Why You Can’t Get a Deep Breath (And What It Has to Do With Your Jaw)
Do you ever feel like you just can’t get a deep breath—no matter how hard you try?
That feeling is called air hunger, and it’s one of the signs of dysfunctional breathing.
What Is Air Hunger?
Air hunger is the feeling that you can’t get enough air — You might find yourself constantly yawning, sighing, or trying to take big breaths just to feel “caught up.”
Many people describe it as a tightness or heaviness in the chest, or a sense that their lungs just won’t expand all the way.
Other Signs to Look Our For:
You might be experiencing dysfunctional breathing if you notice:
Feeling short of breath or unsatisfied after inhaling
Chest pressure or heaviness
Constant yawning or taking big breaths
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Fatigue or poor sleep quality
Sound familiar? You’re not alone — and there’s a reason this happens.
What’s Actually Happening in the Body
When the diaphragm — your primary breathing muscle — isn’t working properly, your body recruits backup muscles in your neck, chest, and shoulders to do the work instead.
This overuse can cause:
Tightness or pain in the neck and shoulders
Jaw tension or TMJ dysfunction
Shallow, inefficient breathing patterns
Increased stress and fatigue
In fact, the diaphragm, neck, and jaw are all connected through a shared network of fascia, muscles and nerves. When one part is out of balance, it affects the others — which is why many people with TMJ issues also experience breathing difficulties or chronic tension in the upper body.
The Good News: You Can Retrain Your Breath
Dysfunctional breathing isn’t a permanent condition. With the right assessment and retraining, you can restore proper diaphragm function and reduce strain throughout your upper body.
At TMJ Chiropractic in Portland, I help patients reconnect to their natural breathing rhythm through gentle, body-based care that integrates fascial release, craniosacral therapy, and breath retraining.
When the diaphragm starts moving the way it’s meant to, the whole body relaxes — including your jaw.
Ready to Feel What a Deep Breath Really Feels Like?
If you’ve been struggling with air hunger, TMJ tension, or chronic neck tightness, it’s time to get to the root cause.
Book a TMJ + Breathing Evaluation and start retraining your system to move and breathe with ease.
👉 Schedule your first visit here
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