The Nose Has It
Great, straight forward, common sense article.
Went to the dentist a month ago. Vera told me to breathe in and out through my nose when I'm in public. A specialist, she said our nasal cavities have long, long tubes full of a type of mild acid. The extensive journey of air from nostrils through the sinuses, down our throat and then into our lungs can neutralize a lot of germs along the way.
There's also, funnily enough, nose hairs. Yep, those hairy monsters we don’t speak of keep a lot of nasty stuff from getting into your system in the first place. Nose hairs are our own essential air cleaner; our first line of defense.
I probably haven't got the technicalities right. And, everyone I speak to tells me it doesn't matter because they are already wearing a mask. But, I'm adopting nose breathing anyway.
It's apparently good for overall health in a myriad of other ways as well.
It makes sense.
If you breathe through your mouth air goes straight down your larynx and directly into your lungs. Nose breathing- a big new movement- engages your bodies own natural air cleaner.
Think of it as your onboard air filtration system. One that has proven essential and effective over thousands of years.
Absolutely wear a mask, but the extra protection of nasal breathing means no added discomfort. It does mean added reassurance that we are keeping ourselves that little bit safer from COVID particles and droplets.
Friends have said that of course they breathe through their nose, but apparently about 60% of us, particularly the unfit, obese, overweight, asthmatic, snorers, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are mouth breathers.
Combined with wearing masks, social distancing, hand washing, sanitizing and good personal hygiene, nasal breathing offers peace of mind. Regardless of who or where you are, all of us need that in 2020.
It seems like a no brainer to me.
