Face Masks and Breathing

[Olgry1]

Apparently the main difference between people who struggle to breathe with masks and people who do not is whether they breathe primarily through their noses or their mouths. People who breathe through their mouths tend to have a harder time wearing a mask. (Not that it isn’t possible to breathe, but it feels more constricted.) I’ve been paying closer attention to my breathing the last few days. Even when I exercise, I tend to be a nose breather.

This brief article summarizes some good information: https://www.sinusandnasalspecialists.com...breathing/

And this article is useful for helping children adjust to wearing a mask. It is also helpful for adults: https://www.childrensmn.org/2020/07/15/b...aring-mask
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Thanks for the information Darrell.

I've had a difficult time breathing with a mask on even though the oxygen tubing is supplying the appropriate amount of oxygen to my nose. In the past I would inhaled through my nose and exhaled through my mouth.

The past few days when wearing a mask I have focused on inhaling and then exhaling through my nose. That simple change has made breathing with a mask on significantly easier for me. I purposely tried two different styles of masks and found the results were the same.