"Sleep is one of the major ways the cardiovascular system resets overnight," states Dr. Yi Cai, MD, an assistant professor and the director of sleep surgery at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. "Poor sleep, whether from short sleep duration, insomnia, sleep apnea or irregular sleep schedules, is associated with a higher risk of high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, stroke, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and cardiovascular death."
"One very important part of blood pressure regulation is the drop in blood pressure that occurs with nightly sleep, often called the nocturnal dip," says Dr. Matthew Scharf, MD, Ph.D., the director of sleep medicine at the Hackensack Meridian Southern Region. "This nightly drop in blood pressure is important for heart health."
Related: Neurologists Warn This Nightly Habit Could Be Secretly Shrinking Your Brain
This Common Sleep Habit Could Be Raising Your Blood Pressure Overnight, According to Doctors
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"Mouth breathing alone is not known to cause chronic high blood pressure," Dr. Cai clarifies. "But persistent mouth breathing can be a sign that someone has a sleep disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea, which can affect blood pressure over time."
Chronic allergies or infectionsCrooked cartilage and bones within the noseSwollen nasal tissue (called turbinates) Growths such as nasal polypsMasses (rarely)
Dr. Alex Dimitriu, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine doctor and the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, points out that mouth breathing is not ideal. We're designed to breathe humidified air through our noses. Mouth breathing is a flag and risk factor for high blood pressure.
"The simple truth is that not breathing well causes adrenaline spikes—norepinephrine, to be exact—which raises blood pressure and heart rate," Dr. Dimitriu says. "It's the same thing that would happen if you were being choked. Your body reacts intensely."
It's no wonder research links sleep apnea to hypertension.
That doesn't mean you or your body are enjoying it. "It is still not ideal for getting a good night's sleep, which is exactly what you need when you are sick," Dr. Dimitriu says. "But there aren't major risks to one or two nights of mouth breathing."
The best thing you can do if you know you mouth breathe (perhaps a bed partner told you) is to determine why. Sleep apnea is the most discussed reason and a major concern for cardiovascular disease, but it's not the only cause of mouth-breathing.
Ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctors can order allergy assessments or sleep studies. Sleep medicine specialists can also perform a sleep study. Understanding the signs of sleep apnea can also help you advocate for yourself.
If it's sleep apnea, a CPAP machine can help, or you may need allergy medications (or both).
Can Mouth Taping Fix Mouth Breathing?
"Mouth taping has become very popular online, but the evidence is limited and mixed," Dr. Cai says.
"However, it is not helpful or appropriate for everyone," Dr. Cai points out. "Some people mouth breathe because their nose is blocked or because the mouth is serving as a backup airway during sleep. If you tape the mouth shut in that situation, you may worsen breathing rather than improve it."
"It is unlikely that mouth taping would be curative of significant cases of sleep apnea," Dr. Cai says.
Related: ‘I’m a Cardiologist—This Is the Sleep Position That’s Hardest on Your Heart'
Sources:
Life's Essential 8. American Heart Association.Dr. Yi Cai, MD, an assistant professor and the director of sleep surgery at the Columbia University Irving Medical CenterDr. Matthew Scharf, MD, Ph.D., the director of sleep medicine at the Hackensack Meridian Southern RegionDr. Alex Dimitriu, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine doctor and the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep MedicineObstructive Sleep Apnea and Hypertension: A Review of the Relationship and Pathogenic Association. Cureus.Hence then, the article about this common sleep habit could be raising your blood pressure overnight doctors say was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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