Airway health is very important for deciding our longevity.
What is Airway?
Passage right from the nose up to the bronchioles. It is divided into two parts -UPPER AIRWAY AND LOWER AIRWAY. UPPER AIRWAY is from the nostrils to the larynx (voice box), LOWER AIRWAY is from the TRACHEA (WIND PIPE) to the Bronchioles Healthy airway is the key to physiologically efficient breathing. Also amount of energy spent to breath is least.
Things which add on to the risk assessment of the AIRWAY HEALTH
- Crowded teeth
- Large tonsil/adenoids
- Recessive chin
- Large tongue
- Tongue tie
- Short neck
- Poor head posture
- Digestive issues
- Restless sleep
MANIFESTATIONS BECAUSE OF UNHEALTHY AIRWAY
- Loud breathing
- Snoring
- Daytime fatigue
- HEADACHES
- FREQUENT EPISODES OF COLD/SORE THROAT
- Acid Reflux
- MEMORY LOSS etc.
In Long term it manifests as
- DM TYPE 2
- OBESITY
- HIGH BP
PRACTICES FOR KEEPING THE AIRWAY HEALTHY
- NASAL breathing -Deep nasal breathing with awareness is very important.
- CHEWING -Avoiding processed foods and eating fibrous food with focus on chewing. Better chewing effort leads to maintain the oral arches which support the nasal passages.
- KAPALBHATI – Its basically forceful exhalation with passive inhalation, leading to stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, which causes Bronchodilatation.
- DEEP DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING -Breathing in which Diaphragm muscle is mainly involved. This keeps the whole Airway -upper and lower ones, both patent and healthy.
- MUKH DHAUT
I – It an important yogic breathing technique where inhalation is done through the nose but exhalation is forceful and through the mouth. - Placing the TIP OF THE TONGUE behind the upper teeth, keeping the lips sealed and breathing nasally. With practice one can make the whole tongue touch the roof of the mouth and keep breathing nasally.
