Did you realise you can reduce hay fever symptoms by changing the way you breathe?
Start with nose breathing. Restoring healthy breathing in particular nose breathing is key to reducing and resolving nasal congestion. The more you use the nose the better it will function.
The nose was designed for breathing and has more than 30 unique functions, including humidifying, sterilizing, and warming the air before it enters your body through the lungs. Your nose acts as a filter removing allergens, bacteria and viruses before they enter the body.
Nose breathing increases :
- the production of nitric oxide (antibacterial, antiviral, anti inflammatory)
- the level of carbon dioxide in the blood, which opens the airways and increases oxygen uptake
If you experience nasal congestion you can:
- learn the Buteyko Breathing Method to help you restore functional breathing habits
- learn the Buteyko practice for unblocking the nose
- practice humming to increase nitric oxide and help open blood vessels and sinuses
- use a neti pot to flush your sinuses
- use a saline nose spray