Improve lifestyle to improve outcomes - sleep & mouth tape

[secondtry]

Sleep has been one of my biggest challenges because mine has been poor due principally to anxiety, diagnosed mild sleep apnea and quite possibly other reasons. I appreciate good sleep is so important to many functions of the body not just the heart, so....

First I spent an hour in the evenings before bed practising Mindfulness, a couple of yoga exercises & prayer. This helped but I needed more so started using Breathright nasal strips at night. Still not good enough, so over the last month I have been doing slower breathing exercises (James Nestor's new book 'Breath') on my daily walks and I have taped my mouth closed at night (not practical if you have a cough or cold).....it's early days but without going into the science my sleep ( & energy) over the last 2 weeks has been excellent, the best for years!!

Re the mouth taping don't panic. Yes, I was a bit concerned on the first night, even though I had read about it; you soon forget about it and I wouldn't be without it now. It is not a big piece of duct tape, I use a small 2cm x1.5 cm piece over the top & bottom lip in the middle. I ordered myotape.com & cut them up so it works out at a very low daily cost. Also because it is so small it can still be applied if you have a beard.

Tips: Make sure your nose is nice & clear before retiring and if you like a sip of water during the night put a straw in your glass.

Caveat: This is only my personal experience of someone 67yo in otherwise good health with just Lone PAF and only on Flecainide, in case it helps someone else out there. Check with your medical team BEFORE any action if you have complex heart, respiratory or other health issues.

[Paulbounce]

A little off topic but aren't you on an anticoagulant as well as flec ? With your age and PAF I would assume this to be the case. Is this your personal decision or following your doc's advice ?

Enjoy your day.

Paul

[10gingercats]

My son of 41 recently started to use the tape method as he sleeps with his mouth wide open,says his wife, and sometimes snores!Their nights are not too good anyway for other reasons so he tried this and it works!

[jeanjeannie50]

Wow, what a good recommendation? I will certainly try that. A good nights sleep is so important. Thank you for sharing.

Jean

[Afib20]

I have the same problem with breathing. I breathe thru my mouth and wake up feeling as though cotton is in my mouth. I’ve often thought of taping but it seems kinda scary!

[faridaro]

Recently I also started taping my mouth using 3M tape (light blue) which I get at local Target in pharmacy section. I am sure other pharmacies carry it as well (in US). The tape is very light and works well, I tear off about 2" of it to cover my mouth completely. If I wake up during the night and want to get a sip of water I just pull the tape off and then put the same piece back - it still sticks.

[Janith]

No way would l try this ... under zero circumstances ... eventually the constant tugging each day to remove the tape would cause wrinkles ... not to mention the discomfort ... scary! Happy that it works for you tho.

[sotolol]

Don’t tell my husband he would tell me to tape my mouth in the day too.

Glad it works.

[secondtry in reply to sotolol]

He would miss your sense of humour though!

[sotolol in reply to secondtry]

Yes I’ll tell him ........ 😇