Learning how to breath

I began reading a book called Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art after listening to a podcast with the author, James Nestor. He talked about how most people in today’s society (as of 2020) breathe through their mouths instead of their noses.

In his findings, he noticed that prior to the Industrial Revolution, people generally had straight teeth. In contrast, today, over 80% of people have crooked teeth or cannot accommodate their wisdom teeth. This issue stems from changes in our diet. We no longer eat hard foods, like vegetables and meat, that require significant chewing. Since the Industrial Revolution, food has become softer, so we chew less. This lack of chewing has led to a range of problems, including underdeveloped bone mass in the skull. It affects facial structure, causing the skin to sag with age, and contributes to breathing problems by narrowing the nasal airway.

Breathing through the nose has been shown to be highly beneficial for several reasons. Nose breathing promotes slow, controlled breathing, which can help manage emotions like anxiety. Breathing slowly relaxes the body, lowers the heart rate, and some studies suggest that mammals with lower heart rates tend to live longer. Even during exercise, it’s beneficial to breathe through your nose, although it can be challenging due to the increased CO2 levels in the body.

After listening to the podcast and reading the book, I learned a technique to practice nose breathing while sleeping: using skin tape to gently tape the mouth shut. Skin tape isn’t strong enough to completely seal the mouth, so if you need to open it, the tape will fall off easily.

Initially, I tried to fall asleep by consciously breathing through my nose. I developed a specific breathing pattern that helped me drift off. After a few nights, I noticed how my breathing changed depending on my sleeping position.

However, I experienced a frightening situation while sleeping on my back. One night, I woke up suddenly, sitting upright and gasping for air. It felt like I was choking. This happened three times, which made me question whether I should continue using the tape.

Despite my doubts, I decided to buy proper mouth tape and try again. I applied lip balm beforehand to make the tape less sticky. After a few weeks of sleeping with the tape, I noticed that I automatically started breathing through my nose during the day. But I also realized that something felt off—I found it hard to breathe through my nose at times, and I got more air through one nostril than the other. I suspected I might have a deviated septum.

I scheduled an appointment with my general practitioner to get a referral to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist. At the appointment, I explained my concerns, mentioning that I had been using mouth tape and noticed difficulties breathing through my nose during the day. My doctor gave me a puzzled look but examined my nose and confirmed that I likely had a deviated septum. She referred me to a specialist for further evaluation.

After waiting a few weeks, I visited the ENT specialist. I told him the same story and received the same puzzled look as before. A quick examination confirmed the diagnosis—a deviated septum. The specialist explained my options: undergo surgery to correct it or do nothing.

Determined to breathe properly again, I opted for the surgery. Once again, I had to explain my use of mouth tape, which elicited more puzzled reactions from the medical staff.

After the procedure, the surgeon informed me that my septum was so deviated that he could only partially correct it. He adjusted it enough to avoid causing new issues while still improving my breathing. He also noted that my airway was unusually narrow and that my nose appeared to have been broken at some point.

The recovery process took about two weeks. During that time, I had to rest and avoid too much movement to allow my nose to heal properly. Although the surgery was minor, it left me feeling quite drained. When the plates keeping my septum in place were finally removed, the improvement was immediate.

On the way home, I was amazed by how much air I could inhale—I was breathing better than ever. I could feel the increased oxygen intake throughout my body. However, after about a week, the sensation of improved breathing settled, and everything felt normal again.