Sleep apnea is a very uncomfortable situation that stops its sufferers from breathing while asleep. Besides genetic factors, stress and lifestyle habits can also influence the development of this illness. According to the American Thoracic Society, the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea associated with accompanying daytime sleepiness is approximately 3 to 7% for adult men and 2 to 5% for adult women.[1]
However, with new medicine, medical professionals have developed many remedies that can help ease and even eliminate symptoms of sleep apnea.
CPAP Mask
If sleep apnea is keeping one awake at night, they should ask their doctor to prescribe a CPAP mask. This mask connects to an oxygen tank that pumps oxygen into the throat, stopping airways from closing up. Using these masks regularly can heal even the most extreme cases of sleep apnea, but there are some risks involved. One will need a prescription from the doctor before they can purchase one of these masks. Many doctors warn that patients can become dependent on the higher levels of oxygen, which may negatively affect their blood pressure levels.[2] However, everyone can agree that the CPAP mask benefits are worth the risk.
Healthy Diet
The leading cause of sleep apnea is obesity. Due to the excess weight, throat muscles are pushed together and can cause the throat to close up. Reduced sleep quality leaves the person vulnerable to strokes and heart attacks. To find out whether obesity is the cause of the sleep apnea doctors will measure the circumference of neck and the body mass index. Getting rid of excess weight can help avoid sleep apnea and improve overall quality of life.
Routine Exercise
Exercise is a great way to lose weight and improve health. According to DrAxe.com, only 30 minutes of daily exercise is enough to stop someone from putting on more weight and decrease their BMI.[3] Aerobic exercises are great for burning calories while not creating new muscle mass. Research shows that exercising can reduce the severity of the sleep apnea.
Antioxidants
Research has shown that antioxidants are very effective at treating symptoms of sleep apnea. According to a study published in Life Extension magazine, patients took 500 milligrams of vitamin C a day.[4] The inclusion of the vitamin supplement in their diets improved the quality of their sleep. Although this form of treatment is not recognized by the medical community, the proof that antioxidants help in curing sleep apnea is evident.
Avoid Hard Medicines and Liquor
If someone is struggling with sleeping issues, doctors recommend that they should avoid having hard beverages at night. Even if liquor helps one to fall asleep, it can significantly decrease the quality of their sleep. Smokers are more likely to develop sleep apnea. If someone is already going through sleep apnea smoking can significantly worsen the symptoms and cause inflammation in the upper airway.
Consult The Doctor
Nowadays, anyone can go online and research a healing process for any illness. Despite the abundance of information on sleep apnea, it’s difficult to choose the right course of action unless one is a trained medical professional. Many sleep apnea healing processes require a prescription from the doctor. Our advice is to trust the doctor to select a great treatment for the situation.
[1]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2645248/
[2]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3096276/
[3]https://medium.com/@airful.customers/what-you-need-to-know-about-sleep-apnea-remedies-1e6771e7b1c6