Breathe in…breathe out…should be simple, right? After all, breathing is something that comes naturally to us. But no. The reality is a bit more complicated than that. We take air in through either our nostrils or our mouths, and they each have different impacts on our health.
Below, we break down the pros and cons of both nose and mouth breathing.
Advantages
In most situations, nose breathing is the way to go.
- Filters and humidifies the air
- Increases oxygen absorption and circulation
- Improves lung capacity
- Helps decrease anxiety
- Promotes slower, deeper breathing
Disadvantages
There aren’t really any health disadvantages to nose breathing.
Advantages
While nose breathing is generally healthier, mouth breathing can be beneficial in certain situations like intense exercise and holotropic breathwork (controlled hyperventilation).
Disadvantages
Chronic or consistent mouth breathing can lead to certain health issues.
- Dry mouth
- Bad breath
- Fatigue
- Asthma
- Sleep apnea
- Decreased productivity
- Snoring
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