1) No evidence mouth taping is effective and could be harmful for some, new study says

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Nicole Ireland, May 21, 2025

Canadian researchers say there’s no evidence that mouth taping has any health benefits and warn that it could actually be harmful for people with sleep apnea.

Some social media ads and celebrity claims say that putting tape over the lips can help people breathe through the nose while sleeping, and thereby reduce snoring and improve rest.

The senior author of a study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One said mouth taping could be dangerous for people with sleep apnea — a serious condition where breathing stops and starts while sleeping — and many may not even realize they have it.

“There’s a large proportion of people out there who have undiagnosed sleep apnea, possibly severe sleep apnea,” said Dr. Brian Rotenberg, who is an otolaryngology specialist at London Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph’s Health Care London and Western University. 

“When you literally tape your mouth shut and your airway is already being blocked somewhere behind that, you’ve now blocked off basically half of your airway,” he said in an interview Wednesday. 

Rotenberg’s research team screened dozens of studies related to mouth breathing and said 10 were worth examining further.

Of those studies, Rotenberg said eight showed no benefits to using mouth tape and two showed minimal benefits that were not clinically significant.

Rotenberg said people who have trouble breathing through the nose while sleeping should seek medical advice to find out why. 

Training yourself to breathe through your nose instead of your mouth is a “noble goal,” Rotenberg said, noting that nose breathing warms and humidifies the air coming in and prevents dryness and discomfort. 

But there may be a “mechanical” reason someone can’t breathe through the nose, such as a deviated septum, nasal polyps or a nasal valve collapse, he said.

“Mouth tape is not going to fix that issue, right? Mouth tape is not going to fix a mechanical blockage of your nose.”

Rotenberg said he and his colleagues conducted the study to provide science-backed advice to a steady stream of patients asking about mouth taping. 

“I would say every week in my clinic somebody was saying something about mouth taping. So we thought, ‘Well, we should probably look into this.'”

Rotenberg likens using mouth tape for a breathing issue to buying eyeglasses off the internet without seeing an eye doctor.

“Maybe all you needed was corrective glasses. Great. (But) what if you’re having cataracts? What if you have a glaucoma? Or if it’s actually a retina issue? All of these things can present as just ‘my vision’s not great.’ But meanwhile, those are real diseases that should have been treated and are not.” 

Dr. Mark Boulos, the medical lead for the sleep laboratory at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, said the study findings reinforce the lack of evidence for mouth taping and the importance of seeing a clinician if mouth breathing cases problems such as snoring or bad breath. 

“There could be important reasons for snoring. It’s not about just nasal congestion alone. If someone’s snoring … they have a very high risk for sleep apnea,” said Boulos, who is a neurologist and was not involved in the study. 

“It’s not just cosmetic if someone snores,” he said, noting there is no mention of mouth taping in international sleep guidelines.

2) Preferred site chosen for new Orillia hospital

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, May 22, 2025

An agreement is in place between Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) and Lakehead University to explore the construction of a new hospital on the university’s campus.

The announcement about the next step in replacing the aging hospital was made at a news conference Friday attended by Premier Doug Ford, Health Ministry Sylvia Jones, Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop and other officials.

“We are thrilled that Lakehead University could be the future home to Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital,” said Carmine Stumpo, President and CEO of OSMH.

At the news conference, Ford said the province was providing $3 million to determine the size, scope and exact location of the future hospital.

“This new hospital will help support more patients–over 400,000 in the surrounding area–replace aging infrastructure, and meet modern healthcare standards.”

The premier made it clear he wanted the project to get started as quickly as possible.

“Let’s start moving, get dirt flying, and start building this new hospital. Strengthening our world-class healthcare system is a vital part of our plan to protect Ontario.”

The journey to a preferred site for a new hospital began in 2019 with the completion of a community-wide survey to determine the most important factors to consider when assessing where to build. Emergency services, vehicular access, and parking were the top three criteria identified by the more than 1,100 respondents.

Hospital officials have said a new site would have to be 20 acres in size, and the current OSMH property is nine acres.

OSMH was built in 1922 on the property where it sits today, with additions added throughout the decades.

According to the province, the new hospital would include:

• Modern and improved infrastructure to support increased patient volumes, capacity and programs
• Expanded access to core programs and services including critical care services and inpatient beds
• Increased capacity to meet the community’s future needs and allow more people to connect to care sooner
• Enhanced infection prevention and control measures to ensure the health and safety of all patients

3) Dr. Lisa Simon appointed SMDHU Medical Officer of Health and CEO

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Julius Hern, May 22, 2025

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) has appointed Dr. Lisa Simon as the next Medical Officer of Health and CEO, pending approval by the Minister of Health and Ontario Deputy Premier Sylvia Jones.

Dr. Simon will assume the roles on October 1, following the retirement of current MOH Dr. Charles Gardner at the end of September. Dr. Gardner has served in that position since 2005.

“I’m very excited to be taking on the role of the next MOH and CEO for SMDHU,” said Dr. Simon. “I am passionate about working in partnership with communities to help improve health and wellbeing, and I look forward to leading SMDHU’s skilled and committed team towards that goal.”

“This appointment marks a significant milestone and a promise of continued strength and excellence in our service to community,” said Ann-Marie Kungl, Chair of the Board of Health. “The Board has the utmost confidence in Dr. Simon and we are positioned for an effective leadership transition this fall that maintains the health unit’s legacy of excellence. Dr. Simon’s expertise, integrity and passion for health equity will contribute to the ongoing delivery of trusted, responsive, and impactful service across our region.”

Dr. Simon has been with the SMDHU since 2012, when she joined as an Associate Medical Officer of Health (AMOH). Her primary responsibilities have included medical leadership for the unit’s strategic direction on substance use prevention and harm reduction, planning and engagement efforts for the COVID-19 pandemic response, and more.

She has worked in clinical and public health capacities with diverse communities across Canada and internationally, and currently serves as a faculty member of the Public Health and Preventive Medicine residency program at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.