In the previous two sections I have suggested how breathing rate and breathing mechanics are important to optimal health.
Today, I will explain how your airways may also cause problems. A common problem I see today is people unable to breathe through their nose due to either a sporting or car crash injury or a blocked up nose.
For restricted nasal passages due to injury, I send my clients to their Doctor for a referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist. For a blocked nose, a common cause today is food intolerance. Foods that people are sensitive to can cause a runny or blocked nose causing the person to breathe through their mouth.
The mouth doesn’t have the filtering capabilities we have in our nostrils and therefore, more unwanted invaders are able to enter our systems. Also, to aid mouth breathing, the head is positioned forwards, causing a postural dysfunction of the head/neck complex. This leads to excess stress being placed on the upper back and neck muscles and can lead to further postural problems lower in the body.
I have had great success with clients helping them overcome food intolerances by identifying the sensitive foods and incorporating a food rotation diet to prevent future intolerances. Avoidance of alcohol, medical drugs and mental stress all help to reduce the likelihood of food intolerance. The most common food intolerances in the UK are wheat, dairy, soy and eggs.
If you feel you have any breathing dysfunctions and wish to find out more, please feel free to call or email me. My details can be found on my website.