Mouth Breathing and Health
Mouth Breathing is breathing solely or mostly through the mouth.
According to the Cleveland Clinic individuals who breathe predominantly through their mouth are
more likely to develop sleep disorders including Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
Nasal Breathing
When we breathe through our nose the air is filtered, warmed and humidified before traveling to the lungs.
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Breathing through our mouths skip this step and air reaches our lungs dry and full of impurities.
Our lungs thrive on warm air making it easier for our tissues to absorb. Impurities in the lungs can lead to respiratory issues.
Benefits of Nasal Breathing
When we breathe through our nose our body releases Nitric Oxide (NO) into the bloodstream. Benefits of NO include:
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decreases blood pressure
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Improves blood flow to organs
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Anti-bacterial
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Anti-fungal
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Anti-inflammatory
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Enhances memory and learning
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Regulates binding/release of O2 to hemoglobin
Low Levels of Nitric Oxide
Low levels of NO have been linked to many diseases including:
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High Blood Pressure
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Heart Disease
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Heart Attack
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Stroke
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Digestive issues
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Alzheimers
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Dementia
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Bladder issues
Myofunctional Therapy's Role
During the Functional Evaluation we will evaluate whether you can indeed breathe through your nose. If there is a legitimate obstruction I will refer to an appropriate provider such as an ENT.
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If breathing through the mouth is a habit we will begin working on nasal hygiene and exercises to retrain the muscles for nasal breathing.