Why is it better to breathe through your nose than through your mouth?
Luckily, no one has to teach us how to breathe. Breathing is a fundamental and apparently instinctive act that we all do from the moment we are born. However, we rarely think about the details of this process: is there a “right” way to do it? ¿It’s better to breathe through your nose than your mouth? Is there a difference between both options?
Surprisingly, the answer to all these questions is the same: “Yeah” In addition to the air intake, the nose also features an air intake system. filtration, moisturizing and protection very complex, turning it into an organ that goes far beyond the sense of smell and sensory characteristics. Breathing through your nose is a smart choice for your health!
AIRWAYS
When you inhale air, it passes through your nasal passages and begins its journey down to your lungs. Go through pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and finally reaches the organs responsible for breathing. This is a safe route because the body has special mechanisms to ensure that the air entering our lungs is clean, humidified and at the appropriate temperature.
One of these mechanisms necessary for our health is cilia, small structures similar in appearance to hairs found in the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. These tiny elements are responsible for catch and eliminate to unwanted particles that may be suspended in the air we breathe, thereby freeing us from unwanted infections and infections and protecting our body from possible damage.
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But how do they do it? Well, eyelashes have the ability move – almost like snakes – from base to tip. Thanks to this dynamism that arises when high speedcapable of covering a wide range of space, capturing and stopping the passage of harmful and unknown particles.
Illustration depicting the location of cilia and their movement in the pharynx.
WHY DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR NOSE OVER YOUR MOUTH?
So, choosing to breathe through your nose instead of your mouth is not just a matter of preference: it has serious scientific reasons and benefits. Thanks to the cilia, the nose performs the function natural filtertrapping and removing particles such as dust, pollen, bacteria and viruses before they reach the lungs, thereby protecting the respiratory tract and reducing the risk of infections.
On the other hand, it also has the ability humidify and warm cold air which is inhaled, which prevents the dryness of the lungs and bronchi from increasing, which can cause health problems such as irritation or injury due to the dry environment. In this case, nasal breathing involves nitric oxide production in the sinuses is an important gas that facilitates the absorption of oxygen in the lungs and has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties that help the immune system fight infections.
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In addition, it should be noted that breathing through the nose adds air flow resistance, which increases oxygen absorption by maintaining pressure in the lungs. In other words, when we breathe through the nasal passages, the air encounters more natural resistance than when breathing through the mouth, due to the narrowness of the nasal and nasopharyngeal passages. This resistance has positive effect on oxygen absorptionas it improves pulmonary ventilation, ensuring a more even distribution of air in the lungs, and favorably stimulates the diaphragm, the main respiratory muscle.
Paranasal sinuses, where nitric oxide is produced.
INCORRECT PREFERENCE
Now that it has been stated that breathing through the nose is the best option, you may be wondering whether breathing through the mouth is really all that harmful or just has a neutral benefit. Unfortunately though yes, it may be necessary in certain casesfor example, during intense exercise or nasal congestion, can lead to a number of health problems that should be taken into account.
Among them there are greater impact bacteria and viruses arising due to the lack of a filtration and humidification system; That dryness oral cavity and decreased saliva production, which can lead to certain oral health problems such as tooth decay, gingivitis and periodontitis; or even pressure changes arterial due to loss of nitric oxide, which also promotes dilation of blood vessels. Mouth breathing can even affect the quality of your sleep, causing snoring, apnea, or waking up more frequently during the night.