Attention All Mouth Breathers: 5 Important Reasons to Breathe Through Your Nose

Thank you for this information, Dr. Park.

Now I understand why I have no sense of smell.  I also have sinus headaches and stuffy nose a lot.  I have always been a mouth breather, but this past 7 months I have been practicing breathing through my nose while wearing a full face mask for sleep apnea.

I have never heard about the nitric oxide gas before but it all makes sense.  I think I will copy and paste this into a post on the cpaptalk.com forum if that's alright to do.

Kind regards,

OneTiredPuppy

Please distribute my post as widely as you can. This is an important topic that needs much more attention, especially if you have a sleep-breathing disorder.

I breathe a lot with my mouth and now iam having a small amount of blood in my sputum daily.Is this problem
occuring to me is due to mouth breathing.I don't cough at all and i don't have any pain.Please help.

The most common reason for blood tinged mucous this time of the year is nosebleeds, especially due to the dry heat. Try using a humidifier at night at use lots of nasal saline during the day and before bedtime. If this doesn't help, see an ENT doctor.

Thanks for the info but what can we, I, do about it?
I wake up multiple times a night with dry mouth.  Not only is my mouth and tong dry, the back of my throat is dry.  I must sip some water to get back to sleep only to wake up an hour or so afterwards with dry mouth again.
I've tried Breath Right, I've tried special mouth washes and I've tried nose sprays which worked but only caused an addiction.  Saline spray does nothing.
I'm fine, during the day, but when I lay down, I slam shut.
Right now I'm coughing because of this mouth breathing at night.  Must have been up 10 times the other day.
I'm 65 years old and feel this chronic problem will lead to bronchial problems and be my demise some day.

rjb999,

In fact, I'm writing an article on how you can breathe better through your nose. It should be up in the next day or two.

Hi Dr. Park,

Can you add additional information for those of us who have chronic alleriges ? I do sinus rinses, which take care of the problem during the day... but night can sometimes be a different story.

Hi Dr Park,....I am a mouth breather all my life....in 2nd grade had my tonsils and adnoids removed....it didn't help....I feel like I have to breathe thru my mouth. My PC asked me if I had plastic surgery, because my nose is little...well I did not!!....he also said this is probaly y I am a mouth breather....with my nasal passages so small, what can I do...I've tried, but it is like Iam being suffocated.

Hi! Thank you for the informative post. I will keep this in mind.. I have a question that I cannot seem to find a question for anywhere else! I know this isn't exactly the right place for it, but I was wondering if you could help me? My nose is ALWAYS dry and the mucous that SHOULD be in my nose always is in my throat where my nose and throat meet, it is extremely uncomfortable and sometimes painful. Does this have anything to do with breathing through the mouth? Allergies? Anything I can do to soothe the issue?

my nose isn't always stuffy but it seems like only one side works or is open so i breath through my mouth a lot . what can help? i tried breath rite strips and it helps but is aggrevating having something stuck on my nose

Plateletgal,

For most nasal congestion problems, using vigorous nasal saline is helpful. If you have known allergens, especially in your bedroom, there are simple steps that you can take, such as washing your sheets often in hot water, using a HEPA filter, getting rid of rugs, etc. Some people need allergy medications. I'm partial to the topical steroid spray, since daily use will prevent allergic reactions.

SelmaS,

Two qestions: if you use Afrin or any nasal decongestant, can you breathe better, even temporarily? Have your tried using breathe-rite strips? Your answers to these two questions can guide further management. Also, have you seen an ENT about your problem?

KStarr07,

Your symptoms can be from a number of different conditions. You'll have to make a list of the top 4-5 common conditions and go down the list by treating each condition, one by one. It could be allergies, non-allergic rhinitis, acid reflux, chronic sinusitis, etc., Sometimes your nose can feel dry due to inflammation and irritation. Sorry I can't better answer your question. It's hard to do virtual examinations.

kmathis70,

What you're describing is called the nasal cycle. Your nasal turbinates are wing-like structures that act to filter, smoothe and warm the air that you breathe. Normally, it alternates side to side, every few hours. But if they are irritated by something, both swell, and you'll notice it more. Also, if your nose is more stuffy, a vacuum effect is created near your nostril, and if they're somewhat flimsy, will collapse inward. If you don't like breathe-rite strips, there are other devices that work from the inside. Some that come to mind are Nozovent, breathewitheez, and nasal cones. I would see an ENT to figure out if you have any other medical or structural problems.

Thanks Dr Park! I agree, this issue does deserve a lot more attention.

I have suffered from chronic and complete nasal congestion for my entire life. Not surprisingly, I also suffer from asthma, chronic fatigue, sleep apnea, anxiety and the whole bag of related conditions.

I experienced an amazing result recently after combining regular nasal irrigation with a course of inhaled corticosteriods. The swelling in my turbinates reduced temporarily, and I found I could temporarily breathe through my nose! I have been able to reproduce this a number of times since.
The most important discovery from this experience was that I FELT FANTASTIC!.Not just happy that I could breathe, but I felt a strong sensation of relaxation and pleasant energy throughout my body. My breathing became deeper and more relaxed, I experienced no asthma symptoms at all, my almost constant headaches disappeared and I felt awake and alert.
I have since put a lot of research into this phenomenon and learned some very interesting things about the nervous system receptors in the nasal mucosa and their effect on mood and general well being.

Since that time I have researched non-stop into ways to reduce the chronic swelling of my turbinates. I want to avoid turbinate surgery, since anecdotal reports show that all current surgical techniques risk destroying the parasympathetic nerve receptors, which are responsible for bringing balance to the nervous system (eg: balancing relaxation and alertness).
Currently I am focusing on treating my severe reflux, since I have read that this can lead to turbinate hypertrophy.
If this GERD surgery does not work, I don't know where to turn next.

Any advice that you can give in regards to turbinate reduction treatments would be greatly appreciated

Kind regards,
Bard Canning

bardcan,

There are a number of different procedures for turbinates, but before I talk about this, is your sleep apnea being treated properly? If not, this is a major source of stomach juices going into your nose, causing inflammation.

If you are being properly treated for sleep apnea, there are a number of minimally invasive turbinate procedures that spare the mucosa lining. One such method is the Coblator, which uses radiofrequency energy to vaporize tissues at low temperatures, essentially debulking the deep soft tissues and blood vessels underneath the mucous membrane. This can be done in the office or in combination with other procedures in the OR.

You also have to address any significant septal deviations and your nasal valves, if any.

Thank you for your information Dr Park, i have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and now by breathing through my nose , i wake up early and have more energy during day, but i still breath through my mouth during the night when im sleeping,

i have also noticed that whenever you bite your lower lip, or purse your lips together(pressing both lips together) it cuases stress and it stops you from breathing. Do you think the same, becuase i have been biting my lower lip and pressing my lips for more than normal, but ive noticed that i cannot breathe, it stops my breath, and ive noticed that people who bite their lower lip or press both lips together are stressed out

i also suffer from panic attacks and they have diagnosed me with schizophrenia.  Do you think that breathing through my nose more will allow me to sleep at night, becuase usually i don't sleep, and then i hallucianate, im currently taking seroquel, and everynight, i go to sleep, and have not had any panic attacks.

Do you think that breathing through my nose as it has helped me may make me able to get off my medicine?

Hello Sir

I am 23 years old.Most of the times whenever i spit phlegm i can find blood
in my phlegm attached to it.I don't find any blood in my saliva. I dont have cough nor fever nor throat pain
nor cold.I dont have any Chest pain or Throat irritation. I can find 25% to 50% or less blood
in phlegm not the whole phlegm is of blood.
I dont smoke nor drink nor chew tobacco. I am facing this problem since last 2 to 3months.I would like to add that I do not have sinus can you please clarify on that. I do not have any side effects like weakness or Fatigue
or anything like that .I am worried.Could you please help me on this.

Hello Sir,
Sorry for second post.
My age is 23(male).when i  deliberately cough  to split phlegm(sputum) a little amount
of blood comes with it attached daily since 2-3 months.There is not at all any signs of cough  to me and I don't feel any pain.Is it ok or is there any problem? Is it a symptom of any cancer.
Please help.

Dr. Park, as well as breathing through your nose, produces a gas called nitric oxide. What is your opinion on nitric oxide supplements, such as NO-explode, are they safe to use? i read that nitric oxide supplements are only L-arginine, so by breathing through the nose and using nitric oxide supplements, is it benefitial?

How can you get a person (male) that falls asleep so quickly to not snore? It interrupts my sleep and it does not seem to matter what position he is sleeping in. I wish I could fall asleep so rapidly. There is no history of a sinus problem but he does drink beer everynight. Could that be what it is?

tahmed574,

It's probably nothing too serious. This time of the year, especially if the heat is on, you can have small nosebleeds that drip down the back of your throat. If it doesn't get better, see and ear, nose and throat doctor.

nick2000_nick2000

Pure NO is toxic. Your nose makes just enough to get the benefits that I described. I don't have any experience with L-arginine supplements.


BANDIDA,

The first thing to do is to have him stop drinking before bedtime. Alcohol relaxes the throat muscles and if his anatomy is predisposed to snoring and breathing problems, it just makes it worse. Not only will you sleep better, he will as well. If he has other issues such as chronic fatigue, high blood pressure or depression/anxiety, he may need to be evaluated for obstructive sleep apnea (see my article on obstructive sleep apnea).

I Have had a deviated septum corrected and a slight sinus surgery at a young age, the only thing that did was stop the nose bleeds but left me with a messy curved septum. But I still have problems with breathing through my mouth all the time and always get sick with the cold ...How do i  stop this??,,,i Have been using nasal strips for years and they help alittle,. A Few years ago I was going to a allergy doctor for 6 months and did not have any change until the nurse told me about the water pick and nasal irrigating adapter.
Nasal Irrigating helped so much that I decided that I no longer needed to see the allergy doctor, in fact for the first time I had not gotten sick with a cold for 2years!!!! everytime i would feel alittle sick I would nasal irrigate and would feel better. But now 5 years after the effects of nasal irrigating do not work as good. I still do it and it helps but not as much and i still have all the problems I used to ,,This year I must have gotten sick with a cold flu at least 10 times!! Could you help me

The nasal saline irrigation option is a good one for many people who suffer from nasal congestion. Saline helps to mildly decongest the nose, as well as to flush out allergies, pollutants and irritants. It's hard to say without looking in your nose, but a few possibilities include a persistent deviated nasal septum, enlarge turbinates, or flimsy nostrils. If breathe-rites worked for you somewhat, Nozovent nasal dilators may help even more, since they work from the inside to lift up flimsy nostrils. In my experience, people with chronic nasal congestion or people with frequent "colds" ultimately may have a sleep-breathing problem, meaning that you'll have tongue or soft palate collapse. This can also aggravate nasal congestion due to various reasons (see my other article on sleep apnea). I'm assuming that you like to sleep on your side or stomach, right?

no I sleep mostly on my back

I will try Nozovent nasal dialators and also I saw the SomnoSupport Chin Strap at the same site designed to keep the mouth closed when sleeping what do you think about that.? and thank you for your quick response it really helps!

I've heard mixed things about the chin straps. It's true that when your mouth is open, your tongue does fall back somewhat, but this is not a consistent finding. At a certain point, you may want to see an ENT doctor to more definitively address your nasal congestion.

Dr. Park,

Is it true that breathing through your mouth affects the jaw?  For example, will facial and jaw muscles not be as prominent due to breathing through your nose all of the time?

Yes, it's true, in a broad sense, but it may even be reversed. Having a small jaw also narrows your hard palate and since your nasal cavity follows your upper jaw, you'll more likely have nasal congestion, which makes you breathe through your mouth. Also, chronic mouth breathers may also be more susceptible to TMJ or any of the myofascial pain/headaches syndromes, where excessive grinding or clenching of your teeth causes your jaw muscles to overdevelop. This can also lead to headaches. Unfortunately, suddenly breathing through your nose will not dramatically change the appearance of your face (unless you take some drastic measures).

Help I am 18 and have asthma.  It is a lot better now and I don't have very many attacks anymore.  I also have been stuffy for as long as I can remember.  I breath through my mouth all the time.  When I do go to the doctor and they take my temperture I can't even keep my mouth closed completely.  What do you suggest?

Sorry but I forgot to tell you that I am always tired and I don't have trouble sleeping. I do sleep with my mouth open ofcourse

Taylor04,

Take a look at my other article on how to breathe better through your nose If the conservative options don't help, see an ENT doctor, who should be able to help. Take a look at my other articles on obstructive sleep apnea and upper airway resistance syndrome. This may explain your chronic fatigue, even though you may not have any trouble sleeping.

Dr.Park,

I find that the only time I breath through my mouth is when I'm sleeping, exercising, and relaxing (like watching tv).  Is this common or should I be encouraged to breathe through my nose 100% of the time?  Are there any side effects to breathing through my mouth during these activities over a short or long period of time (i.e. facial, health, etc.)?

If you feel well in general and sleep well, then there's no need to change anything you're doing. This also includes exercise. But if you are tired all the time, if you snore, or have any of the medical conditions that are related to sleep-breathing problems, you should probably get examined by an ENT doctor.

I've had nasal congestion for years.  I thought it was allergy-related and did not pay much attention.  Recently, I went to see an orthodonticist for braces.  The dentist checked my mouth and asked if I have nasal congestions.  After I confirmed that, the dentist said after the braces (probably enlarging the upper jaw), the nasal congestion would get better.  I am curious what made the dentist think I have nasal congestion after examining my mouth and why the brace work would improve it.  Any suggestions?

Widening your jaw will also widen your nasal cavity, since the nasal side-walls follow your upper jaws. I'm assuming that your dentist will do functional orthopedics, with simultaneous jaw widening, rather than just straightening of your teeth. Also, if the space in your mouth enlarges, then your tongue will take up less space and won't collapse as much, leading to less nasal inflammation. For a more detailed description of how everything is related, take a look at my articles on upper airway resistance syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea.

Hello Dr. Park,
This was a great read,because I do have problems like this.
I have year round allergies,but it seems things like claritin and nasenex(spelling?) don't help much. Most days I breath fine all day,but it's at night,as I lay down that it seems I cannot breath.I struggle to breath deep through my nose. As if it has shrunk in size for passage of air. I will lay on my back to see if it helps,or breath through my mouth. But Im still short of breath. I sometimes, though as to not get addicted,use Afrin. Or i use Breath right Strips or even Vicks Vapor rub under my nose to help breath. Most work temporarily. But I want to know why this happens, its very uncomfortable,and I struggle to get a good nights sleep because of this. I try not to breath through my mouth much because it makes me uncomfortable and I've already suffered many sore and dry throats.

Could you please,give me a little advice? Thank you! I will probably go see now if I can find your new article.

hi there - I have a question - for the last couple of days it feels as if my tongue is pressing up into my soft palate or roof of my mouth - it's like it's glued there.  when I try and sleep I wake up choking within a few seconds because there's no air getting through.  I went to emergency last night - they said doesn't look like allergic reaction or anything - why is my tongue doing this?  like I say it really feels like it's glued to the roof of my mouth - I can't control it - I try to keep my mouth open - as soon as I close it does it again.  have you ever heard of this before?  thanks very much.

hi i am 19 and i am unable to breath through nose .My nose is totally blocked in winter season but in summer there is less amount of air enter in my nose but i also not able to breath that time??doctor operate me (S.M.R) BUT i got nothing whole day whitish liquid is coming from both nostril i have never been any smell sense ,i don,t know what is smell? every time i am so anxious,uncomfortable and feeling pressure inside my nose.the internal ball like glands are so big .But when i run or do some hard work my nosi is opened or when i use xynosine drops.now plz doctor tell me what i do???

What is the solution to chronic mouth breathing?  I have an 18-year-old son with this problem.  The worst effect is an open bite, which was corrected with braces, but has opened again to the point of interfering with normal use of the incisors.  He also has frequent colds and sore throat.  He also finds it hard to stay awake during the day, and until reading your article I had attributed this to being a growing teenager--but maybe there is an apnea issue.  I really want to know where to turn for further medical advice--an ENT?  Orthodontist?  I am still unclear what the root cause of mouth breathing is, or if it's possible that it is purely habitual.  Maybe it isn't always a medical problem?  

Thanks for any help you can give!

Can Bad sinuses really cause anxiety ?


Last year I started having really bad swallowing problems and it lasted 2 weeks. I went to my doctor and she said it was to do with my sinuses. I got a nose spray which helped and then my swallowing had improved but only for a few days. Throughout all this I had been moody and not my self.

I had a blood test done and my doctor said she will call me the next day to tell me what it said. That is when my problem started she never ended up calling and I started wondering "what if I have cancer, what if this.. that ..etc"
From that day I got all the anxiety symptoms and would just be scared of dying CONSTANTLY.

It's been happening for 5 months now and I just do no want to settle with anxiety. I had 3 more blood tests and more visitis to that doctor and another one for a second opinion.   Seeing as all my tests came back they just tell me it's anxiety but why. I mean I was never like this it's just not me.

My mum has it but she got is as a result of living in the war and all. and my doctor said I can't get it from her. She also has depression. I've never given any thought to dying before like if I think of it once it jsut goes away after a minute but now it's like always in mind and I hate it. I know everyone is scared and gonna die one day but why can't I stop myself from thinking of it ??

My symptoms are:

yellow nails
chest pain (but near my ribs)
Insomnia
Eye budging
stuffy nose (had a tissues with me at ALL times fro as long as I can remember)
interested in things I like
sadness
irritable
frequent toilet trips
moody
face pains expesh when leaning forwards

and moreee I can't think of right now....

I even had an liver X-Ray and went to an eye doctor and they said I'm all good.

My doctor is so confusing. First she said it anxiety then she says it ain't . =S

well my mum also has bad sinuses which she was meant to get operated but did not...

I just really want it to be something other then anxity I am only 17 and do not want this for the rewst of my life I had enough in 5 months and would not wish this on anyone.
It's so sad that so many people go through this and worse.

so what other things can this be ??
and did anyone ever get told its anxiety and then found out it is not and it was something else causing it ?

help would be greatly appreciated

thank youu
x0.

Im having severe phlegm that the color is clear and for alomost 1 and a half I have been see sawing meds. Can you please help?! I spit up mostly after eating, I do drink wine and cook daily. But mydrinking is not excessive. Often we babrbeque red meat, and prepare pasta with a bread for dinner.  I have seen an ID physician but I am discouarged, this treatment is not working. Is there a homeopath rememdy I should begin? I have begun toaking Ginger, and I am looking in to Licorice root teas with honey pastes to help subside theses symptoms. I am male and 68 yrs old, I do not suffer from Coughing, it is only phlegm ailing me! PLEASE HELP


Thanks
Mike

It's hard to figure out what's going on from what you've just told and and without examining years of in person, but it sounds like you may have nonallergic rhinitis, where your nose responds inappropriately to food, weather changes, fumes, odors or scents. Another possibility is laryngopharyngeal reflux disease, where your stomach juices leak silently into your throat causing mucous to build up. Rather than just cover up your symptoms with natural or pharmaceutical remedies, you should try to treat the root of the problem, and talk to your doctor about these issues. If you already haven't done so, you may want to consider getting allergy tested. If you eat close to bedtime, try to eat at least 3-4 hours before going to bed. This also applies to any alcohol. If you have a sleep-breathing problem, that should be taken care of as well as this is a major reason for what you're describing.  Atrovent nasal spray can sometimes help with your condition if it's due to nonallergic or vasomotor rhinitis (although this is only a cover up).

Soi Thank you Dr Park, so I breathe through my nose all the time? sometimes. all the time? I have been breathing mostly through my mouth, so what is the amount of times in a waking Day I practise this?

margypops,

I'm sorry, but can you please re-state your question? I'm a little confused by what you're asking.

I am sorry I wasnt very clear, I seem to breathe through my mouth most of the time, so how can I correct this.

Do I simply have to remember and deep breathe through my nose all the time , its hard to explain what I mean

Hi Dr. Park.
I know that I have apnea-I'm going to see an ENT 5/4. I've also just gotten over some kind of upper RESP infection-ears, nose, throat, chest. Took 2 weeks to become "well". I am severely overweight and at the breaking point was suffering daily from acid reflux (couldn't eat a meal, nor go to sleep without a Zantac and a Prilosec and sometimes even needed to chew a couple of extra-strength TUMS.) HOWEVER I just started NutriSystem and have lost 6 lbs since Monday. I smoke 1/2-1 pack per day-Ive been steadily cutting this back. I do not smoke during the workday.

Now that you have my recent background: I have suddenly developed an uncomfortable lump in my throat -right around the "Eve" Apple (I am am a femme), bad breath and simultaneous lump-feeling in my chest. Is there anything I can do between now and my appt with my ENT to alleviate these very uncomfortable symptoms? Can you suggest a possible diagnosis?

Chicky811,

What you describe sounds acid reflux related, or more specifically, laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. Perhaps the NutriSystem is either more acidic or somehow promoting more of your stomach juices to come up into your throat. Talk to your ENT about this and mention the lump sensation as well. Hopefully, treating the sleep apnea can help. Good luck.

Hi Dr. Park,
I recently took my 12 year old son to an ENT for mouth breathing.  His orthodontist took a CT scan and from the results of the CT scan the ENT is recommending an endoscopic  ethmoidectomy, removal of the concha bullosa, the obstructing turbinates, and trimming back the somewhat abundant inferior turbinates.  Although he found my son to be mildly allergic to grass and cats (which we have)  he does not think his allergies are of big concern. After doing some research I am very leary of anything to do with his turbinates, because of the chance of ENS.  My son does not complain about his nose, and is seldom sick. I know mouth breathing is not good,and  I'm wondering if there is something less drastic I can do to help reduce his turbinates and the concha bullosa without this surgery.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Becky

hi Dr. Park,
I've been having congested nose since childhood. it used to happen when i laid down, especially during winters. over time it has become more frequent. the doctor says its a common problem with people having a pointed nose. I had my nose operated but it only partially solved the problem. One nostril is partially open while the other is still blocked and the condition alternates between left and right nostril sometimes depending upon which nostril is towards ground when i lay. ive been using xynosine(xylometaxoline) nasal spray 2-3 times a day for years. it temporarily solves the problem but i wonder how can i get my nose be normal.
Thanks
Maxes

Maxes, you're addicted to nasal decongestant sprays. See your ENT about how to wean yourself off. Besides reasons for nasal congestion inside your nose, another important reason for persistent obstruction is nasal valve collapse, where flimsy nostrils cave in when you breathe in. If you press on your cheeks besides your nostrils with your fingers and pull your cheeks up and out, can you breathe in better? In this situation, nasal dilator strips such as Breathe-Rites may help. There are internal alternatives such as Nozovents or sinus cones.

Hi Dr.Park,

I know the importance of breathing thru the nose. After reading your article, it scares me more. This is because 3 weeks ago i underwent a surgery. I had a nodule removed somewhere near the carotid and jugular vein. Since then, breathing thru the nose during sleep is difficult. When i am in sitting up there is no problem at all , i breathe thru my nose. This is a big problem when i go to sleep. I dont know why. Got to breath thru the mouth. Apparently, my sleep is disturbed and my throat really gets dry. It scares me. Please help me.

Anu0506,

Did your sleep position change after your surgery? Has your diet or eating times changed at all? It's hard to say exactly what's going on without examining you, but you can do some detective work by trying some nasal saline, or Breathe-rite strips. If it's not better, you should see your doctor.

How about using a device called 'powerlung' ? Is it safe to use?

Dr. Park,

This is totally off-topic and if I could write you privately, I would have, instead of on your thread.  I see that you are into Origami.  When I lived in Yokohama, Japan, I took many classes in Origami.  I absolutely loved it.  The paper was some of the prettiest I had ever seen.  Unfortunately, my speciality was making butterfly's.  I wish I had learned more.  Very relaxing past time.

Heather

ahmeds,

From what I can see, Powerlung helps to train your muscles of respiration. I can't hurt, and the only way to know if it will help is to try it. As for improving nasal breathing, it's unlikely to make any significant difference.

Heather3418,

Interestingly, origami is not completely off-topic. As a form of art, manual skills, hand-eye coordination and meditation, it's a very relaxing activity. If you're having a stressful day, try making your origami butterfly. I  guarantee not only will you feel better, but the people around you will give you more smiles as well.

I learned my basic folds when I was 5 years old from a neighbor just before I moved to the US. It's funny that I still remember the ones I learned earlier, but the ones I learned later, I keep forgetting. This is why practice is so important.

There are so many resources now to learn more origami folds, including a number of great origami books. There are even some good videos on YouTube. Good luck, and happy folding.

hi Dr Park,

Yer it seems your artical is almost spot on to my symtoms, i find it really hard to breath through my nose when im laying there i breath through my nose only when im standing up, and i  snore really loud, and when i said loud the whole house shakes, and also no matter how much rest i get im still very tired even afta 12-16hrs of rest. I really need a solution to this.

Hi Dr. Parks,

I'm 21 years of age. I noticed over the past 3 months that when I wake up and go to brush my teeth that sometimes I notice small amounts of blood coming out. I get worried, but for the most part I think nothing of it. I work a night job, (around 7pm til 330). This morning, I was laying on my bed playing with my phone for about 10 minutes. I get up to go to the rest room, and as I wash my hands, a large amount of blood accumulates in my mouth and I continue spitting it out for 3 minutes until it stopped. It felt as if it was coming from inbetween my front right tooth and my gum but I'm not sure. My tooth doesn't feel loose or anything. I am worried. I sleep under 2 fans in my room, and I use to have very frequent nosebleeds year-round. But now that this has happened, I'm very concerned. And I find it very funny that it very so much happened after I got done laying down. I need to have an idea of what this could be.

KedVito615,

It sounds like it could be nosebleeds again. Have it checked out by an ear nose and throat doctor.

v1yeap,

What you describe sounds like you could have obstructive sleep apnea. You can either see and ear nose and throat doctor to take care of your nasal congestion first or go straight to a sleep doctor. Either way, they can evaluate you for sleep apnea. Good luck.

Hi Dr Park

I found your thread recently and it sums me up, I always feel tired all day , no matter how much sleep and have tried literally every single other option

I used to breath through my nose all the time and around 2 years ago noticed my nose is always blocked, not runny but blocked

since then i have had chronic fatigue symptoms, irregular heartbeats and the doctors have suggested depression

I can assure you I have no stress in my life, not anxious, but just extremely tired all the time

I cannot breath more than 30% through my nose ,, ever!

as a result my cardio, weights training is extrermly prone to overtraining, even when only doing light workouts

i used to be a fitness instructor and fit, but not for last few years

I have no idea where to go or what to do but it sounds as though i probably try and nreath through my nnose alot at night and notice i do when concentrating on something, its like its my default to breath through my nose, but i cannto get enough oxygen in

PLEASE PLEASE help point me in right direction, i will be so gateful

Look forward to hearing from you

sparkyboy

Sparkyboy,

Take a look at some of my other articles as well as my website: http://www.doctorstevenpark.com. Not to promote my book, but reading it will be a greta start.

will it have info to help me??

do you think it can be fixed?

Medical information, no matter how good, is of no use unless you apply it properly the the context of your individual situation and physical findings. See your doctor about your stuffy nose and if not improved, see an ear, nose and throat doctor. Nasal congestion is something that can be fixed.

Thank you, Dr. Park.  I am looking forward to your next article on how to be a better nose-breather.  A bit more nitric oxide could help my chronic fatigue.  (MS & fibromyalgia)  

Hi Dr Park,

I hope you can help.  

I am male, aged 36. For about 11 years now, I have been in that kind of "sleep" state. From the second I wake up to the second I go to sleep, I feel like I'm not fully awake, and that I have that tired glazed look all the time. It's only
recently that I think I know what it is that's causing it. These past 16 months have been the worst, and I thought that it was my heart that was causing me to nearly pass out, as I was getting extremely light headed, and my heart would start to beat 1 beat every 2 seconds. This could be brought on by light exersion, or even when I laugh, and sometimes when I'm talking a lot.

My other symtoms included breathlessness, poor memory, headaches, dry throat, and all the time a stuffy nose.  I have had loads of tests done, such as x-rays, blood tests for diabetes, B12 deficiency, thyroid, sugar levels, etc, and even tests for carbon monoxide poisoning. Have also been checked for asthma and even spent 4 days in hospital when it was thought that it could be my heart.  The doctors still could not figure out what was causing my symtoms. I then thought what if it's my nose that's causing the problems, as my nose gets nearly completely blocked when I lie down, and I therefore have to breathe through my mouth. I also know that I snore quite a bit. Well, I decided to try something to see if it would make a difference. What I did was, that just before bed I would spray Sinex up my nose, put on those breathe right nose strips, and put Vicks Vaporub on my neck and chest. The next morning when I woke I was amazed that my nose was still perfectly clear, and I awoke feeling relaxed and fresh. For the first time in 11 years I had a great sleep and the "sleep" state was gone. I felt fully awake. My eyes weren't glazed over, and everthing seemed clear and crisp. Colours seemed vibrant, and I was ready to start the day. The lightheadedness and breathlessness were nearly completely gone as well. Unfortunetely this only lasted for just over 4 days, as the Sinex stopped working and began making things worse. I had to stop using Sinex as overuse is bad for your nose. From the 5th day, my "sleep" state was back, along with the lightheadedness and breathlessness. My doctor has since prescribed 3 different steroid sprays (Flixonase, Nasacort, Betnisol-n and one I can't remember the name of), none of which have had any affect. I was referred the the ENT clinic where they checked my nose, and did allergy tests, but they found nothing wrong.  The ENT consultant said that it still could be an allergy, but just one they could not see.

So, where I'm at now is, the ENT consultant has said that I would need to try the steroid spray again, as it can take up to 3 months for some people before they notice it working. I have been using Nasacort now since the Aug 7th, and so far it hasn't made any difference.  I really hope you can help as it is making my life misserable.

Best regards,

Barry

Hi Dr. Parks.  We are having a lot of smoke in the air from the Souther California fires and am recommending that we all breathe through our noses if we have to go outside.  I suppose the nose acts as a filter too?

I am curious too if you have any comments on why a person would develop a greatly heightened sense of smell following an attack of multiple sclerosis?  I now have the nose of a dog. (not in size!)  It's funny because I know which foods, fresheners, or other "smellables" are in a room or house that others don't notice.  Thank you.  

Barry,

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. It sounds like you may have a combination of different issues with your nose. If your nose gets stuffy when you lay down, you may have an involuntary (autonomic) nervous system balance problem. The blood vessels are not able to constrict the blood vessels in your turbinates. You may also have nasal valve collapse, where your nostrils cave in when you inhale, especially if your nose is stuffy on the inside. Breathe-Rites helps sometimes, but only if your nose is clear on the inside. Another way of dealing with this is to use internal nasal dilators (such as Nozovent, sinus cones and breathewitheez). Your nasal congestion is treatable if you do the detective work to find out what works and what doesn't.

It may sound like your nasal congestion is what's causing your sleep symptoms, but it's what's happening downstream (your soft palate and your tongue) that's being aggravated by having a stuffy nose. Your tongue and/or soft palate is susceptible to collapse and breathing problems, but when your nose is stuffy even the slightest amount, this can cause all your symptoms. Studies have shown that treating nasal congestion definitively can effectively treat obstructive sleep apnea in only about 10% of patients what have sleep apnea. You may be in the lucky 10%. First take care of your nasal congestion, and then if your symptoms don't improve (or worsen later on), consider the possibility of an underlying sleep-breathing disorder. Good luck.

Karen99,

You make an  interesting observation. As you may know with MS, anything is possible with various plaques in any part of the brain, especially with the olfactory areas.

If you came across the survey I did with the MS forum here on Medhelp, you'll see that the vast majority also had various degrees of an underlying sleep-breathing problem. Poor quality sleep can heighten your senses in general, and your sense of smell is one of the most susceptible to being heightened.

Hi Dr Park,

Thank you for your advice.  I stopped using the breathe rite strips as they were not working and were costing me too much.  Would using the sinus cones take a while for me to notice a difference?  The reason I ask, is that when I lay down, I used 2 lollipop sticks up each nostril to widen them as far as I could to see if it would help, but it had no effect at all.  Also, when my nose starts to get blocked I cannot blow it, and the little I can blow it virtually nothing comes out.  Sometimes a tiny bit of clear mucus comes out but nothing more, and my nose stays blocked.  I have noticed that sometimes when I sneeze my nose unblocks slightly for about 30 seconds or so, and then blocks back up.  Nothing comes out of my nose when I sneeze though.  You mentioned nasal valve collapse, which I hadn't noticed before, but when I breathe in I do notice my nostrils start to close.  The quicker I breathe in the more my nostrils close.

I've been trying to think what happened 11 years ago that may have been a factor in my symptoms.  11 years ago I started taking Propranolol (20mg) 1 to 3 times a day for an irregular heart beat, and only came off them last year when my lightheadedness symptoms started.  Could this medication have caused my sysmtoms to occur over a long period of time? With regard to my soft palate, I have noticed it feels more loose than it used to be.  I read about Rhynil spray (www.britishsnoring.co.uk/shop/rhynil.php) and wondered if this might help.  Although, I'm not sure if I should use it when I'm currently using Nasacort.

I really appreciate your help and your time to answer my questions.

Regards,

Barry

Hello Dr Park

Over the last few weeks my mother started sneezing when she eats her food, doing so for almost a week solid, then the sneezing became more the exception four or five times over the course of the next week then it became more frequent again though still not as bad as the first week, Mum has never shown any symptom of this kind before, i have rang our local surgery about this though no advice was given to date. recently mum began to have a little tipple of whisky at night and it does appear to be about the same timeframe that she started sneezing, mum also has Roasea ( i know its probably spelt wrong sorry ) which never caused problems or manifested when she did not have a tipple everynight, her eyelids can turn scarlet at times due to infection and she cannot always keep in mind not to use the same tissues twice often keeping them under her pillow because otherwise its such a waste seems to be the concern,  Mum is 87 and sometimes i am stuck because i dont know how to help her when my family think i can be so self rightous as an alcohol related depressive whose not touched it since 1996 and teach me i cant tell my mother what to do by getting her the whisky which i refuse to do.  I know im assuming the sneezing is alcohol related and admit i could be absolutely wrong and i apologise outright if so, could you shed any light on Mums sneezing problem please ?




      

Hi dr park hope you are well, not seen a new entry for some time

, I have a sleep apnea test coming up to try to determine what is causing my symptoms , please see above entry from sparky boy

I keep pushing for my doctor to refer me to a ear throat and nose doctor but my doctor continuously says my not being able to breath through my nose does not cause any tiredness etc

will the apnea test reveal if I am breathing through my nose ( i can get id say 20% of air through and wonder if i am tryin to breath through my nose at night and get minimal air through and never have a deep sleep) or will it just show if i am stopping breathing etc

I feel very conjested all the time, have the glazed eye feeling , never feel refreshed from sleep  and think my nose may well be cause but my doctor does not think so

I am not depressed or anxious but am very fatigued an frustrated

cheers hope to hear from you , sparky boy

sparkyboy,

Your nasal congestion is connected to narrowing and obstruction downstream. Having a stuffy nose by itself doesn't cause sleep apnea, but if you have narrowing in your throat or tongue area, then having a stuffed up nose can definitely aggravate problems downstream. In my experience, being able to breathe well through the nose increases your chances that treatment options for sleep apnea will work. See what your sleep study shows. Good luck.

cheers dr park, it seems it a sleep breath disorder or M.E

fingers crossed sleep apea as that is cureable

i will let you know results

cheers ,sparkyboy

my boyfriend has been lifting weights for the past 5 months
and he has started to sleep with his mouth open. i would like to konw
is there any reason why he started to sleep with his mouth open

I always have trouble getting a full and satisfying breath through my nose. Therefore, I am constantly breathing through my mouth. The only time this is a problem is when I do cardio exercise. Overall I am physically fit, but I can not work out for long at all because of my problems breathing. I am almost certain it is not asthma either. Any ideas or suggestions? Thank you!

jcg_121108,

Either your boyfriend is lifting weights to compensate for increasing fatigue because he's not sleeping well at night due to a stuffy nose, or his neck muscles are pressing on his airway, preventing proper breathing, which can also lead to a stuffy nose. Either way, if he has other medical issues or is chronically tired, he should see his doctor about it.

genmar,

Exercise shrinks your nasal turbinates, so that's why you can breathe better. Some people have deviated septums, which are aggravated by allergies or colds. Some people have flimsy nostrils, and respond to Breathe Right strips. It's important to breathe well through your nose. If it doesn't get better, see your doctor.

Hello Dr Park,

I am really confused as to what my issue is, and I was wondering if it could be caused by mouth breathing.

7 months ago I had strep throat/mono like symptoms,the sore throat died off after about a month but i keep having reoccuring illness with similar symtpoms that I had without the sore throat.... my symptoms are fatigue, pressure in my ears, a hot feeling in my nose with occasional sores in my nostrils, very heavy eyelids with extremely dark circles. This has been on and off for at least 6 months now... I  can usually breath out my nose during the day but at night I can only breath through my mouth.. My dentist said I can thank my mouth breathing for my gingivitis as well.

I feel I get enough sleep(9-10hrs) but these symptoms will not go away, in fact they are a lot worse AFTER I sleep. It feels like my Mononucleosis will never go away, but could these symptoms be attributed to mouth breathing alone? Or could my mouth breathing cause the virus to never full disappear?

Sorry I know thats a lot, my doctor hasnt been very helpful, she just gives me prescriptions to treat the symptoms instead of the cause and I have not got better at all.

Thanks,

Ryan.

Dr. Park

     I have trouble breathing through my nose on a consistant basis. My wife always jokes with me for the way I breathe when I eat because it can sound a little barbaric having to eat and breathe from the same place. It seems that one side is usually easier to breathe through than the other, but they are both stuffed and I when I blow my nose I get little to nothing. I've tried saline solutions but they never get through to the other side. I did read somewhere that your nasal canal or something of the sort can get swollen and make it harder to breathe. The only thing that has worked is Zicam. I wish I could take this stuff everyday, but I do like to smell what I can and I've heard that Zicam can be destructive to your nose after prolonged use and you can lose your sense of smell. Do you have any recommendations? I would love to be able to breathe through my nose!

                                                                                                           Thanks,
                                                                                                              Tomy

Ryan,

Your initial infection was the trigger, but now you're caught in a vicious cycle where you can't get deep efficient sleep. Ultimately, it's your anatomy. Due to narrowed jaws, your tongue is more susceptible to collapse when in deep sleep, especially with muscle relaxation. It becomes much worse with inflammation and swelling. You probably keep waking up subconsciously due to repeated obstruction and arousals. This is why you can't sleep on your back I explain everything in much more detail in my book, Sleep, Interrupted.

Tomy,

Definitely stop using Zycam. You should see an ENT doctor for your nasal congestion. There are ways of treating it, but first you have to find out what's causing your nasal congestion. It's usually due to a number of different issues.

Hi Dr. Park,

I don't know what is going on with me for whenever I do breathe through my nose, the upper back part of my throat gets REALLY dry! It's VERY frustruating... Whenever I breathe through my mouth, this does NOT happen. I get up at night to drink some water to rid of this feeling in the back upper part of my mouth/throat. No matter the day or night, it always happens. I can actually feel the air hitting the area and drying it when I inhale nasally. Have you heard of  this? What is it called? Oral breathing is the only relief...

Thank-You for any assistance/guidance that you may give!

~Erin.