Nasal Breathing

THE IMPORTANCE OF NASAL BREATHING – AND HOW IT CAN BE IMPROVED

Nasal breathing plays a central role in our health and well-being. Unlike mouth breathing, it fulfills several important functions:

• Filtration: Tiny hairs and mucous membranes in the nose filter dust, pollen, and pathogens from the air.
• Moisturizing and warming: Inhaled air is moistened and warmed to body temperature – protecting the lower airways.
• Sense of smell: Only nasal breathing allows the sense of smell to function properly – an important part of everyday life and quality of life.
  Optimal breathing dynamics: Nasal breathing has positive effects on breathing rhythm, sleep quality, and oxygen supply throughout the body.

If nasal breathing is impaired – for example, due to a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, chronic inflammation, allergies, or polyps – this can cause numerous problems: nasal congestion, headaches, sleep problems, snoring, or increased susceptibility to infections. Especially at night, mouth breathing becomes more common. In supine position, the tongue may fall back and block the airway – leading not only to unpleasant noises but also oxygen deficiency, stress, and, in the long term, higher risks of hypertension, heart attack, or diabetes.

What can help?
Depending on the cause, different treatment options are available:

• Medication (e.g., decongestant sprays for short-term use, cortisone sprays, anti-allergic agents)
• Allergy treatment (e.g., desensitization for pollen or dust mite allergies)
• Nasal rinses and inhalations for mucous membrane care
• Surgical measures (e.g., septoplasty, turbinate reduction – also possible with laser treatment under local anesthesia – or polyp removal)

The goal of every treatment is to restore free nasal breathing – and thereby sustainably improve quality of life.

In our practice, we are happy to provide personalized advice and clarify which therapy makes sense in your case.

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