How Your Sleep Pattern Could Cause Nasal Congestion

Herbal oil company Olbas conducted a survey with Dr Roger Henderson to uncover why some people regularly suffer from nasal congestion. 2,000 people took part in a survey on their sleeping habits and found that people who breathe through their mouths are twice as likely to suffer. 18% said they regularly breathe through their mouths while sleeping and 31% of mouth-breathers said they are congested often. 15% of people who breathe through their noses feel bunged up regularly. "Breathing through your mouth can cause health issues. Mouth breathing can cause less oxygen to be delivered to the body, which can cause disturbed sleep and increased fatigue. It also causes the mouth to dry out, which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease," said Dr Roger Henderson. Mouth breathing can stem from nasal issues, which Dr Henderson said can be somewhat rectified by sleeping higher up with extra pillows. Nose breathing ensures particles of dust and pollen are filtered out and also warms up cold air to body temperature before it reaches the lungs.