Educational Resources

Overcoming Menopausal Challenges: The Power of Breathing and Sleep Techniques

Hot flashes and night sweats, or vasomotor instability symptoms, are prevalent and often disruptive experiences for women going through menopause. These symptoms stem from the constriction or dilation of blood vessels, and can considerably hamper quality of life. The hypothalamus, responsible for body temperature regulation, is stimulated by estrogen – a sex hormone predominantly produced …

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How Breastfeeding Shapes Your Child’s Facial and Cranial Growth: A Myofunctional Therapy Perspective

HappyMyo / By Julia

Introduction Breastfeeding, a fundamentally beneficial practice, confers myriad benefits for infants, extending well beyond mere nutrition. An often unheralded aspect of breastfeeding is its instrumental role in promoting optimal craniofacial development in children. This essay delves into the profound significance of breastfeeding in the healthy growth and development of the facial and cranial structures, underscoring …

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Mouth Breathing: Mechanics and more

HappyMyo / By Julia

Many of us are unaware that there are proper and improper ways to breathe. Humans are naturally nose breathers. Nasal breathing performs at least 30 functions for our body, including providing a sense of smell and preparing air before it enters the lungs. Breathing through the nose warms, humidifies, and filters the incoming air. It …

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Teens and Sleep

HappyMyo / By Julia

I found myself inspired on a recent subway ride to Manhattan. There were several young adults on their way to school, bobbing their heads in unison with the movements of the subway car while appearing deeply asleep. I was reminded of a statistic I read recently, that studies show that approximately 80% of teens are …

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Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Primer

HappyMyo / By Julia

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a disorder characterized by repetitive upper airway (pharyngeal) collapse during sleep. When you have sleep apnea, the flow of air into your lungs is interrupted despite your best efforts to breathe, which is associated with blood oxygen saturation reduction. This happens because the airway becomes narrow or blocked. During sleep, …

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Myofunctional Therapy: An Addendum

HappyMyo / By Julia

In recent years, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) started to emerge and has slowly become mainstream. Although the concept is not new, we are only now seeing research papers and an increased awareness of the importance of the airway, mouth and tongue as they pertain to overall health. OMT is a professional discipline that evaluates and …

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The Eyes Are the Communicator of More than the Soul

HappyMyo / By Julia

What do our eyes say about our faces? Since the start of the pandemic, masks have become a part of our lives. They cover half of our faces, making the eyes the focus of most of the attention given to us during conversations. What do the eyes tell us about the face? On my subway …

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Thumb Sucking: A Common Bad Habit

HappyMyo / By Julia

Thumb/finger sucking is a very common trait amongst young children. Ultrasound scans reveal that thumb sucking starts in the womb 15 weeks after conception. As a child develops the habit, it becomes associated with self-soothing behavior. Since thumb sucking is not a purely instinctive action, it might last longer in some kids than others. Although …

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