Mouth breathing & heart failure - British Heart Fou...

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Mouth breathing & heart failure

Jeder profile image
7 Replies

Hi everyone has anyone else seen or had experience or knowledge related to the concept of over breathing and impact of mouth breathing?

I’m reading this book called the oxygen advantage - and a breathing technique called buteyko breathing - see the video

m.youtube.com/watch?v=mBqGS...

I’d love to hear people’s thoughts on this, either previous or take a look and let me know - I’m finding it fascinating and keen to start making changes it talks about. From what I’ve read it sounds like it could make a significant difference to many illnesses and ailments.

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Jeder profile image
Jeder
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7 Replies
laura_dropstitch profile image
laura_dropstitchHeart Star

Hmm. I can see how breathing exercises would maybe give some respite from breathlessness, by which I mean feeling in control of your breathing for the time you focus on it. And I guess over time maybe you would learn to breathe more...efficiently? But ultimately I can't see how it would help heart failure in any way as it doesn't address the cause of breathlessness. I don't know much about it though (and haven't watched the video, just read about it online) so maybe I'm missing something? And it has made me think that some sort of breathing-based relaxation could be good for me. Thanks for sharing :)

Jeder profile image
Jeder in reply to laura_dropstitch

Thanks Laura - would love to hear your thoughts after watching the video - reading the book (I’m only 80 pages in) it does sound more impactful than we realise!

laura_dropstitch profile image
laura_dropstitchHeart Star in reply to laura_dropstitch

PS I do think heart failure has turned me into a bit of a mouth breather - combination of medication making my nose permanently stuffy and always wanting to get more air in.

Jeder profile image
Jeder in reply to laura_dropstitch

Defo. Have an explore and let me know what you think! It feels like it makes sense to mouth breath because of that by according to This it isn’t!

IanGordon profile image
IanGordon

Interesting video that's really a bit of a teaser. I guess if you're curious you buy the book! One immediate point. If you want your offspring to be good looking then you buy them soothers/ dummies so they become 'nose breathers'. I don't think so.

I can see the benefit of post - operative breathing exercises to both repair lungs, traumatised by surgery and also ensure good blood oxygen levels to promote good healing and recovery. I feel my pre-op lung capacity needs some work to restore full capacity so I have invested in a Powerbreathe which through providing variable resistance when I inhale through the gadget, promotes lung/diaphragm strength and efficiency. Really only just started to use it at 6 weeks, post - OHS so difficult to say if it it's working for me but seems to have good credentials so I'm optimistic. Anything that can support and improve oxygen transfer has to be a good thing for us hearties, with the big caveat that we also need an efficient delivery/circulation system which is all too often compromised by our health predicament. But better breathing may well help and I guess is worth exploring.

Thubrj profile image
Thubrj

Is this related to yoga Nidra? A state of relaxation through guided meditation .. I can definitely see similarity and can connect with the theories behind it for relaxation techniques it works really well and benefits for health are positive .. would like to find out more on this

Jeder profile image
Jeder in reply to Thubrj

It’s not about deep breathing which is often related to some yoga practices - but yes could be related.

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