles are changed instantly.

There is an over-abundance of information about the virus and how to avoid the virus that you don't know what to believe.  I've sifted through a lot of different suggestions and I'm going to suggest one neurology-based drill a day for you to do.

Nothing overwhelming; just simple drill to incorporate into your daily routine for less stress, increased immune system strengthen and overall nervous system performance.  Your body is a machine and your brain is the engine.  

Let's  keep the system running smoothly in this challenging time.  

Coronavirus Daily Routine at Home Tip #1:  GARGLE WITH WARM WATER!

 This is an upper respiratory disease. Virus can't live in warm environment.  Salt boosts immune system.  Mix the two together and gargle in the back of the throat for 30 seconds at a time, working up to 2 minutes as a first line defense.  

Standford Hospital Report also encourages drinking warm beverages, avoiding ice for all employees.

Here's why I recommend gargling with warm water for your brain:
Cranial nerve #9 is activated by back of throat gargling action.
Cranial nerve #10 is activated because it's close and neurons that wire together fire together.

The Vagus nerve is Cranial nerve 10.  The vagus nerve is responsible for the lungs, the diaphragm (your breathing muscle), the heart, and the gut.  Parts of the vagus nerve turn on the rest and digest hormones of the parasympathetic nervous system.   We need these to calm us down in times of stress.  

Here is a video I made for you to do the Corona Gargle Challenge; Do it and videotape yourself gargling!  I recommend having a towel or sink nearby the first time!