Tag: sleep apnea cure

Treating Sleep Apnea Through Lifestyle Modifications

Treating Sleep Apnea Through Lifestyle Modifications

Stopping breathing for brief durations during sleep is a symptom of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea sufferers have oxygen deprivation throughout their sleep. Many people who stop breathing in their sleep don’t realise they have done so and continue to think they are having a regular sleep cycle. Snoring is a common misdiagnosis of sleep apnea.

In addition to making you groggy in the morning, sleep apnea symptoms has been linked to a host of other health problems. This sleep disorder raises the risk of heart failure, memory loss, and poor immunological function if left untreated. It can also provoke mental health problems.

Devices to assist breathing, medicine, and surgery are the most often used therapies. Alterations to one’s routine and the provision of basic amenities at home can, nevertheless, have a positive effect on one’s well-being and rest.

Wearing a CPAP mask at night is one of the most common treatments for sleep apnea. In spite of its efficacy, this approach might be unsettling for some. The same effects might be achieved with some home treatments. Here are six non-conventional approaches of treating sleep apnea.

Using Magnesium to Improve Your Sleep 

Magnesium deficiency was detected in a study of persons with sleep apnea. There was a correlation between the elevated c-reactive protein and the decreased magnesium levels. The liver secretes C-reactive proteins, which are involved in the body’s fight against inflammation.

High oxidative stress is a nighttime problem for those with sleep apnea. Magnesium’s powerful anti-inflammatory effects may make it beneficial for persons with sleep apnea by lowering inflammation.

Avocados, seeds and nuts, bananas, and dark leafy greens like kale, spinach, and collard greens are all good sources of magnesium. Magnesium may be found in even the darkest of chocolates. 

Supplemental magnesium may be helpful, but it’s always best to check with your doctor before adding anything new to your diet, especially if you have a medical history or are on medication.

Epsom salt baths before night are another way to raise magnesium levels in the body. The relaxing heat of a bath is also great for winding down for the night.

Keeping Your Weight In Check.

Losing weight is a regular recommendation made by doctors for patients suffering from sleep apnea. Upper-body obesity is associated with an increased risk of airway blockage and small nasal passageways. These blockages might result in a person’s abrupt and prolonged cessation of breathing during sleep.

You may alleviate your sleep apnea symptoms and keep your airways clean by sticking to a healthy weight. Obese persons can avoid upper airway surgery and prolonged CPAP therapy if they lose even a minor amount of weight, according to data from an Air Liquide healthcare source.

Sleep apnea can be cured in some people by losing weight. However, the problem may recur if the weight is regained.

Try Yoga.

Exercising regularly has been shown to boost energy, strengthen the heart, and alleviate sleep apnea. Practicing yoga can help you breathe better and easier.

Hypoxemia is more common in those who suffer from sleep apnea. Through a series of controlled breathing movements, yoga helps increase oxygen levels in the body. Therefore, practising yoga might lessen the number of times you wake up during the night.

Try a new sleeping posture

Even though it’s a simple adjustment, changing your sleeping posture can help you get better sleep and lessen the effects of sleep apnea. Over 50% of obstructive sleep apnea cases are reliant on posture, according to a research conducted in 2006. Sleeping in a supine (lying on one’s back) position has been linked to an exacerbation of symptoms. Some individuals find that switching to a side position while sleeping aids in regaining their regular breathing.

Air Liquide healthcare, however, has discovered that sleeping on one’s back is most beneficial for youngsters with sleep apnea. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your sleep apnea symptoms and how your body placement can affect your therapy.

Invest in a humidifier.

Humidifiers are machines that saturate the air with moisture. Air that is too dry might aggravate the respiratory system and cause other discomforts. Using a humidifier can help you breathe easier by loosening mucus and opening up your airways.

Essential oils like lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus can be added to a humidifier for further advantages. These three oils are well-known for their ability to reduce inflammation and bring about a sense of calm.

Make sure to clean your humidifier in accordance with the guidelines provided by the manufacturer. They may serve as a breeding ground for germs and mould.

Don’t take alcohol or smoke

Modifying your way of life can have positive effects on your health, including improved sleep. If you want to lessen the impact of sleep apnea on your life, you should think about cutting down on tobacco and alcohol use.

The muscles in your throat regulate your breathing, and alcohol causes them to relax. It’s possible that this causes sleep disruptions and snoring. Inflammation of the airways, preventing normal breathing, is another possible outcome.

Tobacco usage, like alcohol consumption, can irritate and inflame the airways. The effects of snoring and sleep apnea may become more severe.

Smoking has been linked to an increased risk of sleep apnea by several studies. The study found that treating sleep apnea might aid in smoking cessation since those with sleep apnea may be more likely to be smokers.

Make use of dental aids

Sleep apnea can be treated with an oral device by moving the jaw or tongue to keep the airway open. Mandibular advancement devices and tongue stabilisation devices are the two main types. These help by bringing the tongue or lower jaw forward, making space in the back of the throat.

People with sleep apnea who have difficulty using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine are encouraged to try an oral appliance instead, according to a set of recommendations published in 2015. 

Due to the potential for more precise jaw alignment, custom-fit appliances are recommended in this recommendation over over-the-counter alternatives.

Raw honey is a great way to calm a sore throat.

Raw honey has been used medicinally for centuries, if not millennia, to ease the discomfort of a cough, ease swelling in the throat, and lessen the frequency and intensity of coughing fits.

Honey isn’t a drug, but its high concentration of phenolic chemicals makes it effective against inflammation. Its relaxing effects on the throat are especially welcome to those who suffer from sleep apnea.

Take one spoonful of raw honey dissolved in a cup of warm water or tea and consume it before bed. Since processed honey typically contains less minerals and antioxidants and also additional sugar, we advise going with raw, unpasteurized honey instead.

Conclusion 

Sleep apnea symptoms can be alleviated with the help of assured home treatments and adjustments in way of life. Traditional methods of care shouldn’t be overlooked also. Medication and, in extreme cases, surgery are required methods of treatment. Contact Air Liquide Healthcare sleep specialist to know more 

Before beginning any alternative therapy, it is recommended that you speak with your doctor. Worsening symptoms warrant prompt medical treatment.

How Cardiac Arrest Increases with Sleep Apnea.

How Cardiac Arrest Increases with Sleep Apnea

In this article, Air Liquide Healthcare explained how the cardiac risks is associated with sleep apnea, how it contributes to the risk of sudden death, why testing is so crucial, and the importance of sleep apnea therapy in reducing this risk.

Why is sleep apnea so dangerous? 

Sleep apnea is a problem in which you repeatedly stop breathing while you sleep. Sleep apnea affects over 2.5 million Australians, while many more have it unknowingly.

A large portion of the population, including some primary care physicians, is uninformed of the dangers of untreated obstructive sleep apnea. This may be a contributing factor to the widespread underdiagnosis of sleep apnea.

The health concerns of sleep apnea are far more significant than the fact that you won’t get enough good sleep even if you get the recommended 7-9 hours every night. Some examples are insulin resistance, hypertension, and impotence (an early warning sign of vascular issues). As with diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) death.

Many cardiovascular diseases, including atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and first-degree block, are linked to obstructive sleep apnea.

Lack of oxygen is a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea. When we sleep, our oxygen intake drops, which can lead to oxidative stress, or an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants.

Endothelial dysfunction, in which the heart’s blood vessels narrow and constrict rather than dilate and open, and atherosclerosis (a buildup of plaque on the artery walls) are two conditions that may be more common in people with untreated or undiagnosed sleep apnea because of the resulting imbalance.

In addition, the efficacy of therapies for other health issues may be diminished if sleep apnea is left untreated. There are implications for the management of conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. 

This is because sleep-related increases in blood pressure and insulin are a direct result of airway blockages. As a result of treating the underlying causes of the apneas and hypopneas (partial airway blockages), the nighttime surges can be reduced or eliminated.

Please see our supplementary material for further information on the fatal consequences of sleep apnea and the annual number of deaths attributable to cardiovascular causes.

Sleep Apnea and the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death

The occurrence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) is tragically prevalent yet preventable. Cardiovascular disease is the largest cause of death worldwide, and SCD is its most prevalent symptom.

There has been scant research into the causal relationship between OSA and cardiac arrest. However, more and more studies are looking at sleep apnea as a risk factor, and they’re finding several links.

A sleep study is needed to infer any incidence link, which may explain why there is so little research exploring the connection between OSA and SCD. Not until recently has there been any study that adequately followed up with a sizable population and recorded all the relevant data.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Low Oxygen Saturation

Due to airflow obstruction, sleep apnea lowers blood oxygen levels. According to the aforementioned study, not only does this generate significant oxidative stress in the body, which negatively impacts heart health, but it is also a predictor of unexpected mortality. 

In particular, the lowest oxygen saturation value that a patient had at night was associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. An additional 14% risk was seen for every 10% drop in oxygen saturation.

Another study found that between midnight and 6 a.m., individuals with OSA had a 2.57-fold higher relative risk of nocturnal (nighttime) sudden cardiac death compared to the general population. The risk of sudden death in those with severe obstructive sleep apnea is directly related to the number of hypopnea episodes (how often breathing is interrupted).

Over-arousal of the central nervous system is thought to develop in those with sleep apnea because of the lower oxygen saturation that happens during the night.

The power and speed with which your heart contracts are both the result of activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which also produces vasoconstriction of blood vessels. During sleep, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, increasing heart rate and contractile force to enhance cardiac output and provide oxygenated blood to the body.

This sympathetic activity at night is a major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and death in people with OSA. In other words, cardiovascular disease and the resultant mortality are strongly linked to the activation of the sympathetic nervous system during sleep.

Recent studies highlight a relationship between OSA and SCD, and fresh evidence emphasises the need of treating sleep apnea.

Checking your risk factors and being tested if you believe you have sleep apnea is crucial since the connection between OSA and sudden cardiac death is complicated. You should get tested for sleep apnea if you snore, experience breathing interruptions while sleeping, are overweight, or have a family history of the disorder.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea: Why It’s So Crucial

If you or a loved one suffer obstructive sleep apnea, this new information may cause concern. However, the risk may be significantly lowered with proper treatment.

There are studies looking at the effects of CPAP treatment on long-term cardiovascular outcomes, but none of them focus on sudden cardiac death. Six out of seven studies included in a meta-analysis showing the benefits of CPAP for cardiovascular health indicated that using the device considerably reduced the risk of cardiovascular events.

Treatment for sleep apnea using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) involves wearing a mask that applies gentle, steady pressure to the user’s airway while they sleep.

If you suffer from OSA symptoms, CPAP therapy is a safe, easily available, and effective therapeutic option—but only if you use your CPAP machine regularly and reliably.

In addition to CPAP therapy, making adjustments to your lifestyle can help reduce the impact of sleep apnea and heart disease on your quality of life. For the sake of your heart and your sleep, you should think about making the following adjustments if you haven’t already:

You should cut back on booze and cigarettes, work in 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day, and get rid of any extra weight that’s making breathing difficult.

Eat a healthy, balanced diet and get enough of sleep (here are a few recommended lifestyle changes for better sleep)

Conclusion 

Consult a specialist at Air Liquide Healthcare as soon as possible if you suspect you have sleep apnea or another sleep condition. Take our sleep apnea questionnaire to find out whether you have this respiratory problem or are at risk for it.

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