Chronic congestion is often a symptom of mouth breathing. As humans, we were not designed to breathe through our mouths. Except in “emergency” situations in which we are able to get enough oxygen through our nose, like having a cold or certain aerobic exercise situations.

When we mouth breath, we expel too much CO2 (carbon dioxide), and this tells the brain that we are hyperventilating. In response, the goblet cells in the nose secrete more mucus trying to “block” so much CO2 from being released (because our brain still assumes we are nasal breathing). More mucus in the nose leads to more congestios, which leads to more nasal breathing. This is knows as the “Chronic Congestion Cycle”.

Myofunctional therapy aids in reestablishing nasal breathing and allows the disruption of this cycle.