Do you often find yourself tossing and turning at night, struggling to get a good night’s sleep? If so, airway hydration may be to blame. When your airways are dehydrated, it can be difficult to fall and stay asleep. In this blog post, we will discuss the facts about airway hygiene and hydration. How you can improve your sleep quality by keeping your airways hydrated.
Every night when you lay down to sleep, you breathe through your nose throughout the night. This means that you use only the nose breathing. When a nasal obstruction prevents air from reaching the lungs, mouth breathing takes over, and sleep quality declines.
How do you observe this occurrence? Your mouth may get dry, and your oxygen saturation levels may decrease. All of these factors have the same result: a sleepless night.
The natural solution: our bodies
Over the course of human evolution, our bodies have developed an ingenious technique for us to sleep well: the capacity of our upper airways to clean themselves. Unsurprisingly, this also improves our breathing. Because when we breathe properly, we sleep soundly!
“Breathing well” refers to maintaining clean and moist air. Our airways collect airborne particles on mucus and transport this mucus to the mouth. After that, you swallow the pollutants before entering the lungs. In order for this to occur effectively, our upper airways must remain moist!
Let’s simplify airway hydration
Imagine the mucus in our upper airways as a sticky trap designed to capture and filter as many airborne particles as possible. We must ensure the cleaning of lungs and mucus should not be there! Mucus requires sufficient water to float above the cilia (microscopic hair-like structures) that propel it toward the mouth and away from the lungs.
When our airways dehydrate, we feel it.
If the airways are dehydrated, mucus ceases to move and settles directly on the cells of the airways, preventing the cilia from moving. As a result of the accumulation of airborne particles, the cells become stressed and irritated. This results in the production of additional mucus and a clogged nose, which impairs our sleep.
In the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine study, they found out, for instance, that the more particulate pollution in the air, the poorer our sleep, and the higher the incidence of sleep apnea, when our bedroom is dry. However, there is no association between air pollution and humidity! Why? When our airways are moist, they are able to keep the air clean and aid in sleep.
What happens when the airways aren’t hydrated?
In addition to old age, a high BMI, infection, air-conditioned rooms, air travel, and cold weather, there are other circumstances that cause dehydration. When our airways become dehydrated, not only do they become less effective at cleaning, but they also produce more mucus and cause greater congestion (this is why our nose gets congested when we breathe in extremely cold, dry air).
Hydrated and clean airways with FEND
FEND hydrates your nose, larynx, and trachea and maintains your upper airways moistened for up to six hours, even if you are dehydrated or in a particularly dry environment. Take two deep breaths of the hydrating mist immediately prior to retiring for the evening. Keep it next to your bed and use it if you awaken during the night in need of additional airway hydration. Hydrate in order to breathe easily during sleep and to sleep well.
How important is airway hydration for athletes and those who are active?
Airway hydration is especially important for athletes and other active individuals. When you are active, you breathe more deeply and more quickly than when you are at rest. This increases the amount of water vapor that you lose through your breath. If your airways are not properly hydrated, it can lead to difficulty breathing, increased fatigue, and reduced performance.
To ensure that your airways are properly hydrated, it is important to drink plenty of fluids and to use a humidifier. A humidifier adds moisture to the air, which can help to keep your airways hydrated.
When used correctly, a humidifier can be a safe and effective way to improve airway hydration. However, it is important to use a humidifier that is clean and free of mold and bacteria. Additionally, you should avoid using a humidifier if you have asthma or other respiratory conditions.
What are the risks of not hydrating your airway properly?
If you do not properly hydrate your airway, it can lead to a number of health problems. For example, dehydration can cause difficulty breathing, increased snoring, and wakefulness during the night. Additionally, dehydration can exacerbate respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. In severe cases, it can even lead to pneumonia.
To avoid these risks, it is important to drink plenty of fluids and to use a humidifier. By keeping your airways hydrated, you can improve your sleep quality and breathe easier.
Are there any foods or drinks that can help with airway hydration?
There are a few foods and drinks that can help to improve airway hydration. For example, water is essential for keeping your body hydrated. Additionally, fruits and vegetables contain high levels of water and can help to keep your airways moist. Finally, honey has natural antibacterial properties and can help to fight off infection.
How can you tell if you’re dehydrated and need to drink more fluids?
There are a few signs that you may be dehydrated and need to drink more fluids. For example, you may feel thirsty, dizzy, or lightheaded. Additionally, your urine may be dark yellow or orange. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to drink plenty of fluids and to see a doctor if the symptoms persist.
What should you do if you experience symptoms of dehydration, such as fatigue, headache, or nausea?
If you experience any symptoms of dehydration, it is important to drink plenty of fluids and to see a doctor if the symptoms persist. Additionally, you should avoid caffeine and alcohol, as these can dehydrate your body. If you are unable to drink enough fluids, you may need to be hospitalized and receive intravenous fluids.
Conclusion
Airway dehydration is a serious issue, and it’s important to take the necessary precautions to ensure you and your patients are getting the hydration they need. We hope this article has helped shed some light on airway dehydration and how to prevent it. For more information on hydration or any other sleep-related topics, please read our other articles or contact us for help. Thanks for reading!
I'm Tony James and I love gadgets (a little less than I love my WIFE!!) - it's my way of contributing to the gadget world, even though I'm an engineer by profession that from where I earn my bread and butter. I've been an engineer for as long as I can remember and love nothing more than reviewing different products - whether it be smartphones, laptops or even drones! I believe that a product should be able to speak for itself, so I test them exhaustively before writing my reviews. My readers know that when they see a review from me, it's going to be honest, unbiased and worth their time. I also love swimming (especially in the sea) and am a great cook! My two young children keep me busy when I'm not at work or swimming.
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