Dr. Christian Guilleminault was a physician and researcher in the field of sleep medicine, and considered a founding father of sleep medicine. Credited with coining the phrase obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and developing the apnea hypopnea index (AHI). Dr. Guilleminault had a special interest in restoring nasal breathing both during the day and sleep.
According to the late Dr Christian Guilleminault, “treatment of pediatric obstructive-sleep-apnea (OSA) and sleep-disordered-breathing (SBD) means restoration of continuous nasal breathing during wakefulness and sleep.”
If nasal breathing is not restored, despite short-term improvements after removal of the adenoids or tonsils, continued breathing through the mouth may be associated with abnormal impacts on airway growth.
“In fact restoration of nasal breathing during wake and sleep may be the only valid complete correction of pediatric sleep disordered breathing.”
You can teach your child simple breathing exercises from Patrick McKeown’s online course for children. During the course, Patrick demonstrates each exercise to his daughter. Your child can practice simple exercises alongside Lauren aged 8 years.
Guilleminault et al. Towards Restoration of Continuous Nasal Breathing as the Ultimate Treatment. Goal in Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Enliven: Pediatrics and Neonatal Biology. 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28859912/
Lee SY, Guilleminault C, Chiu HY, Sullivan SS. Mouth breathing, “nasal disuse,” and pediatric sleep-disordered breathing. Sleep Breath. 2015 Dec;19(4):1257-64. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25877805/
