It should be remembered, also, that so far as possible, all inhalation
of air should be through the nose. This is for two very important
reasons.
First, the fine hairs lining the nasal passages act as a sieve through
which the inspired air is strained.
Further than this the lower turbinated bodies in the nose, and the
lower half of the middle turbinates are covered with tiny cells
(ciliated tissue) protruding from the membrane covering of the
turbinates.
These cells catch and hold any particles of dust or other matter that
may have slipped through the hair screen of the nostrils. Thus dust,
germs and other harmful material are removed from the air currents, and
prevented from reaching the lung cells.
The next most important reason is that the chambers of the nose, with
their wonderfully rich blood supply, act as temperature regulators.
If you breathe air at zero temperature through the nose it is actually
warmed to body temperature before it passes into the bronchial tubes.
If you were to breathe desert air, or the air of a blast furnace heated
to 130 degrees--this superheated air would be cooled approximately to
body temperature before it was passed into the lung cells.
If there is a tendency to breathe through the mouth, this will be
manifested most decidedly at night, when you are asleep, and the
muscles are relaxed.
If you find that you are in the habit of sleeping with the mouth
open--awakening in the morning with a dry, harsh throat, it might be
well to adopt the device which Dr. William H. Fitzgerald introduced to
the medical profession almost 20 years ago.
This consists merely in applying a small piece of surgeon’s adhesive
plaster over the closed lips, keeping them closed during all the hours
of the night.
The court-plaster can be applied lengthwise over the lips; or it can
be pasted across the lips, holding them firmly in the closed position.
Many find the latter method the most practical.
The more fresh air you can get in your home, your office or school or
workshop, or wherever you may have to spend your day time--the better
off you’ll be.