Our nose is an extraordinary thing specifically designed for optimal breathing. The nasal cavity plays important physiological functions by filtering, warming and humidifying inhaled air. Studies indicate that limiting the lifestyle factors that reduce endogenous nitric oxide (NO) levels in the airways, such as mouth breathing and smoking, may also help to reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral load and symptoms of COVID-19 pneumonia by promoting more efficient antiviral defence mechanisms in the respiratory tract. Anecdotal observations during sleep by sealing the mouth with adhesive tape reduces common colds. This may be due to the filtration and humidifying effects of the nose on inhaled air and to increased NO levels in the airways, which may decrease viral load during sleep and allow the immune system more time to mount an effective antiviral response.
In the absence of effective treatments against COVID-19, the alternative strategies proposed here should be considered and studied in more detail.
Find the originally published paper here.
