News NO says yes to breathing fast By John Travis October 9, 2001 at 11:04 am - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print A few sprints up and down the soccer field or a hike up a mountain can make people short of oxygen and breathe more rapidly than normal. Investigators have now found that a form of nitric oxide (NO), not oxygen, provides the direct signal to the brain that stimulates this panting.