Williamsburg Sun

Breathing is an autonomic body function that everyone does without thinking about.

There’s evidence to support the idea that better breathing leads to better health, but when you are suffering from a cold, chronic sinusitis or nasal inflammation, breathing may be all you can think about.

Data from the Frontiers of Neuroscience journal shows that slow breathing techniques can have a major effect on stress, anxiety and depression.

“I've witnessed that when patients are not suffering from their chronic sinusitis symptoms, their cognitive ability has improved," Dr. John Ditto of Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Williamsburg Sun. "You can tell when they come into the office that there's a brightness to their demeanor. Some of them even told me that they're exercising more. And their well-being is just improved. You can see that when they return to the office.” 

Another interesting finding has been in the area of sleep, according to WebMD. Certain breathing exercises may help you fall asleep and sleep more deeply. Known as the 4-7-8 technique, this is based on the centuries-old breathing technique called pranayama, where you take a series of deep breaths with your tongue pressed to your teeth.

According to Healthline, taking a more proactive and intuitive role in breathing can be beneficial to overall health and help increase endurance. But what should you do when inflammation of the sinuses prevents you from breathing normally? You don't have to just live with it. It's time to see an ear, nose and throat specialist when nasal inflammation, sinus infections or allergies impact your daily life and your ability to breathe.

We encourage our readers to learn more about their sinuses by taking this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz