Profe Claudio Nieto: Are you breathing correctly?

• Profe Claudio Nieto reveals how important breathing is for your body.
• The relationship between the mouth and breathing is key to maintaining a healthy system.
• The mouth contains an enormous number of bacteria.

Did you know that the way you breathe can have a significant impact on your overall health? The nose is designed for breathing, while the mouth is primarily used for eating.

Although in exceptional situations, such as intense exercise, the mouth can help, it should not be the main route for breathing. Why do we say this?

Firstly, it is essential to understand that the mouth is the only part of the body that is part of two crucial defense systems: the digestive system and the respiratory system.

This means that the oral microbiota has a direct role in the digestive microbiota and, surprisingly, in the pulmonary microbiota.

Respiratory System and Mouth

What is even more interesting is that these microbiotas do not operate independently, but are interconnected.

Therefore, a problem in one, such as the mouth, can negatively affect other parts of the body, such as the small intestine, for example.

However, not all bacteria are harmful; in fact, we need a healthy bacterial diversity to defend ourselves and stay protected.

In the mouth, there are more than 700 species of bacteria, along with fungi, viruses, and protozoa.

Teamwork

When these bacterial communities are kept in balance, this is what we call «symbiosis,» and they become essential elements for our metabolism.

They live in us, feed on us, but also provide mutual benefits.

However, if these bacteria start to have problems and become unbalanced, a «dysbiosis» is created, and we lose that beneficial balance, leading to health problems.

In other words, an altered oral microbiota can have negative consequences.

Breathing Correctly

What maintains symbiosis and benefits oral bacteria? Keeping the mouth closed and allowing saliva to regulate function.

And what causes dysbiosis and unbalances the oral microbiota? Breathing through the mouth, which dries it out and alters its pH, among other effects.

Once this problem is established in the mouth, it is inevitable that pathogenic bacteria arrive and alter the respiratory or digestive barrier, which favors the entry of toxic substances, leading to low-grade inflammation.

When these altered bacteria reach the lungs, they can lead to problems such as asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), sleep apnea, and others.

The Impact of Breathing

When they affect the digestive system, they can cause intestinal dysbiosis, leaky gut, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and more.

Additionally, some studies suggest that these bacteria might have an impact on the blood-brain barrier.

This could be related to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and even cancer, although the latter is still under investigation.

Therefore, the next time you wonder if you are breathing correctly, remember the importance of nasal breathing and how it can influence your overall health. Profe Claudio Nieto bids you farewell for now and thanks you for your attention. See you next time!»