Have you been snoring and not getting restful sleep? Is daytime drowsiness bothering you even though you sleep at night? Has your bed partner made you aware of the sudden episodes of breathlessness during the nigh wherein you choke and wake up?
It might not be anticipated but heavy snorers are prone to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a chronic disorder that causes interruptions to your breathing while sleeping. Individuals with this condition don’t breathe in enough oxygen, causing them to choke or gasp and suddenly wake up long enough to start breathing again.
In many instances, the sufferer is unaware that they’ve stopped breathing and believe that their sleeping cycle is normal. Only if they sleep with their spouse or have abed partner that is disturbed by their snoring would be able to inform them. There are 3 types of sleep apnea to be aware of:
- Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is the most common form of sleep apnea and occurs when the muscles of the throat relax.
- Central sleep apnea typically occurs when the brain fails to send the right signals to those muscles that control our breathing.
- Complex sleep apnea syndrome, or treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, occurs when someone suffers from both central sleep apnea and OSA.
If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea, you should probably discuss your circumstances with a doctor or healthcare professional. These individuals can explain the causes of sleep apnea of recommend corrective surgical procedures or natural remedies for sleep apnea. You should not ignore it as it can snowball into serious issue. That is why it is important to find anti snoring solutions when you start snoring or notice that your loved one snores.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
The warning signs and symptoms of central sleep apnea and OSA overlap, which can make it difficult to diagnose the type of the disorder that you have. The most common warning signs and symptoms of the two include:
- choking or gasping for air
- difficulty concentrating or paying attention
- hypersomnia (excessive daytime sleepiness)
- insomnia (difficulty staying asleep)
- interruptions to your breathing during sleep (typically reported by your partner)
- irritability and frequent mood swings
- loud snoring
- morning headaches
- waking up with a dry mouth
If you snore loudly, this may be indicative of a more serious problem. However, not everyone suffering with sleep apnea snores nor is snoring always a sign of sleep apnea. If you or your partner notice any or a combination of the above signs and symptoms, it’s best to speak with a doctor as soon as possible.
Causes of Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Central Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles located at the back of the throat relax. These muscles support the throat’s side walls, soft palate, tongue, and uvula. As these muscles relax, the airway narrows and may even close as you inhale. As a result, you don’t get enough air and the oxygen level of your blood decreases. When your brain senses that you can’t breathe, it briefly awakens you, thereby causing your airway to re-open so you start breathing again.
Because you wake up only briefly, you probably won’t remember this. Furthermore, you might choke, gasp, or snort throughout the night. Sleep studies have shown that this pattern often repeats itself anywhere from 5 to 30 times or more per hour throughout the night. This hinders your ability to achieve the deep, most restful stages of sleep that everyone needs for their overall health.
In the case of central sleep apnea, your brain doesn’t transmit the signals to the muscles that control your breathing. So for short periods of time, you don’t make any effort to breathe. Consequently, you may have a more difficult time of falling asleep and staying asleep or you might wake up and be short of breath.
Lifestyle Changes and Natural Remedies for Sleep Apnea
Unfortunately, there is no cure or one-size-fits-all treatment for sleep apnea. However, numerous studies have shown that certain lifestyle changes can often reverse the intensity of sleep apnea. In addition to these non-invasive remedies or treatments, there are more invasive, surgical procedures that can reverse the disorder. Common lifestyle changes and natural remedies for sleep apnea often include:
Avoid alcohol and smoking –
Both of these lifestyle habits will increase sleep apnea complications; alcohol relaxes the muscles of the throat while smoking causes airway inflammation and swelling
Change your sleeping position –
Sleeping in the supine position (on your back) will worsen sleep apnea symptoms; you’ll experience more normal breathing by sleeping on your side
Lose weight –
Your doctor may recommend that you lose weight as excess weight in the upper body elevates the risk of narrowing the nasal passages and obstructing your airway
Try Yoga –
While you can improve sleep apnea, increase energy levels, and strengthen your heart with regular exercise, yoga encourages better oxygen flow by improving your respiratory strength
Use a humidifier –
If dry air is irritating your respiratory system, a humidifier will decrease congestion and encourage better breathing by opening up your airways. This works well when the air is cold and dry.
Use an oral appliance –
These reposition the jaw or tongue and keep your airway open for better breathing during sleep. Whether you use a chin strap or a nose clip or a nasal dilator, try and see what works for you.
While it’s important to understand the causes of sleep apnea and know about the natural remedies for sleep apnea, Asonor Anti-snoring Solution can reduce the number of snoring episodes you experience while sleeping.
For more information about this clinically-proven effective product send your questions to [email protected] or visit the Asonor website today.
