Written by Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Updated : July 14, 2016 6:28 PM IST
Do you always breathe through your nose and at the same rate? How can you know whether you are breathing correctly or not? Well, our expert Dr Gyanendra Agrawal, Consultant, Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, Jaypee Hospital, Noida, reveals seven signs that there is something wrong with the way you breathe. The last slide with surprise you!
Nasal flaring: If the nostrils are wide open when you breathe, it is known as nasal flaring. This is commonly seen in infants and young children, which indicates breathing difficulty. This could be due to an underlying respiratory condition such as asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis or croup (barking cough).
Shortness of breath: Breathlessness is a common symptom of breathing trouble. It is not a cause of worry if it passes quickly and you don't experience after a few weeks. If you continue to experience shortness of breath frequently for over a month, then consult your doctor.
Breathing through the mouth: A key sign that you are not breathing properly is when you start breathing through the mouth. This is usually due to nasal congestion. Breathing through the mouth not only leads to dry mouth and tiredness but also alters your heart rate and blood pressure. Consult a doctor if this is a persistent symptom and not due to cough and cold.
Teeth grinding: Have you ever come across someone grinding teeth in the sleep? Although this is often ignored, it could be sign of improper breathing which is often accompanied by tooth grinding. Hence, consult your doctor if this is the case to know the exact cause.
Yawning: We yawn when the brain receives less oxygen supply, which occurs when you are too tired or feeling sleepy. But if you are yawning often, then it might signify shortness of breath due to a respiratory problem or obesity.
Feeling tired or fatigue: When you breathe incorrectly, there are high chances of suffering from excessive tiredness as the organs fail to receive proper supply of oxygen through the blood, which makes you dizzy or tired. Although there might be numerous other causes of tiredness like insomnia, stress or nutritional deficiency.
Tight neck and shoulders: Almost 80% of us take shallow breaths. We breathe through the upper chest and do not take deep breaths. This causes the neck, shoulder and back muscles to tighten to allow the body to breathe properly so that the lungs get enough oxygen while breathing.
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