Have you ever noticed if you breathe through your nose or your mouth? It's not hard to see that many people around us breathe through their mouths, a digestive organ, but the nose is actually the correct organ for breathing. Doctors warn that habitually using the wrong breathing method can affect one's health.
Dr. Yeh De-Hui, an attending physician in the ENT Department at National Taiwan University Hospital, states that when people find mouth breathing easier and with less resistance, they naturally get used to it. However, the doctor also reminds that mouth breathing is only a temporary alternative to nose breathing and is not the normal airway.
In addition to easily drying out the throat, mouth breathing also means that the oral cavity lacks respiratory mucous membranes to filter and regulate the air, allowing pollutants in the air to be directly inhaled into the lungs, severely affecting physical health. When breathing through the nose, air enters through the nose, and the capillaries and mucus in the nasal mucosa effectively filter out dust, bacteria, and viruses from the air. The mucus layer also moisturizes and warms the inhaled air, reducing damage to the lungs.
Master 4 tips to regain nasal breathing habits!
1. Constantly remind yourself to breathe through your nose.
2. When breathing, keep your lips closed and your tongue against the roof of your mouth.
3. Avoid forceful breathing and maintain a steady breathing rhythm.
4. If you have a stuffy nose, you can apply a warm towel over your nostrils to temporarily relieve it.
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Seek professional medical advice if you suffer from chronic nasal congestion.
According to an analysis of Taiwan's National Health Insurance data, in 2019, approximately 3.55 million people in Taiwan sought medical treatment for allergic diseases, with an incidence rate of 15,038 per hundred thousand population. The number of male and female patients was approximately 1.63 million (46.0%) and 1.92 million (54.0%), respectively, indicating that nasal allergies are quite common in Taiwan.
As for non-allergic rhinitis, it is common in adults over 20 years old. Patients with chronic rhinitis often have swollen inferior turbinate mucosa, and many also have a deviated nasal septum, causing them to feel their nose is blocked and resort to mouth breathing. Some children even breathe through their mouths for long periods due to adenoid hypertrophy. These issues, over time, can lead to the following three conditions:
1. Crooked teeth: When breathing through the mouth, the tongue must lie flat on the bottom of the mouth. Over time, the tongue's ability to lift is insufficient, and the muscles inside the mouth become imbalanced. In the long run, this can lead to buck teeth, underbites, malocclusion, and other issues. Malocclusion can even cause diseases in other organs.
2. Increased risk of respiratory infections: Mouth breathing cannot effectively filter harmful substances from the air like nasal breathing can, making it easier to cause respiratory infections, especially in young children, which can lead to adenoid hypertrophy.
3. Reduced breathing efficiency: The nose has functions such as filtering, warming, humidifying, and antibacterial properties. If one switches to mouth breathing, these protective functions of the nose are lost. This can lead to a decrease in blood oxygen levels, resulting in chronic hypoxia and symptoms of chronic fatigue over time.
If you suffer from chronic nasal congestion, you should seek help from an ENT doctor as soon as possible to prevent further problems caused by the bad habit of mouth breathing.
Nasal congestion surgery can quickly relieve pain and stop bleeding.
Nasal allergies are extremely common in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Dr. Hsu Ying-Shuo, an attending physician in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, stated that to address the three main causes of pain after nasal congestion surgery—large wounds, limited visibility leading to incomplete anesthesia, and post-operative nasal packing for hemostasis that prevents nasal breathing—many advanced surgical treatment methods and new medical materials are now available. These options allow for quick hemostasis after surgery, enabling patients to breathe through their nose immediately without swelling or pain, and eliminating the need for nasal packing removal.
Typically, after a brief observation post-surgery, patients can return to their daily lives the next day, saving a significant amount of hospitalization time. Therefore, if you have any nose-related illnesses, you can confidently seek advice from an ENT doctor for a professional evaluation.
Original URL: Mouth Breathing｜Long-term mouth breathing affects health! 4 tips to regain nasal breathing habits | Hong Kong 01 https://www.hk01.com/article/935931?utm_source=01articlecopy&utm_medium=referral