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A healthy sleep ensures well-being and full regeneration. It is not uncommon, however, that increased stress or personal problems make us sleep poorly and feel less refreshed. Mouth breathing may also be responsible for sleep disturbances. So an unusual trick is gaining popularity, which is to cover your lips with a plaster at night. But is it safe?
- Sleep disturbances are often the result of mental stress
- The way we breathe can affect sleep disturbance
- Mouth breathing while sleeping can lead to serious health problems, especially in children
- The controversial trick for better sleep is not for everyone. Doctors warn what the consequences could be
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
Sleep disorders – why don’t we get enough sleep?
Sleep disturbance affects both physical and mental health. First of all, they cause disturbance of the rhythm. The most frequently recurring sleep disorders include trouble falling asleep, daytime sleepiness, intermittent sleep, and sudden waking due to recurring nightmares or sleep paralysis.
The most common causes of sleep disorders are stress and problems at work or personal life. They can also be affected by taking certain medications or by a body malfunction. In this case, it is worth checking the level of the TSH hormone, because one of the first signs of problems with the functioning of the thyroid gland is sleep disturbance. Conversely, waking up frequently to urinate may be a clue to visit a urologist.
Why is mouth breathing dangerous to health?
In addition to the factors just mentioned, the way we breathe may also have a problem with sleep. When breathing through the nose, we draw in less air than when breathing through the mouth, which increases the negative pressure in the upper respiratory tract. This leads to their drying out and the risk of developing an infection. Mouth breathing is one of the most common causes of snoring and sleep apnea.
In addition, we wake up more often to moisturize a dry throat. Breathing through the mouth while sleeping, after waking up, we will feel a dry throat or a metallic taste in the mouth (caused by exhaling nitric oxide and carbon dioxide found in the paranasal sinuses). We may also get short of breath or a stuffy nose.
Try lemon balm syrup, which reduces irritability and mental tension. You can take three teaspoons at a time before going to bed.
In addition to affecting the quality of sleep, mouth breathing is one of the causes of malocclusion or visible changes in the structure of the face and skull in children.
Covering the mouth with a plaster at night – a hit or a putty?
To unlearn mouth breathing while sleeping, we need to pay attention to how we sleep. When we sleep on our back, we need a lot more air than we need on our side. Besides, if the room is too hot or the duvet is too thick, we will automatically breathe through our mouths. To prevent this, we can not only change the bedding or ventilate the room, but also … cover our mouth with a plaster.
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This home method is worth testing first by watching a series or working at the computer. We will find out if we are able to breathe through the nose for more than a minute. We can gradually extend the time spent with the plaster on our lips. If it does not bother us, we can try to use this method at night. Put the patch along the lips so that it is difficult to pull the lips apart.
Attention! Covering the lips at night is not recommended for people who have health problems, especially sleep apnea, allergies, sinus problems or a stuffy nose. The patch will prevent the body from getting enough oxygen. Doctors warn that there is also a risk of choking and even suffocation.
If you suffer from sleep problems, talk to your GP first. Do not use the plaster method on your own.