Latest news with #breathing
The Independent
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Scientists warn against viral nighttime mouth-taping trend
The recent social media -driven fad of taping one's mouth shut while sleeping to prevent mouth breathing could pose a serious risk of asphyxiation, a new review of studies warns. When one's nasal passages are blocked, breathing naturally shifts from the nose to the mouth. Mouth breathing has been linked to conditions ranging from snoring to obstructive sleep apnea, in which breathing stops and starts frequently during sleep. A viral trend on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram promotes placing tape over the mouth to stop 'mouth breathing' and promote breathing through the nose during sleep. Many social media influencers and celebrities claim mouth taping leads to better sleep, enhanced oral health, and anti-ageing results. However, until now, the safety and effectiveness of nighttime mouth taping remain unclear. 'It was concerning to us that celebrities and influencers are endorsing mouth taping without scientific evidence,' said study co-author Brian Rotenberg. 'In the language of social media influencers, it seemed a bit 'sus,' so we examined what science is telling us about this trend and whether or not it is safe,' Dr Rotenberg said. The new review evaluated over 10 previous studies that assessed the potential benefits of sealing the mouth shut using techniques including tape or other devices like chin straps in a total of 213 patients. Two of the 10 studies suggest that mouth taping may be associated with slight improvement among a subset of people with mild obstructive sleep apnea. However, other studies found no evidence of the practice helping treat mouth breathing, sleep-disordered breathing, or sleep apnea. Four of the 10 studies warn of a potentially serious risk of asphyxiation posed by sealing the mouth shut during sleep among people with serious restriction of nasal airways. Such a serious nasal obstruction could be caused by conditions like hay fever, chronic rhinitis, deviated septum, sinonasal disease, or enlarged tonsils, scientists say. 'Many people are not appropriate for mouth taping, and in some cases it can lead to risk of serious health harm,' they wrote. 'These individuals are unknowingly making their symptoms worse and putting themselves at greater risk for serious health complications like heart disease,' Dr Rotenberg explained. Based on the findings, researchers caution against nighttime mouth taping as a treatment for sleep-disordered breathing. 'We need to make health decisions based on strong scientific evidence. Our hope is that people stop taping their mouths during sleep and recognise it is dangerous,' said Jess Rhee, another author of the study.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Warning over deadly suffocation risk of celeb health trend loved by Gwyneth Paltrow
Experts have raised the alarm over the viral sleep trend of taping the mouth shut in a bid to encourage deeper breathing and, as a result, a better night's rest. While the fad may have gained popularity among celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Tess Daly, it deprives wearers of life-giving oxygen overnight, experts from Canada have found. By analysing 10 studies on the practise, scientists at the Lawson Research Institute discovered an alarming risk of potentially fatal suffocation for millions who naturally breathe more easily through their mouth. This is common in those with allergies and even a cold or runny nose, whereby the nasal passages are blocked. Four of the studies the researchers looked at found evidence of the life-threatening risk of suffocation, also called asphyxiation, which means the body is deprived of oxygen. What's more, the analysis showed the trend was useless in relieving snoring or sleep apnoea. 'Mouth taping is a contemporary practice that is often celebrity-endorsed, but is not necessarily scientifically accurate,' Dr Brian Rotenberg, an ENT specialist and author of the study, explained. 'Many people are not appropriate for mouth taping, and in some cases it can lead to risk of serious health harm.' Mouth taping involves securing the mouth shut with adhesive tape, across the lips, before going to sleep, forcing the wearer to breathe through their nose. This, proponents of the practice believe, is what leads to benefits, as snoring is typically caused by tongue vibrations that happen when people breathe through their mouth. Advocates also say breathing through the nose can help protect against bugs, as it triggers the production of a compound called nitric oxide, which acts as a defense mechanism against pathogens we inhale. Nitric oxide has also been shown to relax blood vessels, lower blood pressure and even support kidney function. However, researchers found that in 80 per cent of the studies, there was no evidence that mouth taping helped treat mouth breathing or snoring overnight. Just two of the studies suggested that people with mild obstructive sleep apnoea may benefit slightly from the practice. This common condition, which affects around 1.5million people in the UK, occurs when the walls of the throat relax and narrow or close during sleep, blocking the upper airway. This can interrupt breathing, causing sufferers to wake suddenly throughout the night and has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and dementia. Most concerning was the risk of asphyxiation, the researchers said. People who suffer from rhinitis—which occurs when the inside of the nose becomes irritated, causing a blocked or runny nose—allergies, or have a deviated septum, are more likely to experience breathing difficulties when using mouth tape, they warned. On the basis of these findings, Dr Rotenberg and his colleagues are confident that existing evidence does not support mouth taping as an effective treatment for snoring or sleep apnea. However, the researchers note, further research is needed to ascertain whether mouth-taping provides other health benefits.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
The surprising power of breathing through your nose
It felt like every part of my life improved after a recent nasal surgery, from my allergies to my mental health. That may not be a coincidence. Nose breathing is a superpower hidden on the front of your face. For as long as I can remember, each breath felt like preparing for a swim underwater, a hard suck of air that never quite filled my lungs. Often I'd walk around with a faint whistle in my nose, praying that no one could hear it. The worst problem was a minor disability that most people refused to believe was real: something about the cruel architecture of my face made it physically impossible to blow my nose. The world was a constant sniffle. Life cursed me with a deviated septum. My right nostril was blocked on the best of days, and I'd wind up breathing through my mouth at the slightest hint of allergies. The nasal troubles even contributed to my sleep apnoea, a breathing condition that makes you wake up multiple times at night, which apparently leaves you more likely to die of any cause. But after decades of unpleasantness, my doctor suggested surgery. The plan was to straighten my septum and reduce my turbinates – bony structures covered in a mucous membrane that condition the air as you breathe – nasal tissues that I didn't even know I had. I was ready to try anything, so on 3 January 2025, I went under the knife. It's simple. Your nose is for breathing and your mouth is for eating – Ann Kearney One month of healing later, I was the proud owner of a newly functional nose. I was able to breathe clear and deep out of both nostrils for the very first time. I learned that blowing your nose is an ecstatic pleasure, one I now enjoy as often as possible. And though my sleep apnoea wasn't cured, it did improve. The procedure probably led to a variety of other blessings, too. It turns out there are some surprising benefits to breathing out of your nose, and you don't necessarily need surgery to enjoy them. In fact, nose breathing might even improve your mental health. Your personal air filter The most obvious benefit to nasal breathing comes from those turbinates, according to Jacquelyn Callander, an ear, nose and throat doctor at the University of California, San Francisco. "They're kind of our primary mediator for warming and humidifying air, and that's incredibly important. But they also act as a filtration system," Callander says. Together with your nose hairs, your hard working turbinates sift through dust, bacteria, viruses and more, an advantage you won't get from breathing through your mouth. "They can be the first line of defence for your immune system," she says. It's not just the merits of nose breathing to consider, however. Breathing through your mouth has consequences. "There's a lot of research that associates mouth breathing with oral health problems," says Ann Kearney, a speech-language pathologist at Stanford University Medical Center who studies sleep and swallowing issues. We've gained an increasing understanding of nose breathing's physical benefits, but the connection between the nose and the brain is often overlooked Mouth breathing has been shown to increase acidity and dryness in the mouth, linking it to cavities, demineralisation of the teeth and gum disease. A growing body of research also suggests mouth breathing as a child can affect the development of your teeth and jaw, leading to crooked teeth and even changing the shape of your face. "It's simple. Your nose is for breathing and your mouth is for eating," Kearney says. For some people with seriously deviated septums or other nasal obstruction, nose breathing isn't an option. But she says a lot of mouth breathers can choose the nasal route in many circumstances. "It may not be comfortable at first. The shift from mouth to nasal breathing can be an adjustment," But, Kearney says, the perks kick in with each breath. The nose at night Most healthy people breathe through their noses when they sleep, but some open their mouths in a nocturnal quest for air. That's bad news, Kearney says. "It's about the position of the tongue." Kearney says you can get a feel for this yourself. When your mouth is closed you're more likely to keep the tip of your tongue pressed to the roof of your mouth and the back of your tongue relaxed, opening up your airway. But stop reading for a second, let your mouth hang open and slacken the muscles in your face. You'll probably notice your tongue rolls towards your throat, especially if you lean your head back. "That can restrict the airflow and cause some obstruction," Kearney says. You might even hear something that sounds like snoring if you breathe as you try this. People with obstructed noses tend to breathe through their mouths when they sleep, a phenomenon that often contributes to sleep apnoea. The condition affects an estimated one billion people, as much as 50% of the population in some countries. At best, sleep apnoea worsens your quality of life. At worst, its effects may be as dramatic as an early death. Even if you don't have sleep apnoea, nighttime mouth breathing can cause snoring and all the drawbacks described above. But across the internet, health and wellness influencers are raving about a controversial remedy for this problem: mouth tape. It's exactly what it sounds like. You use a piece of tape to keep your mouth shut or even completely sealed. In theory, this forces you to breathe through your nose while you sleep. However, some experts warn there are serious risks to consider. Kearney swears by mouth tape but says it may make breathing more difficult for some people. The only way to know if you're one of them is to see a doctor – do not try this at home without seeking advice from a medical professional first. "If you snore, have difficulty breathing through your nose or have any reason to think you might have sleep apnoea, you need to see an ENT [ear, nose and throat doctor]," she says. The risks of mouth tape Some people breath through their mouths when they're asleep, which can be an indication of a serious medical condition such as obstructive sleep apnoea. Tape that forces you to breathe through your nose could help certain people – but so far, there hasn't been enough research, and it could make problems worse in some cases. "If people have moderate or severe sleep apnoea, those episodes where you open your mouth to breath at night are probably important for returning their oxygen levels back to normal, and I usually advise them not to try mouth tape," says Jacquelyn Callander, an ear, nose and throat doctor at the University of California, San Francisco. "There are a lot of patients who have no idea that they have a problem," she says, so it's important to see a doctor before you try tape. The practice of mouth taping is still in its infancy. Many ear, nose and throat doctors say there hasn't been enough research into its efficacy or safety. A few early studies suggest it might be helpful, though none are definitive. For example, one study of 20 people in Taiwan found mouth tape significantly improved sleep apnoea and snoring, but the researchers said the small sample size and lack of a control group limited their conclusions. "So far we don't have great objective evidence that mouth tape helps decrease sleep apnoea or improves breathing at night," Callander says. "But it's low-cost and may be beneficial." She believes that mouth taping shows real promise, but agrees it calls for medical advice. If you're thinking of trying it, step one is to talk to a sleep specialist or an ENT. What you can try, however, is nose strips that hold your nostrils open from the outside, Callander says. "Some people have what's called 'nasal valve collapse', where inhaling causes negative pressure in your nasal cavity. For those people, nasal strips can help." Some people even wear them while they exercise. However, if you have a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates, like I did, nose strips probably won't help, she says. A wind chime for the mind Over time, we've gained an increasing understanding of nose breathing's physical benefits, but the connection between the nose and the brain is often overlooked. In my case, the simple act of breathing through my nose brought a variety of bodily relief, but the way we breathe, particularly through the nose, can have a surprising impact on our psychological wellbeing. You can think of the nose like a wind chime for the mind; when air moves through your nose, it seems to have a significant influence on your cognitive processes. Nasal breathing has positive effects on the limbic system – the parts of the brain that regulate emotion and behaviour – in ways that mouth breathing doesn't. Some research indicates that rhythmic, drawn-out nasal breathing slows down brain waves across your entire cerebral cortex, indicating a calmer state of mind A 2023 study, for example, found that nose breathing lowers blood pressure and the variability and frequency of the heart rate, indicating relaxation. "It's not going to treat hypertension [high blood pressure]," says Joe Watso, an applied physiologist at Florida State University, who led the study. "But breathing in and out through your nose seems to have a calming effect on your nervous system." Studies have even shown that breathing through your nose improves performance on spatial tasks, enhances memory function and betters your reaction time. Experts don't know exactly why that is. What we do know is breathing through your nose triggers the olfactory nerve – the nerves responsible for detecting odours – apparently even when there's nothing to smell. A leading theory is that this synchonises electrical activity across different areas of the brain including the amygdala and the hippocampus. Whatever the cause, nose breathing appears to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps the body to conserve energy and slows down bodily functions when you're relaxed. Science is telling us what meditators and yoga practitioners have said for thousands of years: nose breathing can help with mental wellbeing. Some research indicates that rhythmic, drawn-out nasal breathing slows down brain waves across your entire cerebral cortex, indicating a calmer state of mind. Watso and others suggests nasal stimulation could even offer a physiological explanation for the benefits of meditating. Almost every part of my life has improved in the months since I got my nose fixed. That includes my mental health. My anxiety has lessened, I'm more able to focus and my mood is better overall. It may be no coincidence. Callander says nose breathing could actually be making me a calmer guy. More like this: • What earwax can reveal about your health • Do you need to use a phone case anymore? • Grip strength: The test for your chances of living to 100 "It's possible," Callander says. "If you're getting better sleep, that's intrinsically tied to your quality of life and wellbeing. But I do think you might be activating your parasympathetic nervous system more often than you previously were." In my experience the classic advice is spot on: when you're feeling anxious or upset, take a deep breath. But next time, you may want to take it through your nose. * All content within this column is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of this site. The BBC is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health. Thomas Germain is a senior technology journalist for the BBC. He's covered AI, privacy and the furthest reaches of internet culture for the better part of a decade. You can find him on X and TikTok @thomasgermain. -- If you liked this story, sign up for The Essential List newsletter – a handpicked selection of features, videos and can't-miss news, delivered to your inbox twice a week. For more science, technology, environment and health stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
CNN
07-05-2025
- CNN
Choking on a tomato, toddler helped by police in dramatic bodycam video
Tampa Police released bodycam footage showing the moment frantic adults approached officers with a toddler who, police say, was struggling to breathe after eating a tomato.
CNN
07-05-2025
- CNN
Choking on a tomato, toddler helped by police in dramatic bodycam video
Tampa Police released bodycam footage showing the moment frantic adults approached officers with a toddler who, police say, was struggling to breathe after eating a tomato.
