Humming and Music Can Impact You in Ways You Would Never Have Thought

Most of us hum or listen to music simply because it feels good. But science shows that these pleasant habits can do more than lift your mood  - they can actually boost levels of nitric oxide (NO) in your system. NO is a natural molecule your body produces that supports heart health, immunity, and relaxation.

First, let me Explain Why Nitric Oxide Is So Important

Nitric oxide is one of the body’s most important signaling molecules. It helps blood vessels relax, it improves circulation, reduces inflammation, and even assists the immune system in fighting off germs. It’s also produced naturally in the lining of your sinuses and blood vessels — and that’s where humming and music comes in.

Let’s Start with how Humming Supercharges Nasal NO

Researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute discovered that humming increases nitric oxide levels in the nasal passages up to 15 times higher than normal breathing. You read that right – 15 times!

When you hum, the sound vibrations and oscillating airflow open tiny sinus pathways, allowing nitric oxide stored in the sinuses to flow into the nasal cavity. This simple act not only increases NO levels but may also help clear the sinuses, enhance airflow, and support your local immune defense.

It turns out that yoga traditions have practiced this for centuries through what’s called Bhramari Pranayama, or “humming bee breath,” which combines gentle nasal breathing and humming to calm the nervous system and open the airways. Modern science now confirms what they figured out centuries ago that this ancient technique naturally boosts NO.

Let’s Now Look at Music and Nitric Oxide and the Heartfelt Connection

Listening to music is another way to increase nitric oxide levels, but it does it though by a different route from humming. What the researchers have found is listening to enjoyable or calming music (New Age Music Anyone?) lowers stress hormones, balances the nervous system, and helps the inner lining of your blood vessels, which is called the endothelium, release more nitric oxide.

Clinical studies in cardiac rehab and stress management programs have found that music therapy improves vascular function and can even help lower blood pressure. Scientists believe nitric oxide plays a major role in those benefits by helping blood vessels dilate and improving circulation.

Here are 2 simple ways to try it out for yourself

You can easily incorporate either or both of these nitric oxide boosting practices into your day:

• Humming practice: Inhale gently through your nose, then hum softly as you exhale for 8–12 seconds. Repeat for 5–10 minutes. Try this several times a day, especially when feeling congested or stressed. You can even do this when you are driving your car!

• Relaxing music: Spend 15–30 minutes listening to calming or uplifting music. Classical, instrumental, new age, or your personal favorites all work if they help you relax and breathe deeply.

So…is it worth taking a few minutes a day to include humming and/or relaxing music into your life. And… if anybody asks, just tell them you’re practicing science-backed self-care techniques to boost your nitric oxide levels, open your sinuses, ease stress, and support better heart and immune health naturally! So…“hummm,” let me think about this?”