James Nestor, author of Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, joins the podcast to discuss the harmful effects of mouth-breathing on our health. He shares nasal breathing exercises to help improve snoring, anxiety, and overall wellness. The episode explores the impacts of snoring on relationships and health, as well as techniques to transform breathing and reduce snoring.
Read more
AI Summary
Highlights
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Mouth breathing can be harmful to our health and addressing it can improve snoring, anxiety, and overall wellness.
Nasal breathing exercises, mouth exercises, and using nasal strips or mouth retainers can help improve breathing and reduce snoring.
Deep dives
The Impact of Snoring on Relationships and Health
Snoring can cause significant problems in relationships, leading to sleep divorce or even divorce. Andrew from Los Angeles shares his experience of snoring loudly, which affected his relationship with his wife and even caused his cats to avoid sleeping in the same room.
Understanding the Science of Breathing
Author James Nestor, in his book 'Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art,' explores the importance of breathing and its impact on our health. He highlights that breathing affects energy levels and that we have overlooked its importance. Nestor explains that about half of adults snore and that breathing properly can significantly improve our overall health.
Practical Solutions for Snoring
James Nestor suggests various techniques to improve breathing and reduce snoring, such as nasal breathing exercises and using a nasal strip or a mouth retainer to keep the airway open during sleep. He also recommends mouth exercises like chewing tough foods and expanding the upper palate. Incorporating these techniques can lead to better breathing and a reduction in snoring.
Andrew snores so badly that his cats won’t sleep in the same room as him. He’s desperate to sleep better at night, and breathe more easily during the day. On this episode of How To!, we bring on James Nestor, author of Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, to share the history of why we breathe the way we do. Turns out being a “mouth-breather” is more than just an insult, it’s harmful to our health. James gives Andrew some nasal breathing exercises to improve his snoring, anxiety, and overall wellness.
If you liked this episode, check out “How To Sleep.”
Do you have a problem you can’t get out of your head? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Derek John, Rachael Allen, and Rosemary Belson.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.