Comfortable nasal breathing is a sign of a healthy breathing pattern. A blocked nose is one of the most common symptoms of dysfunctional breathing. Mouth breathing is a slippery slope and what may start as a symptom of seasonal allergies or a cold can quickly develop into a permanent situation. When mouth breathing is the norm the nasal passages tend to block: a case of use it or lose it.
There are three main contributors to nasal congestion:
- Inflammation
- Mucus
- Constriction of smooth muscle lining the nasal passages
The following exercise helps relax smooth muscle lining the nasal passages and can bring temporary relief from nasal congestion. Try to maintain nasal breathing after doing the exercise.
- Sit on a straight backed chair with an upright posture, shoulders relaxed. Close your mouth if possible and try to breathe gently through your nose during and after the exercise (breathe through pursed lips if your nose is completely blocked).
- Breathe in for two seconds and out for three seconds.
- Hold your breath pinching the nostrils lightly between thumb and forefinger.
- Hold on the out breath for as long as is comfortable and then release your fingers and resume very gentle breathing.
It may help to nod your head a few times. Keep your mouth closed throughout the exercise and do not hold so long that you are forced to gasp air in through your mouth. Gentle nodding helps to increase circulation to the sinuses.
This exercise should help clear the airways to permit nasal breathing for a short period. In stubborn cases or when the blockage is due to a cold, you may have to repeat the exercise a few times.
This exercise is only a quick fix. However, even temporary clearing of the nasal passages indicates that it should be possible to restore comfortable nasal breathing once you have achieved a functional breathing pattern.
We would encourage anyone contemplating surgery for chronic nasal obstruction to attend a private consultation at the Buteyko Breathing Clinic. In our clinical experience, most cases of nasal congestion can be resolved without surgical intervention once a healthy breathing pattern is restored. Please contact us to learn more.
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