Jimmy Fallon plans to tape his mouth shut for a better night's sleep
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- Jimmy Fallon said he is prioritizing his health as he approaches his 50th birthday.
- Fallon said he plans to tape his mouth when he sleeps to force himself to breathe through his nose.
- While nose breathing can benefit sleep, experts have cautioned against mouth taping.
As Jimmy Fallon approaches his 50th birthday, he has no interest in throwing a big party. Instead, he'd rather have a good night's sleep.
"I've been taking better care of myself. I'm reading a lot about breathing more through my nose. I swear! It's much better for you," he said in an interview with Parents published on Monday.
"I guess people that talk a lot breathe through their mouths," said Fallon, who has hosted "The Tonight Show" for a decade. He added that he was reading a book on taping his mouth shut to force himself to breathe through his nose — in hopes of getting a better night's sleep.
"I have to do this under supervision," he said, adding, "So, I'm going to have security guards next to my bed and try this — I'm not kidding!"
In June, Fallon talked about sleep and breathing with Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist at Stanford University and the host of the "Huberman Lab" podcast. "If I could invest money, I would invest in breathing," Fallon told Huberman on "The Tonight Show."
Studies have found that nose breathing can indeed benefit health. A 2023 research published in the American Journal of Physiology found that nose breathing can lower blood pressure and reduce risk factors for heart disease. In addition, a study from the University of Goteborg found that nasal breathing can decrease snoring and alleviate sleep apnea.
On TikTok, users have turned to mouth tapes to seal their mouths shut to promote nose breathing. At the time of writing, there are more than 11,200 posts under the hashtag #mouthtape. Users who have tried mouth taping said it leads to deeper sleep, better oral hygiene, and reduced snoring.
However, no conclusive research proves these purported benefits of mouth taping, and experts have cautioned against the trend.
There are other ways to get a good night's sleep
The benefits of getting a good night's sleep have been emphasized time and again. Good quality sleep has been linked to longevity, reduced risk of heart disease, and better mental well-being.
But getting there takes effort. Dr. Mathias Basner, a sleep researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, previously told Business Insider that maintaining an established mundane nighttime routine can help one wind down for bed. The routine can include brushing one's teeth or putting away the dishes, and it should not be too stimulating, Basner added.
Another option for better sleep is to journal before bed. Doing so can help to release anxious thoughts, Dr. Meena Khan, a neurologist and sleep expert at Ohio State University, said.
"Just sit down and write down a list of things that are bothering you, a list of things you have to do, so you're going through it before bed rather than processing it in bed," she said.
Additionally, breathing exercises before bed can help you sleep better. In 2020, BI reported on three breathing exercises that can promote better sleep: diaphragmatic breathing, body scan, and a 4-7-8 breathing method.
A representative for Fallon didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, sent outside business hours.