In episode 017 of my podcast Unstress, I interviewed breathing and Buteyko expert Patrick McKeown. During the chat we discussed the importance of breathing silently through your nose. We delved into what good breathing looks like and its connection to a range of health issues.

I highly recommend listening to this episode, breathing is something we all do and is essential to life, however surprisingly it is something many of us don’t do well.

When we don’t breathe well our physical, emotional and biochemical response to stress is increased.

Listen: Dr. Ron Ehrlich interviews James Nestor. Post continues after audio.

Why you need to be breathing through your nose:

Nasal breathing means your carbon dioxide levels are more likely to be balanced. Additionally breathing through the nose stimulates the production of nitric oxide, which is a potent vasodilator and body regulator. Furthermore it is a powerful bactericide and helps keep the sinuses free from infection. It can be surprising to many people that when they close their mouth, relax and take slow breaths through their nose that a once blocked nose becomes open and clear. Nasal breathing also helps:

• Warm, humidify and filter the air. This has a positive impact on tonsils, allergies, hay fever and other respiratory conditions
• Balance body chemistry
• Help in the production of nitric oxide

How you can use micropore tape to improve your nasal breathing:

Using micropore tape at night while you sleep can help train you to breathe through your nose during the day. Additionally it ensures that for the 8 or so hours you are asleep, that you are breathing through your nose.

1. Start by placing a small piece of micropore tape over your lips before going to bed
2. Fold the tape over at one end to make it easy to remove
3. When removing stick your tonight out to moisten the tape a little and protect the lips from trauma
4. You can start by using the tape for just 15mins, to practice becoming comfortable with tape.

Provided that your nose is clear and you don’t have digestive issues such as reflux or anything that makes you want to throw up, then using micropore tape shouldn’t result in any problems or dangers. In fact sleeping with your mouth closed is the natural way to sleep. We frequently recommend patients at my surgery (Sydney Holistic Dental Centre) to give micropore tape a go. Patients are frequently surprised how it improves not only their breathing but also their sleep.

Listen: Dr. Ron Ehrlich interviews Patrick Mckeown. Post continues after audio.

Breathing well is something I explore in my book A Life Less Stressed. It is an essential tool to help us reduce the negative effects of stress on our body. 

 

 

Disclaimer: This blog post contains general information about medical conditions and treatments only. This information is not medical advice and should not be treated as such. Dr Ron Ehrlich makes no express or implied warranties as to the ongoing availability, accuracy, truthfulness, completeness, currency or completeness of the information provided herein. Do not rely on this information as an alternative to advice from a medical professional. You should seek immediate medical attention if you think you may be suffering from any medical condition or have any specific questions about any medical matter. If you encounter any problems or difficulties with breathing you must IMMEDIATELY cease using the Micropore Tape and seek medical attention before using it again.