Breathe through your nose - whenever possible.  Who knew that such a simple thing as nasal breathing could have such profound, positive health effects.  And the inverse is true for mouth breathing.  People through the ages have known about this, but it is a simple fact that seems to be lost in today’s healthy living guidelines.  Ancient texts from 1500 BCE Egypt, Chinese texts from 800 AD, the bible and the traditional knowledge of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, as well as modern science, all support the importance of nasal breathing.  

 

Nasal breathing warms, filters, heats, moistens and pressurizes incoming air.  Breathing through the nose optimizes the use of nitric oxide produced in the nasal cavities.  Nitric oxide dilates blood vessels and allows the lungs to utilize more oxygen, encouraging slow and efficient breathing.  Nasal breathing can enhance athletic performance.  As well, nasal breathing activates the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system, helping to keep us calm.  

 

Breathing through the mouth, while sometimes necessary, should not be our default.  Mouth breathing dehydrates the body, increases our stress response by activating the sympathetic nervous system, can lead to dental decay by changing the pH balance in our mouths, and can degrade our facial structure.  Breathing problems in children, including mouth breathing, have been linked to behavioural issues.

 

The nose and nasal passages are, like all other systems in the body, reliant on use to keep them healthy. Nasal tissues can atrophy if underutilized.  If you find nasal breathing difficult, persist and it may become easier over time.  Sometimes medical intervention is necessary, but often just a change of habit is all that is required.  A piece of medical tape stuck lightly over the lips day or night can encourage this positive change.

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If you want to learn more, check out "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art" by James Nestor