Employee Spotlight Shines on Mahnaz Pishanidar

Posted on March 19, 2026 by Andrew Rubin

This month, we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Mahnaz ( Mickey ) Pishanidar, a Physical Therapist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center. Mahnaz has been employed at Flushing Hospital for 43 years.

Mahnaz grew up in Iran and moved to the United States in 1980. She attended school in Iran and earned her degree in Physical Therapy at Tehran University. She currently lives in Great Neck, Long Island. Mahnaz has two children, one of whom had worked at Flushing Hospital for a year as a resident. She likes pets, especially dogs, but at the current time does not have one.

In her free time, Mahnaz enjoys cooking and baking. Her favorite foods to prepare are Persian and Italian. She also enjoys shopping, especially for shoes. She likes to travel and her favorite country to visit is Italy. Mahnaz likes classical and country music. She values spending time with friends and family and particularly enjoys having sleepovers with her three grandchildren. In the summertime she can be found every day at the swimming pool.

Mahnaz finds working at Flushing Hospital very rewarding. It feels like a second home to her. Her colleagues are wonderful and she enjoys treating her patients, many of whom try to teach her some Spanish. We look forward to Mahnaz working with us for many more years.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

National Drugs and Alcohol Facts Week

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week takes place March 16th- 22nd.

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week’s goal is to dispel myths about drug and alcohol use and to inform teens about the impact and risk of substance abuse as well as addiction.

According to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), two-thirds of U.S. students have tried alcohol by the 12th grade.

The average age at which children typically experiment with alcohol and drugs is 13 years old.

There are five signs of drug abuse among teens. They include:

Psychological changes such as trouble concentrating, memory issues, and random laughter

Changes in behavior, including bad grades, lack of respect for others, and poor eye contact

Suspicious behavior such as hiding drug paraphernalia, missing cash, or valuables

Health issues, including appetite changes, shakiness, excessive headaches, or frequent illness

Poor personal appearance, such as bad hygiene or bloodshot eyes

There is a lot of misinformation around drugs and alcohol. Many myths have been created and spread through our culture, especially among young people. Here are some myths about drugs and alcohol that have been debunked:

Myth #1- Marijuana addiction isn’t real

Although it is impossible to overdose on marijuana, habitual cannabis use can change the way the body works, create a tolerance, and cause withdrawal symptoms after stopping

Myth #2- It is okay to quit drinking alcohol and start smoking marijuana instead

Switching from one addictive behavior to another is common; however, it creates other addictive cycles

Myth #3- Prescription drugs can’t be addictive if prescribed by my doctor

Even doctor-prescribed drugs can have a tolerance built against them, which eventually causes an addiction. Especially painkillers such as opiates or benzodiazepines

Here are more facts about drugs, alcohol, and addiction:

Alcohol is the most abused substance in the U.S., and the third most common cause of death
Alcohol and drugs are involved in approximately 50% of deaths by suicide and are the cause of death of more than 50% of all violent crimes
80% of all domestic violence abuse reports show a relationship to alcohol or drugs

Although National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week is geared toward young people, people of any age are encouraged to participate and educate themselves so that they can make educated choices related to drugs and alcohol.

To learn more about our mental health services or to schedule a virtual appointment, call (718) 670-5316 to speak with our intake coordinator or (718) 670-5562 to reach the clinic.

Can Noroviruses Lead to Digestive Disorders?

Posted on March 14, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Norovirus is the leading cause of illness from contaminated food in the U.S., and approximately 685 million cases are reported globally each year. Of that estimate, over 200 million cases affect children.

Norovirus is a group of viruses that cause severe vomiting and diarrhea. It is very common and highly contagious.

Most norovirus outbreaks occur between November and April in countries above the equator and between April and September in countries below the equator.

A virus in the Caliciviridae family causes norovirus. When the virus enters your body, it causes your stomach and intestines to swell or become inflamed. This is called acute gastroenteritis, which typically presents with norovirus-like symptoms. Symptoms of norovirus include:

Nausea

Watery or loose diarrhea

Vomiting

Stomach pain

Headache

Fever

Body aches

Symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus and last one to three days. However, symptoms of the infection may last longer in the elderly, young children, and those who are immunocompromised.

These groups are especially at risk of longer norovirus infections, as the virus can still be present in their stool, which causes chronic norovirus diarrhea and other severe complications.

Norovirus infection, like other gastrointestinal pathogens, can cause a range of sequelae, a condition that is the consequence of a previous disease or injury, and complications. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, there has been some evidence linking norovirus infections to sequelae, including post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The study analyzed an outbreak of severe gastroenteritis attributed to foodborne human norovirus (HNoV), which showed that the prevalence of IBS was significantly higher in subjects who had experienced acute gastroenteritis than in control subjects.

Another study that followed individuals from a massive outbreak of viral gastroenteritis also suggests that HNoV gastroenteritis can lead to the development of post-infectious IBS in a substantial proportion of patients.

In addition to the two previous studies, another study presented that the risk of dyspepsia, constipation, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was higher among those who had acute gastroenteritis during a confirmed norovirus outbreak. This study suggests that dysmotility, a condition in which the muscles and/or nerves of the digestive system do not work as they should, may result in subsequent infections. It is important to note that these findings have not been confirmed.

The norovirus is extremely difficult to kill as it can’t easily be washed away and can survive temperatures up to 145°F. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing hands vigorously with soap, cleaning any infected areas with diluted bleach, and washing infected clothes with hot water and detergent. The CDC also recommends wearing gloves and throwing them out after cleaning, which adds to your protection.

There are also many precautions you can take to reduce the risk of getting norovirus, including:

Washing fruits and vegetables before eating them

Cooking your food thoroughly (especially seafood or shellfish) or to an appropriate temperature

Avoiding contact with people who are infected with norovirus

Please note that using hand sanitizer doesn’t kill norovirus particles as effectively as washing your hands with soap and water. If you are infected with norovirus, you shouldn’t prepare food or care for others, as you can spread the infection.

If you experience vomiting, diarrhea, or other symptoms of norovirus, schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center as soon as possible by calling (718) 670-5486.

Basilar Invagination

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Basilar invagination is a rare condition that occurs when the top of the spine gets pushed into the base of the skull. This can lead to pinching or pressure on the brainstem, which is the group of nerves connecting the brain to the spinal cord. This condition is painful and can cause various neurological symptoms.

The spine is made of seven vertebrae and is numbered from C1 to C7; this is called the cervical vertebrae. The C1 vertebrae is at the top of the spine, supporting the skull. The C2 vertebrae lies below the C1 and has an upward peg that enters a hole in the C1, which lets the C1 vertebrae pivot on the C2, allowing the head to turn sideways.

If the peg of the C2 vertebra moves too far upward into the C1 vertebra, it can put pressure on the brainstem. The brainstem normally passes from the skull into the spinal canal through an opening at the base of the skull called the foramen magnum.

In basilar invagination, the C2 vertebra moves upward toward this opening. As it pushes into the foramen magnum, the space for the brainstem becomes smaller. This reduced space can lead to compression of the brainstem.

Basilar invagination occurs when a person has problems with the bones in the neck or vertebrae. It can also be caused by platybasia, which is the flattening of the base of the skull. Basilar invagination can be present at birth. However, it can develop later due to illness or injuries resulting from vehicle or bicycle accidents, falls, or accidents during activities such as diving.

Basilar invagination may occur in people with conditions, such as:

Rheumatoid arthritis

Tumors

Paget’s disease

Brittle bone disease

Marfan syndrome

Rickets

The symptoms of basilar invagination can vary based on the pressure on the brainstem, spinal cord, or nerves. Symptoms may become noticeable when a person bends their neck. Symptoms of basilar invagination include:

Headache or pain in the back of the head

Weakness in the neck, arms, and legs

Tingling when bending the neck

Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

Difficulty swallowing or talking due the loss of muscle control caused by nerve damage

Inability to tell the position of body parts without looking

Twitching eye movements or nystagmus

Loss of feeling or sensation in limbs

Dizziness or lightheadedness

Confusion

A person may also feel a shock down their back when they bend their neck forward or may experience paralysis.

If basilar invagination goes untreated, it can cause complications such as hydrocephalus or syringomyelia, which are conditions that occur when the flow of fluid around the brain and spinal cord is blocked and the fluid collects in the brain or spinal cord. What’s more, if the lower brainstem gets compressed, it may result in death.

Basilar invagination is diagnosed when a healthcare provider performs an examination to look for symptoms of the condition as well as discusses a person’s medical history. They will also use tests to check if a person’s spine and nerves are affected. These tests include:

X-rays

CT scan

Myelography

Nerve conduction studies

The treatment for basilar invagination depends on its symptoms and severity of the condition. If a person has basilar invagination that presents without signs of brainstem compression pressure on the spinal cord, a healthcare provider will use:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin to relieve pain or swelling

Neck traction, which involves gently stretching the neck to increase the space between the bones to relieve pressure

A neck collar or brace to support the neck and limit movement

Physical therapy that consists of neck exercises

If a person has signs of brainstem compression and nerve problems, they will need surgery. Surgery can be performed through the nose or mouth and can also be performed at the junction of the head and neck. Healthcare providers aim to use surgery to decompress or relieve the pressure on the brainstem or spinal cord and stabilize the joint in the neck.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms associated with basilar invagination, you can receive treatment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

March is National Nutrition Month

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Flushing Hospital

March has been designated as National Nutrition Month – an annual nutrition, education, and information campaign that focuses on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. In honor of this special observance, Flushing Hospital Medical Center would like to share with our community the important role our Registered Dietitians (RDs) play in helping our patients meet their nutritional goals.

What is a Registered Dietitian?

A Registered Dietitian is a trained nutrition professional who has met the strict educational and experiential standards set forth by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

They can be employed in a variety of areas, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, corporate wellness programs, food service operations, universities, research, or private practice, just to name a few.

RDs advise and counsel others on food and nutrition. They explain nutrition issues to their patients, develop meal plans for them, and measure the effects of those plans.

To become an RD, you must:

Complete a Bachelor’s degree with coursework approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Complete a 1200-hour dietetic internship, which is an accredited, supervised practice program at a health care facility, community program, or a food service corporation
Pass a national registration exam
Complete continuing professional education credits.

At Flushing Hospital, dietitians provide the following services: nutrition assessment, diet instruction, recommendations for enteral and parenteral support, staff in-service, food and drug interactions, and nutrition counseling in the outpatient setting.

Flushing Hospital would like to thank our Registered Dietitians for the very important job they do every day. Their hard work helps our patients and community lead much healthier lifestyles.

To schedule an appointment with a dietitian, please call 718-670-5486

Dumping Syndrome

Posted on March 6, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Dumping syndrome or rapid gastric emptying is a condition that occurs when food and gastric juices move abnormally quickly from the stomach to the small intestine after eating.

Dumping syndrome most commonly occurs after stomach surgery due to it altering the stomach, which can increase the risk of developing the condition. These surgeries are performed mostly to treat obesity, but they can also treat stomach cancer. Dumping syndrome can also happen after esophageal surgery, such as surgery to treat esophageal cancer. Surgeries for other conditions can cause dumping syndrome, including:

Bariatric surgery

Esophagectomy

Gastrectomy

Vagotomy

Fundoplication

Pyloroplasty

Symptoms of dumping syndrome generally start within minutes after eating, especially meals containing high levels of table sugar and fruit sugar. Symptoms include:

Nausea

Vomiting

Feeling bloated or too full after eating

Stomach cramps

Diarrhea

Rapid heart rate

Dizziness or lightheadedness

Flushing

Late dumping syndrome starts one to three hours after eating a meal that is high in sugar. It takes time for symptoms to develop because the body releases large amounts of insulin to absorb the sugars entering the small intestine after eating. This process results in low blood sugar levels. Symptoms of late dumping syndrome can include:

Rapid heart rate

Sweating

Weakness

Dizziness or lightheadedness

Flushing

Some people can have both early and late symptoms.

A healthcare provider can diagnose dumping syndrome by using the following methods:

Discussing medical history and performing a medical evaluation

Testing blood sugar

Performing a gastric emptying test

If a person has early dumping syndrome, the condition is likely to resolve itself on its own within three months. In the interim, dietary changes may help ease symptoms. If dietary changes don’t help, an antidiarrheal medicine will be prescribed and injected under the skin to slow food from emptying into the intestine.

If medication doesn’t work, surgical procedures such as reconstructing the pylorus of a reverse gastric bypass may be recommended.

There are dietary strategies that can help maintain good nutrition and minimize symptoms, including:

Eating smaller meals

Drinking 6-8 cups of fluids per day

Drinking most of your fluids between meals

Lying down for 30 minutes after meals

Changing your diet

Increasing fiber intake

If you are going to drink alcohol, it is important to speak with your healthcare provider before doing so. Drinking alcohol beverages can worsen dumping syndrome symptoms because they can be absorbed quickly and can have high sugar content, which can lead to blood sugar levels rising rapidly and cause a significant insulin spike and then eventually low blood sugar.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms associated with dumping syndrome, you can receive treatment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Dialysis

Posted on March 5, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Dialysis is a treatment for those whose kidneys aren’t functioning properly due to late-stage kidney disease, end-stage kidney disease (EKD), or kidney failure. When a person suffers from these conditions, their kidneys don’t filter blood the way they should. This causes waste such as urea, creatinine, acids, and toxins to build up in their bloodstream. Dialysis does the work your kidneys would do by removing waste products and excess fluids from the blood.

Dialysis is common, as over 2 million people worldwide treat their kidney disease with dialysis or a kidney transplant.

A person may need dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive. Some people undergo dialysis while awaiting a transplant. Kidney failure is fatal without treatment, and if a person has kidney failure, they may survive a few days or weeks without dialysis.

There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Hemodialysis is the most common type of dialysis that uses a machine that:

Removes blood from the body through a vein in the arm

Filters blood through an artificial kidney

Returns clean blood to the body

People can receive hemodialysis at a dialysis center or at home. Most people receive hemodialysis at a dialysis center three times a week for three to four hours, and three to seven times a week, depending on the type of at-home hemodialysis, with sessions lasting between three and eight hours.

Before a person starts hemodialysis, a surgeon will enlarge some of their blood vessels in their arm to make dialysis access easier and to allow blood to flow in and out of their body more quickly.

Peritoneal dialysis uses the inner lining of the abdomen or peritoneum to filter blood. A person adds a dialysis solution called dialysate in their peritoneum that helps the blood vessels in the area to filter their blood. After this process, the person will drain the dialysate in a bag outside of their body. There are two main types of peritoneal dialysis:

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)

Automated peritoneal dialysis (APD)

Before a person begins peritoneal dialysis, a healthcare provider will surgically insert a permanent soft tube called a catheter in their abdomen. They will teach them how to add the dialysate and later drain the solution through the catheter.

Continuous peritoneal dialysis usually lasts 40 minutes, and a person will need three to five sessions each day. Automated peritoneal dialysis may take eight to 12 hours and may need to be done every day.

A healthcare provider can review dialysis options with you and determine which type works best.

If you or a loved one is experiencing kidney problems and would like to learn more about dialysis, you can receive treatment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Medications That Cause Vivid Dreams and Nightmares

Posted on March 4, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

When we take prescription medication, there is always a worry that if they have any side effects, how they would affect our bodies. Certain medications, such as beta blockers and antidepressants, and even supplements like melatonin, can affect our dreams by causing us to have vivid dreams and nightmares.

These unexpected side effects don’t happen to everyone; however, it is helpful to be aware of which medications are most likely to affect your dreams.

Beta blockers are taken to treat high blood pressure and other heart-related conditions. However, they may also block the release of melatonin, which helps the body regulate sleep. When the body produces less melatonin, it may contribute to sleeping problems, including insomnia and nightmares.

Beta blockers are the most common medication associated with disrupting dreaming. According to the National Library of Medicine, one study found that about one-third of people who had nightmares were taking a beta blocker.

Taking a melatonin supplement in the evening may help with nightmares that are caused by beta blockers. It is important to keep in mind that melatonin has its own side effects and can interact with other medications, so it is best to check with your healthcare provider before taking it to make sure that it is safe for you.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used for depression and other mental health conditions. But they can cause sleep changes for some people.

SSRIs raise the levels of serotonin, a chemical that carries messages between nerve cells in the brain and throughout your body. While this improves mood, it can also affect sleep and have a strong effect on dreams. Some SSRIs can make dreams more intense, and one can increase the chance that you will remember your nightmares. Certain SSRIs suppress rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and this changes the body’s normal sleep cycle, which may contribute to nightmares.

If your dreams become a problem while taking an antidepressant, talk with the healthcare provider who prescribed it. They may recommend the addition of another antidepressant that can help improve sleep quality when taken before bed. They may also decide to switch you to a completely different antidepressant altogether.

Antihistamines are commonly used for allergies; however, some first-generation antihistamines can make you sleepy and can cause nightmares.

Some second-generation antihistamines have been reported to cause medication-induced sleep terrors. Second-generation antihistamines are less likely to affect your sleep, but cetirizine may cause more drowsiness than other medications in this class.

If you are experiencing troublesome dreams because of an antihistamine, talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider about a different option, as a different antihistamine may work better for you.

Some medications used as sleep aids to treat insomnia can also cause nightmares.

Z-drugs are common medications that are prescribed for sleep.

This class of medication may have an increased risk of nightmares. Z-drugs may also cause hallucinations and sleepwalking, which you won’t remember after you wake up.

The body naturally produces melatonin to help you sleep. However, melatonin, as an over-the-counter supplement used to treat insomnia or jet lag, can cause nightmares. It isn’t known for sure why melatonin causes nightmares, but studies have reported that taking melatonin can increase dreaming, specifically vivid dreams and nightmares.

There are many ways to stop melatonin nightmares, including lowering your dosage or stopping taking it for a few days to see if the nightmares improve. If your healthcare provider recommended taking melatonin, it is important to speak with them before lowering your dosage. You can also try to improve your sleep hygiene by not using any electronic screens for at least an hour before bed, not having any caffeine at least six hours before bedtime, and having a consistent bedtime.

Some people have reported having vivid or abnormal dreams while taking semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist primarily used for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. It isn’t clear why this happens, or if it is directly related to medication, so it is a good idea to let your healthcare provider know if your dreams become bothersome.

Certain antibiotics and antiviral medications that fight infections may also cause nightmares. This is due to these medications being able to decrease proteins released by the body that help you sleep to better fight off infection; this can result in disturbed sleep and nightmares.

In most cases, you will only be taking antibiotics for a short period of time, so dream-related side effects should dissipate once treatment is finished.

Certain medications that are used to treat dementia may also affect sleep quality, as they can cause REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). RBD can cause intense dreams, and sometimes a person’s body might physically act out the dream while asleep.

It is important to keep in mind that dementia itself can also contribute to trouble sleeping, so your healthcare provider may add another medication to take at night to help if nightmares become a problem.

Several types of medications affect dopamine, a crucial neurotransmitter that plays significant roles in mood regulation, motivation, reward, and many physiological processes in the body. These types of medications can cause vivid dreams or nightmares.

Parkinson’s disease is caused by decreased levels of dopamine in the brain, and medications to treat the condition increase dopamine levels, which can lead to nightmares.

Antipsychotic medications used to treat mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, can also affect dopamine.

Some stimulants that are used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can also cause vivid dreams, most likely because they can increase dopamine levels.

If you have been prescribed any of these medications, and they give you bad dreams, speak with your healthcare provider, as they can help you manage them. They may change your dose or prescribe a different medication in the same class. They may also suggest adding another medication at night to help you sleep more easily.

It isn’t completely understood how certain medications cause nightmares. The medications that can cause nightmares are often known to affect the brain and may change the levels of chemicals such as melatonin, serotonin, or dopamine, or may have a direct effect on your sleep cycle.

Medication-induced nightmares can vary from person to person. Factors such as mental health conditions or other underlying health conditions can also influence your dreams, so medications may not always be to blame.

If you or a loved one is experiencing nightmares or other sleep disturbances, you can receive treatment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

RSV and Asthma

Posted on March 3, 2026 by Xavia Malcolm

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus. It causes cold-like symptoms, but it can lead to more severe illnesses in young children (especially infants 6 months- 12 months), older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

According to the National Institutes of Health, “Infection with RSV at a young age is thought to increase the risk of developing asthma.”

Furthermore, RSV can be particularly concerning for people with asthma; an RSV infection can significantly increase their risk for more severe symptoms or trigger attacks.

If you have asthma, it is crucial to know the symptoms of RSV so that you can manage both illnesses. The symptoms of RSV include:

Trouble breathing
A persistent cough
Sneezing
Sore throat
Runny nose
Congestion
Fever
Wheezing

Managing RSV and asthma may involve preventing RSV, treating an active RSV infection, and controlling asthma. RSV can be prevented through vaccinations. Treatment for an active RSV infection can include supportive care, such as drinking plenty of fluids, getting adequate rest, taking over-the-counter medications, or using saline nasal drops or suction to relieve congestion. Asthma can be controlled by following the asthma action plan recommended by your doctor. Your action plan may include taking an inhaler or other prescribed medications, avoiding environmental triggers, monitoring symptoms, and seeking early treatment as needed.

To speak with a doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center about managing your asthma, please call 718-670-5486.

Mouth Tape

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Snoring is a condition that many people suffer from. They try different methods to try to prevent themselves or their loved ones from snoring.

One method that has become a popular trend on TikTok, which is used as a quick fix to stop snoring, is mouth taping. Mouth taping is the act of taping the mouth shut with medical-grade, skin-safe adhesive tape, so the wearer is forced to breathe through their nose instead of their mouth.

The theory behind mouth taping is that it helps you breathe better through your nose, which is considered healthier than mouth breathing. Breathing through your nose while you sleep has several benefits, as it may help:

Lower your blood pressure

Improve oxygen levels

Trap and filter out allergens found in the air

Humidify and warm the air you breathe

Moisturize and soothe sore throats

Improve bad breath and oral health

Improve snoring

Improve dry mouth

Develop structural improvements to your jawline

However, taping your mouth shut can be more harmful than good, as there are many potential risks and complications, such as:

Difficulty breathing

Redness, irritation, or allergic reactions on your lips and skin

Difficulty falling and staying asleep

Increased anxiety if you don’t like the feeling of having your mouth taped shut or have trouble breathing through your nose

If you have always been a mouth breather, these complications may become increasingly difficult, and you can have a hard time adjusting to mouth tape.

It is recommended never to use mouth tape if you have:

Heart issues

Nasal obstruction

Nasal congestion

Sinus infections

Chronic allergies

Deviated septum

Enlarged tonsils

For individuals who are already struggling with conditions such as nasal obstruction or chronic allergies, having their mouth taped closed forces them to rely on only their nose for air, which can potentially lead to severe respiratory distress, significant drops in oxygen levels, and exacerbation of underlying health issues during sleep.

Unfortunately, there isn’t enough scientific evidence that shows that mouth tape works to stop snoring. The problem is that there are so few studies on mouth tape, and those that exist are focused on very small populations.

According to the National Library of Medicine, a small study showed that 30 people snored less after mouth taping. However, another study of 36 people with asthma showed no signs of change in their condition after mouth taping. What’s more, a study in 2022 revealed that 10 participants struggled with a phenomenon called mouth puffing, where they continued to try mouth breathing even after their mouths had been taped shut.

Despite some people using mouth tape for snoring and sleep apnea, it is ill-advised to do so. Instead, there are many safer methods to use to stop snoring, such as:

Using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), an Inspire device, or an oral appliance if you have sleep apnea

Sleeping on your side instead of your back

Taking decongestants to help relieve congestion

Using nasal strips to improve airflow

If you are having trouble sleeping, you can receive treatment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.