Breathing Matters > Summaries of Chapters 1-4

Chapter 1: The Smelling Nose
Aromas have been used throughout history for their medicinal and mood altering properties and historically were believed to transmit disease. Our genetic makeup is strongly linked to body odour and women choose partners partly based on how they smell. From an evolutionary perspective those of us with better sense of smell had a natural selection advantage, helping us better detect danger, assess foods and evaluate our environment.

Chapter 2: The Nose Brain
At the top of our spinal cord is the most primitive part of our brain – the brain stem.  Initially, that part of the brain that assessed smell was probably a layer of cells around the brain stem, which simply categorized the smell and decided on the appropriate action.  Further cell layers were added, developing into what was initially called the rhinencephalon (nose brain), or limbic system. Our limbic system, and the response of our limbic system to stimuli about us, still largely reflects an evolutionary past. The limbic system has been called the emotional brain. Pathways in the emotional brain are more rapid, less specific and more easily remembered. These pathways that are often permanently etched into our unconsciousness provided a natural selection advantage that may be less relevant in the modern era. Our limbic system or nose brain plays a major role in the way we cope with stresses in our lives. As part of the stress response one of the things the body does is increase our breathing rate to activate us for “fight or flight”.

Chapter 3: Efficient Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Transfer
Oxygen from the inhaled air travels in the circulation into the cells of the body. Carbon dioxide from these cells travels back to the lungs where it is expelled back into the atmosphere. Abdominal breathing, by expanding the lungs in our lower chests, allows us to utilize the oxygen rich regions of our lungs where most of the blood flow occurs. Our noses provide a resistance to exhalation that improves blood oxygenation and lung function. From an energy and gas exchange perspective, during the normal course of the day we were designed physiologically to firstly breathe slowly, secondly to use our noses to provide resistance to exhalation and thirdly to use our diaphragms to expand the lungs in our lower chests.

Chapter 4: The Carbon Dioxide Connection     
By breathing rapidly and lowering blood carbon dioxide levels, the body enters what physiologists call a state of respiratory alkalosis. This makes the muscles and nerves in the body “hyperexcitable” and prepares the body for a “fight or flight” response. It also reduces the blood supply to the brain. The “flight or fright response” is appropriate for temporary threats but the human body now uses a similar response to cope with the chronic stresses of modern life. The body needs recovery time and if this time is not provided multiple body parts become dysfunctional. Typical symptoms include reduced short-term memory, poor balance, palpations, excessive sweating, disturbed bowel function, headaches, low back pain, facial numbness and increased risk of infection.