A thread on Nasal Breathing - Why it it is necessary for human function & performance
Travis et. al, 1996 found that breathing through the nose during aerobic exercise decreased perception of stress/intensity and significantly
endurance...
Travis et. al, 1996 found that breathing through the nose during aerobic exercise decreased perception of stress/intensity and significantly

This is because it improves the efficiency of oxygen delivery.
The Bohr Effect describes how
Carbon Dioxide (what we breathe out) leads to
oxygen released by storage hemeproteins in our blood to our tissues.
When CO2
, we are triggered to breathe more air in.
The Bohr Effect describes how


When CO2

However, if we breathe too much air in (overbreathing) through the mouth, we will exhale too much CO2.
This can cause us to offload too much and then
the concentration of CO2, therefore
the delivery of oxygen to our tissues and muscles.
This can cause us to offload too much and then


This then
the rate of the breath and then
fatigue.
If we nasal breathe, we:
- Clean the air as it enters
- Use our diaphragm more and less risk for compensatory neck breathing
- Produce Nitric Oxide which controls bloodflow and
oxygen uptake in cells/working tissues


If we nasal breathe, we:
- Clean the air as it enters
- Use our diaphragm more and less risk for compensatory neck breathing
- Produce Nitric Oxide which controls bloodflow and

Dallan et. al, 2018 compared endurance runners utilizing nasal only vs mouth only breathing.
They found maximum rate of oxygen consumption was not different, but the ratio of oxygen intake to CO2 output
during nasal breathing which was due to
efficiency of oxygen delivery.
They found maximum rate of oxygen consumption was not different, but the ratio of oxygen intake to CO2 output


However, at some point during highly intense exercise, we will need to start breathing through our mouth.
Recinto et. al, found that during anaerobic power training (high intensity output on a cycle), it didn’t matter as much. Using a combination of both nasal and mouth
Recinto et. al, found that during anaerobic power training (high intensity output on a cycle), it didn’t matter as much. Using a combination of both nasal and mouth
breathing is probably ideal.
As for outside of exercise, it is still massively important.
The term “mouth breather” has a negative connotation to it for good reason.
In terms of human development, mouth breathing patterns have been shown to
facial/cranial development.
As for outside of exercise, it is still massively important.
The term “mouth breather” has a negative connotation to it for good reason.
In terms of human development, mouth breathing patterns have been shown to
