Natural Treatment For Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea affects the way we breathe while we are sleeping. If we don’t treat this condition, breathing can become very shallow during the night, or even be stopped briefly.
This forced pause can last between 10 and 20 seconds, and can occur up to hundreds of times during sleep, disrupting it.
Without proper sleep, we can feel very tired the next day, with drowsiness, slow reflexes and difficulty concentrating.
In addition, over time, sleep apnea can lead to other serious health problems, including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and weight gain.
Men tend to suffer more from apnea than women, and risk factors for developing the disease include having a family history, smoking, drinking to excess, and being overweight or obese.
The symptoms of sleep apnea, in addition to difficulty breathing and pauses in breathing that may occur during the night, are as follows:
- very loud snores
- Difficulty sleeping a peaceful sleep
- Waking up with shortness of breath and palpitations during the night
- Waking up with a dry mouth and throat
- have nightmares
- sweating excessively while sleeping
- have a headache in the morning
- Difficulty concentrating during the day
- Changes in mood and irritability
Treatment can control these symptoms and give us back the quality of sleep we so desperately need.
That way, we can go back to sleep well and enjoy the day with more energy. See below what are the habits to be adopted to treat the disease in a natural way.
It’s not about using specific medications, but about making a change in some unhealthy habits that many people tend to maintain in their lives.
1. Lose weight
The vast majority of people who suffer from sleep apnea are overweight or obese.
In many cases , the symptoms of the disease reduce or even disappear completely when patients lose the extra pounds and maintain a healthy weight, which is why this recommendation is so important.
In addition, regular physical activity is another factor that contributes to the treatment of apnea, as it strengthens the muscles and facilitates the circulation of oxygen in the body.
Therefore, combining exercise with weight loss will certainly give you great results.
2. Change sleeping position
If you sleep on your stomach, there is a greater chance that your throat muscles will close up.
Also, in this position, the tongue can “rest” in the throat and block the airway.
Simply sleeping on your side can reduce symptoms and discomfort, as well as prevent apnea attacks at night.
3. Stop smoking
If you are a smoker, know that in addition to all the other benefits that quitting smoking could provide for your health, the reduction of sleep apnea symptoms is also among them, as smoking contributes to worsen this disease.
4. Reduce alcohol consumption
Avoid consuming too much alcohol, as this is one of the risk factors for the development of sleep apnea.
This recommendation is especially important in the hours before bedtime.
Alcohol and some medications, such as specific sleeping pills, are able to relax the muscles in the back of the throat, interfering with breathing at night.
5. Take advantage of the properties of herbs
Some herbs are especially helpful in treating and combating sleep apnea symptoms:
- Valerian root has been used as a sedative for centuries, and is capable of treating apnea and insomnia. Studies show that it can improve sleep quality by up to 33%. It can be consumed as a tea, especially at night, before bed.
- Chamomile tea is another option, as it helps relieve nasal congestion, reduces nervousness and makes us calmer and more relaxed, thus combating irritability, which is one of the symptoms of apnea. Drink tea before bed for a truly restful night.
- Another recommended tea is ginger and cinnamon. Studies show that these two ingredients have sedative properties and can help us sleep better. Add a spoonful of honey to improve the flavor and drink about an hour before going to bed.
