Breathing increases as a result of our modern living style. Factors such as strong emotions, time urgency, tension, anger, stress, anxiety, overeating, processed foods, a belief that taking big breaths is good, lack of exercise, excessive talking, and high temperatures within the home all contribute to overbreathing. HOW TO RECOGNISE HABITUAL OVERBREATHING For most people, overbreathing is subtle. It is hidden, which
Sleep apnoea is increasing in prevalence, and this trend shows no signs of abating. In a paper published in the Chest Journal, Lawrence et al. wrote, “the demand for sleep medicine services has grown tremendously during the last decade and will likely continue.” Studies have shown that a substantial proportion of the European and American populations have sleep apnoea. The American Lung Association estimates that abo
The normal treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. The patient wears a mask over the face and air is applied at a pressure that exceeds the airway opening pressure, thereby enabling the patient to breathe without cessation. In simple terms, it may be best understood as a small vacuum cleaner working in reverse, applying sufficient air pressure to force the airwa
Here, we examine the literature to determine whether sleeping with the mouth open is a causal factor for snoring and sleep apnoea. “Open-mouth breathing during sleep is a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and is associated with increased disease severity and upper airway collapsibility.” The study which involved 52 patients found that “the more elongated and narrow upper airway during open-mouth breathin
For ten years, children and adults with asthma and other respiratory disorders have attended my AsthmaCare courses in Ireland and abroad. One striking observation is the number of patients who attend for asthma but who also reported suffering from snoring, sleep apnoea, and chronic fatigue. This is not surprising given the physiological effects from chronic hyperventilation that contribute to narrowing of the airways
Allergic rhinitis is an extremely common health problem affecting up to 40 million in the United States and between 10–25% of the World’s population1 with the actual prevalence varying within and among countries. Typical symptoms of rhinitis include nasal congestion, runny and itchy nose, and sneezing. The eyes, ears, sinuses, and throat can also be involved. The impact of rhinitis and how it negatively affects the q
Konstantin Buteyko discovered that the best position to sleep was on the left hand side or on the tummy. Ventilation is reduced while sleeping on the left-hand side given the position of the heart and on the tummy given the weight of the body restricting breathing. Many studies show that sleeping on the back (supine position) is most contributory to snoring and sleep apnoea for both children and adults. Here, we exam
It is inevitable that a child with a blocked nose will breathe through his mouth. Mouth breathing children often develop poor facial structures such as undeveloped chins, narrow faces and nostrils, crooked teeth, sunken cheeks and eyes, and larger noses. When a growing child keeps his mouth closed, the tongue correctly rests in the roof of the mouth, creating a U-shaped top jaw. In other words, the shape of the top j