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Breathing through Nose vs. Mouth Breathing: Top 5 Reasons to Breathe Through Nose Not Mouth
Seems like a dumb question, but when you think about it, there is an alternative: mouth breathing. Dr. Park (http://doctorstevenpark.com) has written extensively on the benefits of nose breathing over mouth breathing:
- One of the most important reasons to breathe through your nose is because of a gas called nitric oxide that's made by your nose and sinus mucous membranes. This gas is produced in small amounts, but when inhaled into the lungs, it significantly enhances your lung's capacity to absorb oxygen, increasing oxygen absorption in your lungs by 10-25%. Nitric oxide also can kill bacteria, viruses and other germs. This is why you often hear fitness and yoga instructors emphasize inhaling and exhaling through your nose during workouts.
- Also, if you can't breathe well through your nose, your sense of smell will suffer and therefore your sense of taste, since your smell and taste buds are connected. This can lead to disturbances in your appetite and satiation levels, wreaking havoc on those struggling with weight issues.
- Your nose also has vital nervous system connections to your lungs and heart. Not breathing well through your nose can alter your heart rate and blood pressure, as well as increase your stress responses.
- Your nose makes about 2 pints of mucous every day. If your nose isn't working properly and mucous isn't cleared, the stagnant mucous can lead to infections such as sinusitis or ear infections, not to mention bad breath.
- Lastly, not breathing well through your nose can aggravate snoring or obstructive sleepapnea. Nasal congestion alone doesn't cause obstructive sleep apnea, but it can definitely aggravate it. If your palate and tongue structures are predisposed to falling back easily due to sleeping on your back and muscle relaxation in deep sleep, then having a stuffy nose can aggravate further collapse downstream. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea can lead to chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, weight gain, high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sonia S. on
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Thanks for the reply, Mary. I wanted to try the full face mask since I thought it might be the best option for me, but after my very recent sleep study I don't think I'll be able to get any new mask. Though I don't feel like I got much sleep while at the clinic, the tech said I got enough for the study, and because I only had hypopneas she didn't put me on the C-PAP and didn't let me try a new mask since she thinks I might no longer have OSA. So now I have to wait til I can speak to my doctor to get the sleep study results and find out what my treatment options will be for my chronic sleep problem. Looking up info for hypopnea now. I've always felt like I can't get enough breath and sometimes it seems like I even forget to breathe, and my sinuses always feel swollen or like there's not enough space for enough air to get through comfortably. Sigh, now I have to figure out what can be done about it, if anything can be done about it.
Oh gosh, I tried rinsing my sinuses and that really was an unpleasant experience that I don't want to repeat. I don't even like the way nasal spray feels. Nasal gel is more comfortable.
Thanks for the advice.
Sonia
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Permalink Reply by billy walker on
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My nose is stopped up almost 24 hours a day and it is impossible for me to breath from my nose. However I do notice that when I take my afternoon walk(About 30 minutes) my nose clears and I can breath through my nose. After I stop and set down for the evening it clogs again. Do you have any suggestions that might help me clear my nose so I can breath through it. I have tried everything I can think of and the doctor acts like it is no big deal but is very anoying, Thanks
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