Suffering from restless nights? Sleep apnea may be the culprit. Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing stops and starts during sleep. Common signs of the condition include snoring and waking up tired after a full night’s sleep which can negatively affect your work and personal life. Besides having a stressful day or a high intensity lifestyle, there are some genetic traits that can spark the development of sleep apnea. 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 Luckily, recent medical advances in the understanding and treatment of sleep apnea mean that there are now many remedies that can help ease and even eliminate the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Now is the time to say goodbye to lost sleep. Recent advancements in medicine and medical devices mean that medical professionals have been able to develop many affordable remedies that can help ease and even eliminate symptoms of sleep apnea. Many common treatments for sleep apneainvolve ways you can improve on your overall lifestyle, such as adding diet and exercise to your daily routine. However, there are also several treatments that your doctor can prescribe for you, which we will list below.
Use a CPAP Mask
If sleep apnea is keeping you awake at night, you should ask your doctor to prescribe a CPAP mask. This mask connects to an oxygen tank that pumps oxygen into your throat, preventing airways from closing up. Using these masks regularly can cure even the most severe cases of sleep apnea, but there are some risks involved. You’ll need a prescription from your doctor before you can buy one of these masks. Another concern to keep in mind is that 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 usually worth the risk.
Eat A Healthy Diet
The leading cause of sleep apnea is obesity. Due to the excess weight, throat muscles are pushed together and can cause your throat to close up. As a result the reduced sleep quality leaves you more vulnerable to strokes and heart attacks. To find out whether obesity is the cause of your sleep, apnea doctors will measure the circumference of your neck and your body mass index. Getting rid of your excess weight can help you prevent sleep apnea and improve your overall quality of life.
Frequent Exercise
Not only is eating healthier likely to help you lose weight and stop your problems with sleep apnea, exercise is also a great way to lose weight and improve your health. According to DrAxe.com, only 30 minutes of daily exercise is enough to stop you from putting on more weight and decrease your BMI.³ Aerobic exercises are the best for burning calories while not creating new muscle mass. Research shows that exercising can reduce the severity of the conditgions. Join the gym today and get control of your sleep apnea!
Take Antioxidant Supplements
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 Drugs and Alcohol, Especially Before Bed
If you are struggling with sleeping problems, doctors recommend that you avoid drinking alcoholic beverages at night. Even if alcohol helps you to fall asleep, it can significantly decrease the quality of your sleep. So ditch the beer and wine if it is after 5pm so you can get a better night’s sleep.
Smokers are also more likely to develop sleep apnea. If you are already suffering from sleep apnea, smoking can significantly worsen your symptoms and cause inflammation in your upper airway. If you are a smoker and having trouble with sleep apnea, consider quitting, or try reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke per day to see if it has an effect.
Talk To Your Doctor Today
Nowadays, anyone can go online and research a cure for any disease. Despite the abundance of information on sleep apnea, it’s difficult to choose the right course of action unless you are a trained medical professional. Many sleep apnea cures require a prescription from your doctor. Our advice is to trust your doctor to select the best treatment for your condition.
[1] Naresh M. Punjabi. “The Epidemiology of Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea.” American Thoracic Society. 15 February 2008. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2645248/
[2] Kevin K. Motamedi et al. “Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Growing Problem.” The Ochsner Journal. Fall 2009, 9(3): 143-153. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3096276/
[3] The Healthy Sleep Revolution. “What You Need To Know About Sleep Apnea Remedies.” Medium. 26 August 2019. https://medium.com/@airful.customers/what-you-need-to-know-about-sleep-apnea-remedies-1e6771e7b1c6
[4] “Sleep Apnea.” Life Extension. https://www.lifeextension.com/protocols/respiratory/sleep-apnea