Health
Viral Hostage Tape sleeping trend gains steam as doctors warn of potential dangers
![Viral Hostage Tape sleeping trend gains steam as doctors warn of potential dangers Viral Hostage Tape sleeping trend gains steam as doctors warn of potential dangers](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/05/HOSTAGE-TAPE-2.png)
Videos across social media are touting the benefits of taping your mouth shut while you sleep, but some doctors aren’t convinced.
Hostage Tape, a brand that sells mouth tapes, has gone viral on TikTok for advertising the sleep benefits reportedly associated with its products. In a tongue-in-cheek advertisement viewed nearly 3 million times, the company ironically tells viewers not to use its products.
“Don’t do it. Please don’t tape your mouth while you’re sleeping,” a man in the TikTok video says before listing its benefits. “It’s going to lead to improved sleep, better muscle recovery and a whole lot of other benefits.”
“Just don’t do it. But if you’re wondering how to do it, get your Hostage Tape.”
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Hostage Tape, a brand that sells mouth tapes, has gone viral on TikTok for promising users a better sleep experience. (iStock | Hostage Tape)
The video’s comments section was filled with critics and fans alike.
“This stuff is absolutely legit,” one person wrote. “Been taping for about a year and this is the most comfortable and held the best. Transformed my life ‘overnight’ (lol).”
“[A]ll fun and games until u wake up a stuffed nose and sleep paralysis at the same time,” a skeptic wrote.
According to the company’s website, Hostage Tape mouth tape is breathable, hypoallergenic and easy to take off, despite the eerie name associated with it. The tape supposedly trains sleepers to snooze with their mouths closed, and it can be used simultaneously with CPAP machines.
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“It might seem bizarre, but our body was built to breathe through our noses,” Hostage Tape’s website reads. “Research suggests that most people breathe through their mouths while sleeping.”
“Mouth breathing has also been shown to increase the risk of developing sleep apnea and other medical conditions,” the description adds.
“By applying a flexible and breathable piece of tape, you can prevent mouth breathing and potentially decrease the complications associated with it.”
![Split image of Hostage Tape products](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/05/1200/675/HOSTAGE-TAPE-3.png?ve=1&tl=1)
Hostage Tape says its mouth tapes are safe and comfortable to use. (Hostage Tape)
In an email to Fox News Digital, Hostage Tape said it is endorsed by a large ear, nose and throat clinic in Southern California. The company also sent a doctor’s positive letter about its mouth tape.
“It’s important to emphasize the positive aspect of using Mouth Tape: for individuals who can comfortably close their mouths and breathe softly through their noses without resistance, this product can be a game-changer,” the letter reads. “In most cases, even patients with conditions like a deviated septum can breathe through their noses for prolonged periods, especially during sleep when it’s not a rigorous activity.”
Despite the brand’s reported benefits, Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel warned the trend is “dangerous.”
“If the nose or sinuses are clogged or there is an anatomical blockage such as a polyp, a clogged sinus or a deviated septum, it may interfere with complete breathing,” Siegel told Fox News Digital “Mouth breathing is essential as a backup.”
Siegel, who serves as a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, said nasal breathing at night does have some health benefits, though. Fox News medical contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat shared some of Siegel’s concerns and advised that it should never be used on children.
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“Some potential serious concerns I have for mouth taping include airway obstruction, difficulty breathing if you have nasal congestion, allergies, or if there is something wrong with your nose that can hinder airflow and become more dangerous at night,” Nesheiwat said. “If you have undiagnosed sleep apnea, and you use mouth tape, it could possibly make your sleep apnea worse by restricting airflow exacerbating the sleep apnea.”
But she added that nasal breathing may be beneficial to overall respiratory health.
![Split image of man sleeping with tape on mouth and Hostage Tape products](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/05/1200/675/HOSTAGE-TAPE-1.png?ve=1&tl=1)
While nasal breathing has its benefits, Dr. Marc Siegel cautions that mouth tape could be dangerous to use. (iStock | Hostage Tape)
“I think it is critical to see [doctors] first for a sleep study test to determine the cause of your symptoms prompting you to try mouth taping,” she said. “I don’t recommend mouth taping as we need to first determine the underlying cause of symptoms.”
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
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Health
What Happens If You Eat Eggs Every Day? Nutritionists Share the Benefits
![What Happens If You Eat Eggs Every Day? Nutritionists Share the Benefits What Happens If You Eat Eggs Every Day? Nutritionists Share the Benefits](https://www.womansworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1-2-1.jpg)
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Health
Ask a doctor: ‘I swallowed a bug — now what should I do?'
![Ask a doctor: ‘I swallowed a bug — now what should I do?' Ask a doctor: ‘I swallowed a bug — now what should I do?'](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/ask-doc-swallow-bug.jpg)
Most people have experienced that moment of discomfort when they realize a bug has wound up where it shouldn’t be — in their windpipe.
That includes Taylor Swift, who on more than one occasion has accidentally swallowed a bug while performing on stage in front of thousands of people.
It can be a startling and somewhat disgusting occurrence — but is this dangerous, or just a nuisance?
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Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a quadruple board-certified physician in California, shared with Fox News Digital the true impacts of accidentally swallowing a bug, and the best thing to do if it happens.
“Swallowing a bug can often happen accidentally when you’re eating or drinking outside, or if a bug flies into your mouth,” Dasgupta, who serves as chief medical advisor for Fortune Recommends, told Fox News Digital via email.
Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a quadruple board-certified physician in California, discussed the impact of accidentally swallowing a bug — and the best thing to do if it happens. (Sleepoplis)
“It can also happen if you’re talking or laughing outdoors. Sometimes it might even happen indoors if bugs are in your food or drink and you don’t realize it.”
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Swallowing a bug is usually not dangerous, Dasgupta noted.
“The stomach’s digestive acids usually break down the bug, and it is passed out of the body without causing harm,” he said.
![Ask a Doc - swallow bug](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1200/675/ask-doc-swallow-bug.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
“Swallowing a bug can happen accidentally when you’re eating or drinking outside, or if a bug flies into your mouth,” the doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
If the bug carries harmful bacteria or parasites, however, it could cause gastrointestinal issues or allergic reactions, according to the doctor.
The type of bug can make a difference, he said.
“Bugs like beetles or ants are less of a concern, but bugs that are known to spread diseases — such as mosquitoes — might be riskier.”
If you happen to swallow a bug, drinking some water can help wash it down, Dasgupta said.
![Taylor Swift points to the crowd in a sparkly pink outfit during the Eras Tour](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/02/1200/675/b1fa4117-taylor-swift.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Taylor Swift has announced the accidental swallowing of bugs, mid-concert, on more than one occasion. (Marcelo Endelli/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
“If you start feeling sick, like abdominal pain, vomiting or nausea, keep an eye on your symptoms,” the doctor said.
If you have severe stomach pain, ongoing vomiting, trouble breathing, or swelling, rash or itching, Dasgupta said to see a doctor.
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“If you know the bug could have diseases or if you have health conditions that might complicate things, it’s a good idea to get checked out to be safe,” he added.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
Some bugs — including grasshoppers, beetles, termites, mealworms and even stink bugs — are actually considered edible in certain countries, and are prepared and eaten as part of meals, according to WebMD’s website.
Health
“I’m a Dietitian, and Here’s Why an Overly Restrictive Diet Can Backfire”
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