Sleep apnea is a worrying condition that many faces, that actually causes you to stop breathing for periods of time as you sleep. The consequence of this affliction is that you don’t take in enough oxygen, which can often result in a sudden jolt that wakes you up.
Sleep apnea has actually been linked to issues around mental health, memory loss, and immune system damage and it can even increase your risk of heart disease. There are some great products on the market that can help reduce symptoms of sleep apnea, such as Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances from SomnoMed. Additionally, there are some home remedies that you may wish to look at if you are struggling with this problem.
- Weight Control
Sometimes the best solution to sleep apnea is maintaining a healthy lifestyle and controlling your weight. We have seen from numerous studies that those who are overweight are increasingly more likely to suffer from this kind of problem when they sleep.
Obesity in the upper part of the body, in particular, causes the airways to become obstructed and this results in a reduced ability to breathe comfortably. Believe it or not, there are many cases whereby weight loss alone can cure this issue.
- Using Yoga
Because of the way that yoga can increase circulation and strengthen the heart, it has proven to be very effective when it comes to treating sleep apnea. Increased oxygen saturation which yoga brings has been proven to improve breathing ability and therefore reduce the symptoms associated with this common sleeping problem.
- Altering Sleeping Position
Whilst it may seem trivial at first, we have seen studies that indicate a change in sleeping position could be the answer to your problems when it comes to sleep apnea. A study performed in 2006 found that the majority of cases of sleep apnea are a result of sleep position.
The study also found that adults who sleep on their backs are much more likely to have issues when compared with those sleeping on their sides. To help you stay on your side during sleep you can use pillows to ensure that you won’t roll over once you have fallen asleep.
- Using a Humidifier
Breathing dry air can often irritate the respiratory system and this is why some people have found success with the use of a humidifier. These machines add moisture to the air and can help to lower congestion and to help you to breathe more clearly. Some people take this one step further and add essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus to the humidifier, which have soothing and anti-inflammatory benefits when you breathe in the air.
A final point to make here is that if you smoke or regularly drink alcohol, this could also be causing you issues when you sleep. Both of these cause inflammation in the airways which will then obstruct breathing and induce sleep apnea, which is why you should look to reduce or eliminate your intake of cigarettes and alcohol.
Let us know how you get on with these home remedies for sleep apnea.
