Sunshine Sentinel

The scientific evidence is in: Nitric oxide can help increase athletic performance and reduce chronic sinusitis symptoms.

Chronic sinusitis corresponds with more than a 50% reduction in nasal nitric oxide levels, according to medical journal Acta Oto-Laryngologica.

Evidence suggests that lack of nitric oxide may even contribute to the development of the disease. In a study of 82 patients, nitric oxide levels were significantly lower in patients with nasal polyps than those with uncomplicated allergic rhinitis, according to Clinical and Experimental Allergy.

A report in the European Respiratory Journal said patients can naturally increase nitric oxide concentrations simply by humming. In one case study, 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, Medical Hypotheses reported.  

Chronic sinusitis is mostly caused by nasal allergies, nasal obstruction, nasal polyps or infections, according to Healthline.

"Nasal obstruction, chronic sinusitis or chronic allergies really affect one's quality of life," Dr. Matthew Blair of Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Sunshine Sentinel. "If you have a poor outlook on life, because you're always suffering from allergies or sinus, it's going to affect the rest of your general health. So if you can get your breathing and your nose in tip top shape, you're gonna feel better and you'll want to do more things and you're going to overall improve your quality of health.” 

Nitric oxide is a colorless gas and is known as a “signaling molecule," according to Wikipedia.

Its biological functions are vast, making it one of the most important molecules in the body: from anti-inflammatory properties, immune defense against viruses and parasitic organisms, hormonal effects, influence on the secretion of hormones, to regulation of bladder function and protecting the skin from ionizing radiation, LVI Global reported. 

Nitric oxide inhaled during nasal breathing improves blood oxygenation, according to Train Right. So it has been concluded that there may be a positive effect on athletic performance.

To learn more about this article or to take a sinus self-assessment, visit Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.