Mouth Breathing vs. Nose Breathing - Poosh

@hannaschonberg

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.

Nose 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.

Mouth Breathing

Advantages
While nose breathing is generally healthier, mouth breathing can be beneficial in certain situations like intense exercise and holotropic breathwork (controlled hyperventilation).

Makes intense exercise feel easier
Triggers the “fight or flight” response, which can be beneficial during intense exercise or holotropic breathwork—but harmful if done too often
May help with emotional coping when done as part of holotropic breathwork

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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