Home Diet and Nutrition Nitric Oxide Importance, Uses, and Harm

Nitric Oxide Importance, Uses, and Harm

Nitric Oxide
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Nitric Oxide Importance, Uses, and Harm

Did you know what Nitric oxide is produced by your body naturally and is present in almost every type of cell in your body and is critical for blood vessel health? It acts as a vasodilator, that is it relaxes the inner muscles of your blood vessels which allows them to widen. This is important in that it increases blood flow and lowers blood pressure.
Nitric oxide is a chemical compound of the nitrogen oxides group, in which nitrogen is present in the II oxidation state. It has one unpaired radical electron; therefore, it is unstable, highly reactive, and has free-radical properties.

Many of the products that humans use include Nitrogen Oxide. Medical and health products sold both offline and online through platforms such as Shoppok consists of this particular chemical compound.

Nitric oxide, also known as nitrogen monoxide, is a molecule with the chemical formula NO. They are free radicals and are an important intermediate in chemical reactions.

In mammals and humans, the compound is an important component of cellular signaling molecules involved in many physiological and pathological processes. It is a powerful vasodilator with a short blood half-life of a few seconds.

In the late 1980s, it was proved that special enzyme systems of organisms can synthesize nitrogen oxide gas. This occurs due to the oxidation of the guanidine group of the amino acid L-arginine with the simultaneous synthesis of citrulline.

Obtaining nitric oxide

Under laboratory conditions, NO can be obtained by reacting dilute nitric acid with copper or by reducing nitrous acid in the form of sodium nitrite or potassium nitrite.

The main natural source of the chemical is electrical lightning during thunderstorms. This particular chemical compound is a by-product of combustion in automobile engines and fuel in power plants.

It is also possible to obtain nitrogen oxide from free elements; for this, it is necessary to combine nitrogen with oxygen at a temperature of 1200-1300 ° C.

Uses of nitric oxide

Nitric Oxide has many uses and is needed for a healthy body. 

  • NO is used in medicine to dilate blood vessels in coronary heart disease by reducing stress on the heart. 
  • Nitric oxide is used in emergency care to promote capillary lung enlargement to treat primary pulmonary hypertension in newborns associated with birth defects. NO therapy significantly improves the quality of life and, in some cases, saves the lives of children at risk of developing lung disease.
  • NO is also administered as life-saving therapy in patients with acute pancreatic insufficiency, which is secondary to pulmonary embolism.
  • NO is known as the E942 food additive in the food industry and is used as a propellant and packaging gas.

Nitrogen oxide properties

Nitrogen oxide is a colorless gas with a melting point of -163.6 degrees Celsius and a boiling point of -151.7 degrees Celsius. Molecular formula of nitric oxide – NO, molar mass – 30.01 grams/mole, density – 1,3402 grams of dm, water-solubility – 74 cm3/dpm3, refraction rate – 1.0002697.

Healthy Sex Life
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How Nitrogen Oxide helps the human body

NO is a by-product of the combustion process in automotive engines. It is widely used in traditional medicine for various health issues and has a positive effect on:

Circulatory system – The chemical’s regulatory properties affect blood circulation throughout the body, increase the diameter of blood vessels, and prevent blood clots. It helps endothelial cells control blood vessels. The compound also improves oxygen levels inside the body, lowers blood pressure, and helps the heart function optimally;

Immune system – Immune cells in the human body synthesize the compound to destroy bacteria and viruses that can cause infections. It is also known the property of the compound to prevent the appearance of benign and malignant tumors in the cells of the body;

Endurance level – NO increases the endurance level of muscle cells, which allows withstanding heavier loads and with ease to be more active;

The increased reaction of nerve cells – the compound acts as an intracellular mediator between different body cells, including nerve cells. With sufficient chemical compound content in the body, communication between nerve cells becomes faster, leading to a rapid reaction to external stimuli, increased focus, and alertness;

Increased sexual energy – the use of NO stimulates, invigorates, and enhances sexual response mechanisms in the body. Sensory and mental stimulation caused by nerve cells under the influence of NO leads to the relaxation of muscles and blood flow to the penis so that erection occurs. In the same way, the process takes place in the female body, under the influence of NO blood flow increases in the tissues of the vagina;

Pain relief – NO provides long-term relief from the pain associated with arthritis and inflammation of the joints. It can activate anti-inflammatory mechanisms in the body’s cells and helps to reduce inflammation;

Muscle gain – supplements containing NO dilates blood channels, improve circulation, and adds muscle mass. As the blood flow increases, the number of nutrients in the muscles increases, which leads to an increase in their size;

Intracellular bonds – NO improves communication between different cells in the body, including between nerve cells and brain cells. The use of additives containing nitric oxide leads to improved memory, increased concentration, and learning ability.

The harm of nitrogen oxide

The use of NO in most people does not cause side effects; however, in cases of overdose, it leads to diarrhea, weakness, nausea, headache, increased pulse and heartbeat, water retention, fatigue, irritation on the skin, and dry mouth.

Also, side effects of NO are breathing problems, severe allergies or rashes, hives, itching, shortness of breath, life-threatening complications of asthma, sudden chills, sweating, tremors, vomiting, and fainting. In some cases, the use of NO leads to herpes outbreaks, vascular enlargement, and bleeding.

Conclusion

There are many chemical compounds in the human body, and NO is just one of them. Even products that we buy online at Shoppok and other classified ads websites contain several chemical compounds useful to the human body. We just don’t know what they are unless we know the contents of food and health products that we buy. If you want to know more about online shopping, go, and find secrets to successful online shopping.

Featured Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash