Trying to nose breathe using a full face mask

busman317 · Post by **busman317** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:49 pm

Just curious if anyone who has a full face mask has tried to breathe through their nose. If so, I wonder if the AHI results are the same for both nose and mouth breathing.

The reason I ask is that I have recently added a Fisher-Paykel Flexifit mask that comfortably fits under the chin that seems to at times keep my mouth shut and I am comfortably accepting the pressure through this smaller ...opening (although by the next morning I know that my mouth ends up winning). I am able to breathe through my nose but I am suspicious if I am getting adequate pressure. I have an APAP so I would think that all would be self adjusting. Like I said ...just curious.

Should a mouth breather strive to be a nose breather. If one can do both are they a bi... well, nevermind on that.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

Tim

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:04 pm

If your FF mask is sealing well, and the pressure that you are at is adequate to keep your airway open when you are not leaking pressure through your open mouth, you have a patent circuit between your lungs and the flow generator. Whether you breath through your nose, mouth or a combination of both, the pressure should keep your airway open.

So, if you are inhaling through your nose, but your mouth is open, your airway should still be splinted open because the pressure in the mask pushing into your open mouth is the same as the pressure pushing out of your mouth.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 9:39 pm

it shouldn't matter where you breathe mouth or nose, a FF mask is for when you are in REM sleep and cannot control the mouth breathing.

When I go to sleep wearing a FF mask, I breathe through my nose and the mask seems to encourage that. It also seems to help clear up any nasal congestion.

ColoZZZ · Post by **ColoZZZ** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 12:11 am

I never, to my knowledge, breathe through my mouth while wearing my FF mask.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 8:48 am

Humans are designed to breath through their noses,, breathing through the mouth works, but it's harder for your body (Lungs) to maintain the best mosture level and temp, breathing through your mouth.

But for us that can't nose breath well, the mouth is a second chance. Jim

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:20 am

Hello Jim & Tim,

How did you like the snow?
We got 12" in Nobletucky.

With the Hybrid, I go to sleep breathing through my nose. On some
mornings I know, because of dry mouth, that I switched to mouth breathing
during the night. On other mornings I'm pretty sure I kept my moth closed
all night. I think it's jus a congestion thing..

busman317 · Post by **busman317** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:07 am

Hey, just moved from there to Fishers. Got about the same amount of snow...well except a heck of a lot more once the plows came through at the end of our drive.

FLMike · Post by **FLMike** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 11:12 am

I too use a full face. I find that I can inhale through my nose, but have trouble exhaling susficiently through the nose. I feel like I can not force the pressure enough to get a good exhalation (pressure at 16).

busman317 · Post by **busman317** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 12:36 pm

Well, I will see how the nose breathing goes now knowing that I shouldn't get any worse results. Probably will help out with dry mouth. Seems like most of the time I am congested in the nose area. We shall see!

Since I do have a card reader and the software I will be able to track!

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