In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Roger Price, a world-renowned expert in airway and breathing science. Dr. Price, with decades of experience in pharmacy, physiology, nutrition, and applied breathing sciences, challenges conventional approaches to health and medicine. The conversation dives deep into the science of breathing, the pitfalls of modern medicine, and the critical role of prevention and early intervention, especially in children.
Key Topics & Highlights:
- The Problem with Modern Medicine:
- Western medicine’s reactive, disease-management focus vs. true health promotion.
- The concept of “normal” being confused with “commonplace” dysfunction.
- The financial and systemic incentives that perpetuate treatment over prevention.
- Breathing Science Demystified:
- The importance of functional breathing and why most people (including clinicians) misunderstand it.
- The critical role of carbon dioxide (CO2) in maintaining health—contrary to popular belief, CO2 is not just a waste gas but essential for oxygen delivery and pH balance.
- Analogies: The “swimming pool” (body systems) and “train station” (oxygen transport) to explain how breathing impacts overall health.
- Consequences of Dysfunctional Breathing:
- Over-breathing and mouth breathing lead to chronic health issues, poor sleep, and even behavioral and developmental problems in children.
- The link between breathing patterns, epigenetics, and malocclusion (improper jaw/teeth development).
- Prevention & Early Intervention:
- The need for education among parents, teachers, and healthcare providers to spot early signs of dysfunction.
- Dr. Price’s work with international programs (e.g., in Romania) to assess and improve children’s functional health from kindergarten age.
- The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and breaking down medical silos.
- Breathing Exercises & Training:
- Why popular methods (Wim Hof, Buteyko, yoga breathing) may not address root causes.
- Dr. Price’s philosophy: You can’t “train” a reflex—true change comes from removing compensations and letting the body breathe naturally.
- Introduction of a free app developed by Dr. Price and his sons to help users build better breathing habits in just 26 minutes a day.
Actionable Takeaways:
- Rethink what “normal” means in health—commonplace dysfunction is not inevitable.
- Prioritize nasal breathing and be mindful of mouth breathing, especially in children.
- Prevention and early intervention are key; look for early signs of dysfunction.
- Self-care is not selfish—improving your own health benefits those around you.
- Explore Dr. Price’s free breathing app and stay tuned for his upcoming book and wearable device.
Resources & Links:
- IOPE Charity: iope.org – Learn more about Dr. Price’s global health initiatives and how to support them.
- Contact Dr. Mike: Dr.mike@theorthocoach.com
- Join the DOC Community: Find more content and connect with like-minded professionals on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BMzqwsZMo/
- The Ortho Coach: theorthocoach.com – Access CE courses and coaching.
Quotable Moments:
- “Dysfunction is the new function, abnormal is the new normal.”
- “The chemical that keeps your swimming pool from going green is carbon dioxide.”
- “You cannot train a reflex. You have to let your body breathe you.”
- “Prevention doesn’t make money, but it saves billions.”
Thank you for listening!
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What is The DOC Podcast?
The DOC Podcast brings you unique educational content taught by Dr. Mike DeLuke, a Board Certified Orthodontist with over 20 years of clinical and academic experience. Dr. DeLuke built his orthodontic practice from scratch in the early 2000s and grew it into a multimillion-dollar enterprise in less than 10 years. He was able to retire from private practice at the age of 46 years old, and now devotes his energy to teaching his colleagues how to succeed both personally and professionally.
Dr. DeLuke has served as a faculty member at numerous hospitals and orthodontic residency programs around the country, including as the cleft craniofacial orthodontist at Albany Medical Center in New York, and as a clinical professor at The University of Connecticut in the Department of Orthodontics. He is presently an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University in the Department of Orthodontics.
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