Is it a problem for lungs if I breathe through the mouth during heavy exercise and singing?

Question

Hello doctor,

Nose breathing seems to be healthiest as it filters dust and toxins, but when I exercise hard or sing, I have to breathe hard through the mouth. What happens to indoor or outdoor dust when we breathe directly through the mouth? All the dust goes directly inside our bodies without any filter. Is this ever becoming a problem for our lungs? Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. Lung has its defense mechanism. The particles which get inside our body get trapped by: 1. Mucus is produced by lung cells, and this mucus either cough out or swallows. 2. Special cells called macrophages engulf those particles. 3. Special proteins in the lungs attack those particles and neutralize them. But some individuals who are sensitive to dust can produce certain diseases like asthma, bronchitis, and hypersensitive pneumonitis. So do you have any symptoms? Are you a mouth breather? I hope this helps.