Nose breathing
Encyclopedia
Nasal breathing refers to the state of inhaling and exhaling
through the nose
.
It is considered superior to mouth breathing
for several reasons. Air travels to and from the external environment and the lungs through the sinuses
, as opposed to the mouth. The sinuses do a better job of filtering the air as it enters the lungs. In addition, the smaller diameter of the sinuses create pressure in the lungs during exhalation, allowing the lungs to have more time to extract oxygen
from them. When there is proper oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange, the blood
will maintain a balanced pH
. If carbon dioxide
is lost too quickly, as in mouth breathing, oxygen absorption is decreased. Nasal breathing is especially important in certain situations such as dehydration
, cold weather, laryngitis
, and when the throat
is sore or dry because it does not dry the throat
as much.
The air moves up the nose through the trachea, which is lined with cartilagenous rings, which then splits into 2 bronchi (singular bronchus). These then branch into bronchioles, which in turn branch off and end in alveoli.
Exhalation
Exhalation is the movement of air out of the bronchial tubes, through the airways, to the external environment during breathing....
through the nose
Human nose
The visible part of the human nose is the protruding part of the face that bears the nostrils. The shape of the nose is determined by the ethmoid bone and the nasal septum, which consists mostly of cartilage and which separates the nostrils...
.
It is considered superior to mouth breathing
Mouth breathing
Mouth breathing refers to the state of inhaling and exhaling through the mouth.A healthy individual normally breathes through the nose while resting or doing light exercise, and breathes simultaneously through both the nose and mouth during vigorous aerobic exercise, in order to supply sufficient...
for several reasons. Air travels to and from the external environment and the lungs through the sinuses
Paranasal sinus
Paranasal sinuses are a group of four paired air-filled spaces that surround the nasal cavity , above and between the eyes , and behind the ethmoids...
, as opposed to the mouth. The sinuses do a better job of filtering the air as it enters the lungs. In addition, the smaller diameter of the sinuses create pressure in the lungs during exhalation, allowing the lungs to have more time to extract oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
from them. When there is proper oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange, the blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
will maintain a balanced pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
. If carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
is lost too quickly, as in mouth breathing, oxygen absorption is decreased. Nasal breathing is especially important in certain situations such as dehydration
Dehydration
In physiology and medicine, dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. It is literally the removal of water from an object; however, in physiological terms, it entails a deficiency of fluid within an organism...
, cold weather, laryngitis
Laryngitis
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. It causes hoarse voice or the complete loss of the voice because of irritation to the vocal folds . Dysphonia is the medical term for a vocal disorder, of which laryngitis is one cause....
, and when the throat
Throat
In vertebrate anatomy, the throat is the anterior part of the neck, in front of the vertebral column. It consists of the pharynx and larynx...
is sore or dry because it does not dry the throat
Throat
In vertebrate anatomy, the throat is the anterior part of the neck, in front of the vertebral column. It consists of the pharynx and larynx...
as much.
The air moves up the nose through the trachea, which is lined with cartilagenous rings, which then splits into 2 bronchi (singular bronchus). These then branch into bronchioles, which in turn branch off and end in alveoli.
See also
- SnoringSnoringSnoring is the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound, due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping. In some cases the sound may be soft, but in other cases, it can be loud and unpleasant...
- PranayamaPranayamaPranayama is a Sanskrit word meaning "extension of the prana or breath" or more accurately, "extension of the life force". The word is composed of two Sanskrit words, Prāna, life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, and "āyāma", to extend, draw out, restrain, or...
- Buteyko methodButeyko methodThe Buteyko method or Buteyko Breathing Technique is a form of complementary or alternative physical therapy that proposes chronic "breathing retraining" as a treatment for asthma as well as other conditions. The method takes its name from the late Ukrainian doctor Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko ,...
- breathing exercise to treat asthma that involves breathing through one's nose