Imagine if you could improve your health simply by breathing. According to one Australian personal trainer, you actually can.
Brandon Hasick, from Sydney, has recently revealed how taping his mouth to control how he breathes while he sleeps completely transformed his health.
The PT says he was initially a 'mouth breather' - someone who would breathe out of their mouth instead of their nose.
However, following a trip to a retreat, Hasick has started to self-discipline himself and now puts tape over his mouth to sleep in order to make sure he's breathing solely through his nose.
Advert
He says now he's sleeping better and his nasal cavities are clearer than ever.
Writing on his Instagram, Hasick said: "I'm a mouth breather (or was).
"Until I went on Will Grant's retreat, I never paid much attention to the way I breathed."
He continued: "I have done Wim Hof and other conscious breathing techniques, but have never really paid attention to the other 23 hours and 45 minutes of my day.
Advert
"Turns out, I breathe through my mouth."
Hasick complained he previously always used to wake up dehydrated, with dry skin and a runny nose.
On the retreat with Grant, he was told to tape up his mouth before he went to bed one night.
Although there was an initial panic for 90 seconds, the change from mouth breather to nose breather began overnight.
Advert
Hasick enthused: "It turns out I had an epic sleep and woke up without having to skull a litre of water.
"Even better, my nose was clear!"
Since then he has been taping up his mouth every night and has been enjoying great sleep as well as much 'more moisturised' skin.
He added: "I'm sure it will take me a while to unconsciously breathe through my nose 24/7 given that I've been in this motor pattern for so many years, however, during sleep is a solid eight hours of the day in the right direction."
Advert
According to Healthline, nose breathing is considered to be far healthier than mouth breathing, because it's more natural and a more effective use of the air your body uses.
Your nose filters out foreign particles which means that you're breathing in is purer oxygen, in contrast to your mouth which can't filter anything nasty that might've been picked up.
Ultimately, it allows your nasal cavities to increase oxygen intake and circulation which in turn slows down breathing, improves your lung volume and helps your diaphragm to work properly.
It can also lower the risk of allergies and hay fever, reduce the risk of coughing and aid your immune system.
Advert
However, there are a few risks to taping your mouth while you sleep, such as skin irritation around the lips and mouth, insomnia and sleep disruptions.
In fact, speaking to the BBC about a similar case, ENT surgeon and sleep specialist Dr Kathleen Yaremchuk explained: "I understand why it's preferential to breathe through your nose, but most people don't open their mouth unless they're having trouble breathing through their nose."
She also warned that taping your mouth could be dangerous. She said: "If you were to get sick and you had to vomit, you wouldn't be able to."
This could, in the worst case scenario, lead someone to choke.
So it sounds like the jury's out, and you should probably check with your own doctor before trying it out for yourself.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@bodybybrando