The Sentinel

Latest social media trend deemed dangerous by doctors

Libby Allison
OSF Healthcare

PEORIA -- The popularity of entertainment app TikTok continues to skyrocket. It has been installed on devices over three billion times worldwide, and has surpassed Google and Facebook as the world’s most popular web domain.

Dr. Kaninika Verma

The video sharing app seems to have something for everyone – from makeup trends and relationship advice to comedy sketches and life hacks. In fact, the company’s tagline in TV commercials is even, “TikTok taught me.” While recipes, fashion finds or cleaning hacks found on the app can certainly provide a smile, improve your life or save you time – sometimes the advice from TikTok influencers can fall flat, especially when that advice is medical in nature.

One of the latest TikTok trends that has medical professionals concerned is mouth taping, which is being touted as a sleep treatment. It is exactly what it sounds like; people are taping their mouths closed before bed. Dr. Kaninika Verma, the clinical sleep director for OSF HealthCare, explains.

"So this started with this TikTok challenge, where people would tape their mouth before they went to sleep,” she says. “They thought they were sleeping better because it prevented them from opening their mouth, and somehow or another made them sleep better because they were forced to breathe through their nose."

But before you reach for that tape, be aware that many medical providers, including Dr. Verma, believe the risks of mouth taping far outweigh the benefits. Taping one’s mouth shut while sleeping could exacerbate breathing problems, worsen some risk factors of sleep apnea or simply cause sleep disruption.

"Most of us physicians when we when we first saw this, we thought this was a joke. But clearly it's not. You can buy these mouth tapes on Amazon and CVS, and all these places. So it's clearly a real thing, but it is not safe at all," Dr. Verma warns.

Mouth taping enthusiasts claim that the practice helps with dry mouth, bad breath, oral hygiene and snoring prevention. Dr. Verma disagrees, and says taping your mouth shut to improve shuteye is not only dangerous, but could mask the root cause of a sleep problem.

"So the bigger question is, why are you using that mouth tape? Is it because you're snoring? Is it because you're a mouth breather? Is it because your nasal passages are blocked, or what is going on that's making you do this? So there needs to be a bigger question that needs to be asked, and to take a deeper dive about that issue with a physician or a trained professional," says Dr. Verma.

Mouth taping is just the most recent TikTok trend branded as health or wellness advice. Dr. Verma warns that health trends popularized via sites like TikTok can have significant consequences, and any health advice coming from these platforms should be interpreted with caution. When in doubt, ask a professional.

"A lot of these are just fads. There are people doing this for entertainment. So be very cautious and very careful what you believe. If you have an issue – any health care issue – please reach out to your health care professional. You know, most of us – we've trained our whole lives to do this. We've dedicated our lives to this."

Sleep disorders are serious medical conditions. Running on a sleep deficit compromises your ability to learn, hinders the immune system, and may raise your risk for other health conditions.

If you think you are having issues with snoring or mouth breathing you should consult your doctor or a sleep specialist. Visit osfhealthcare.org/sleep to learn more about OSF Sleep, including programs and services available.

Sports Nutrition webinar for coaches coming up

EVANSTON -- Katie Knappenberger, Director of Performance Nutrition at Northwestern University, will lead a discussion with Illinois coaches on how to help their athletes stay fueled for peak performance during every game. The online talk via Zoom will held on September 7 at 4pm.

Pre-registration for the free webinar sponsored by Midwest Dairy can be done here: IHSA and Midwest Dairy Nutritional Conversation for Coaches.

Among her other qualifications, Knappenberger is a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, a Registered Dietitian and a Certified Athletic Trainer Illinois.

Prep Sports Notebook: SJO soccer, volleyball notch wins

Spartans roll over Lady Shoes

Shayne Immke goes up to block for SJO

St. Joseph-Ogden's Shayne Immke goes up to block a kill attempt by Teutopolis' Molly Pals. The senior outside hitter put away six kills and chalked up four aces in the Spartans' 2-0 win (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

ST. JOSEPH -- The St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball team evened-out their season-record on Thursday after defeating the visiting Lady Shoes of Teutopolis, 2-0. The Spartans, now 3-3, got six kills each from senior Shayne Immke and junior Addie Roesch.

After a few miscues at the start and Immke at the service line, SJO grinded out a five-point run to go up 7-3 in the first set. Their opponent later answered a five-point rally of their own to pull within a score 11-10 before the momentum shifted back to the Spartans's favor for the remainder of the game. Head coach Abby McDonald's team closed out the opening set with six consecutive points for a 25-16 win.

The Spartans' won the second set by an even wider margin, 25-12. The Lady Shoes called a timeout while nursing a 5-point deficit on the score board, 11-6. When the two teams returned to the floor, SJO took total control of the contest giving up just six points out of the last 20 exchanges.

Setter Taylor Hug tallied up 18 assists, and hammered an ace in the first set. Roesch led the team with five digs defensively. Meanwhile, Immke's four aces led the team's offensive effort.

Unity suffers soccer loss on the road

MACON -- Unity goal keeper Cole Saunders made four saves during his team's road match at Meridian High School. After an unassisted score from Hawks in the first half, the Rockets were unable to respond.

Dow celebrates Senior Day with a win

URBANA -- St. Joseph-Ogden senior Abbey Dow picked up a win at #1 doubles with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Watseka's Emma Simmons. She and five other seniors were honored at the tennis team's final home match of the season.

In doubles action, two other SJO seniors pulled out wins. Duo Hallie Harms and Katie Earley defeated Warriors' Annika Greene and Marisa Clarke on the #3 court, 6-2, 7-6.

The team's six senior members include Dow, Earley, Harms, Jessica Gadbury, Isabel Sexton, and Katie McDermott.

Cafarelli shoots a 40

RANTOUL -- Spartans' Ashten Cafarelli carded 40 strokes on the back nine holes at Willow Pond golf course, but it wasn't enough as the St. Joseph-Ogden golf team finished in third place in a three-team meet in Rantoul.

Monticello, with three players turning in scores lower than Cafarelli's, won the day with a 159. Rantoul slipped by SJO with a six-man score of 173.

Maddux Carter (43), Jacob Kern (45), McGwire Atwood (49), Jack Robertson (51), and Tyler Buss (51) rounded out the Spartans' top six players on Thursday who counted 177 strokes.

Lockhart scores game winner

ST. JOSEPH -- Freshman forward Ryker Lockhart second-half shot on the Hoopeston Area (3-2) goal found the back of the net to give St. Joseph-Ogden (3-1-1) their third win of the season. Hunter Ketchum, a senior, had 12 saves in the keeper position in the 1-0 thriller.

Cornjerker goalie Owen Root fended off eight solid attacks from SJO including one on a penalty kick.

Rockets' volleyball squad sweeps Tuscola

TOLONO -- The Unity volleyball team defeated visiting Tuscola in straight sets 25-21, 25-20.

Attention area high school coaches

Haven't seen the latest news or result about your program on OurSentinel.com? If you are a coach at Unity, Urbana Uni-High, Urbana High School or St. Joseph-Ogden, send us your box scores, statistical leaders for each game, and other info is via email to sports@oursentinel.com or editor@oursentinel.com.