Patrick Mckeown and mouth breathing

[Logo132]

Yesterday someone on this forum mentioned Patrick Mckeowns videos on YouTube and the idea that breathing through our mouths can exacerbate asthma. Well I watched the video and it was really good! I tried out the exercises and last night I tried taping my mouth to force myself to breathe through my nose.

I have to say that I’m impressed with the results even this early in. Usually I wake up and cough up a ton of mucus but after the mouth taping My lungs were clearer.

I’m curious whether anyone else has tried this and how they found it. The only downside form me was that it seemed to make me sneeze more and give me a runny nose, but I’d rather have that that cough up mucus.

***Adding in Lysistrata's Advice to this***

Very glad to hear it's helped you but for anyone else reading, please be careful with the taping at night. It can be fine for some people but some physios I have met, while all for learning nasal breathing, are less keen on the mouth taping for people with established respiratory problems. It probably isn't ideal especially if you also have ongoing sinus/nasal issues blocking your nose.

Anyone considering this should probably check with someone knowledgeable who knows your medical situation about the taping and whether it's suitable for you.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

I realise you are talking about your own experience but I'm going to repeat what I posted on the other post about mouth taping: it is *not* necessarily suitable for everyone.

Very glad to hear it's helped you but for anyone else reading, please be careful with the taping at night. It can be fine for some people but some physios I have met, while all for learning nasal breathing, are less keen on the mouth taping for people with established respiratory problems. It probably isn't ideal especially if you also have ongoing sinus/nasal issues blocking your nose.

Anyone considering this should probably check with someone knowledgeable who knows your medical situation about the taping and whether it's suitable for you.

[Logo132 in reply to Lysistrata]

The purpose of my question was just to see what experiences other people had with this method rather than to advocate or recommend it. This is all new to me so I wanted to see whether anyone else had tried it and how they got on.

As for the tape, in my case I used a very light micropore tape that was easily removable (in fact I’m surprised it stayed on!) ive also seen tapes that go around the mouth and leave a gap in case of emergency, for example if someone vomited.

I have to admit that Mckeowns method and buteyko intrigues me, as many report lowering their inhaler dose after using these methods.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Logo132]

I realise that you were talking about your own experience as I mentioned, rather than recommending, but I also wanted to highlight for anyone wanting to try that it isn't necessarily suitable for everyone - someone might still read this and want to try it without realising that.

I have met physios who are keen but give specific advice, and physios who aren't keen at all. So I think it's best to flag that not everyone should be trying this, and if in doubt should ask someone who knows their history.

As a side note, I'm aware that Buteyko can help some people with asthma and the NHS has approved it. I tried it, taught by a respiratory physio who is formally trained in the method and how to teach it, and it didn't do much for me but I know others have been helped.

[Jamesd1234]

This is interesting. I’m definitely a mouth breather sometimes and have trouble waking up at night with asthma , but mainly due to allergies and post nasal drip. I might try a very light cover over my mouth and see if it helps. Gotta be worth a try!

[Tigerpaws]

If you breathe through your mouth, you take in 20% less oxygen. I'm a chronic asthmatic and I tape up my mouth each night to stop me from mouth breathing.

[Blue-Breeze]

I'm primarily a day time nose breather, no idea what happens at night. I couldn't and wouldn't tape my mouth because of nasal surgery. I'm pleased this works for some of you, an interesting read from both sides. Not for me though.

[Hidden]

I've got his book Oxygen advantage. I've learnt a lot from the podcasts he has been on. Nose breathing has made a massive difference for me and I tape my mouth up at night. I've dealt with 5 respiratory physios and listened to everything they have told me. I have failed to be impressed by any of them.

[Poobah]

Well, this has made me look up the subject of mouth breathing and it's very interesting, something to explore more as I know I'm going to have to work on nasal breathing more, but during the day. The idea of taping my mouth...shudder. I've definitely got worse, as has my asthma.

If you've ever watched racehorses, they breath through their nostrils while galloping - mind you, they have very well designed nasal systems! At the end of a race their nostrils flare, but they never gasp for air through their mouths. Be more racehorse! 😁

[Hidden in reply to Poobah]

Most mammals breath through their noses there's a few exceptions such as dogs. They only breath through their mouths to cools down.

We also have very well developed nasal canals that are able to do a lot of different things.

You can now get a tape that goes around the mouth. It keeps your lips closed but you can still open your mouth. I've never used it so I can't comment on how good it is.

[Jjude1003]

McKeown’s stuff is based on the Buteyko method and I’ve been practicing it with great results. I used a Buteyko coach and I highly recommend working with someone knowledgeable if you want to really explore the method.