Did you know that the humans are supposed to be nose breathers? Did you know that mouth breathing can actually be harmful to the body system? Did you know that the majority of the population does not breathe correctly?
When we nasal breathe our bodies humidify the air and remove toxins and bacteria. Nasal breathing allows the body to increase the amount of oxygen the lungs can transfer into the blood which maintains a good oxygen to carbon dioxide balance and maintains a balanced pH in the blood. When we exhale through our nose, the small size of the nostrils (as compared to the mouth) creates back pressure in the lungs giving the lungs more time to extract oxygen from the air breathed in. Because this allows for great efficiency in how the body receives oxygen, nasal breathing allows the number of breaths we take per minute to decrease. Proper nasal breathing and decrease hypertension (high blood pressure), stress, asthma, and even allergies. It also allows for proper tongue position (tongue up and resting against the palate when the mouth is closed) which allows for proper development of the dental arches (in children).
When we breathe through our mouth the body often senses the carbon dioxide is being lost too quickly (because the same back pressure is not created as when we exhale through the nose) which causes the body to constrict blood vessels. Oxygen that was able to be absorbed into the blood during nasal breathing no longer can be. This is because of the constriction of blood vessels, but also because there is no back pressure keeping the air in the lungs to allow for longer absorption. The decrease in oxygen uptake into the blood causes the body to adjust to have to breathe more frequently. It is very difficult to maintain regular breathing when breathing through the mouth and often causes hyperventilation (over-breathing). Mouth breathing, as a result of over-breathing elevates blood pressure and heart rate, worsens asthma and allergies, can lead to snoring and sleep apnea, which ultimately deprives your heart, brain, and other organs of optimal oxygenation. Mouth breathing can also result in narrow dental arches, crowding of the teeth, and improper bites.
Even if breathing through your nose is difficult initially. If you sit calmly and breathe through your nose, as you do so it will become easier and easier to breathe through your nose. Be aware of your breathing. How do you breathe?
The take away from today: IF YOU BREATHE THROUGH YOUR NOSE, IT IS EASIER TO BREATHE THROUGH YOUR NOSE, SO JUST BREATHE THROUGH YOUR NOSE!