Natural Ways to Remedy Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common condition in which the upper airways of a person may biome fully or partially blocked while they sleep. This is a serious condition that leads to pauses in breathing while you are asleep, reducing your oxygen intake. People suffering from this condition often wake up gasping for breath.

But that’s not all — sleep apnea is associated with a number of health issues including heart failure and memory loss. While the common treatment for this condition consists of surgery, medication, or breathing assistance devices, some home remedies can also help. Read on to know more about some natural ways to reduce sleep apnea.

1. Lose some weight

If you are overweight, you have a higher chance of suffering from sleep apnea. This is because obese people tend to have higher amounts of fat in their neck area, which can obstruct regular airflow through the nasal passages.

Losing weight has been found to be beneficial in treating symptoms of sleep apnea — even eliminating the need for surgery. Try reducing fast food and sugar consumption and follow a healthy, balanced diet instead. In addition, regular exercise can also help in maintaining healthy body weight.

2. Change your sleeping position

Changing your sleeping position is the simplest way to reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea. Often, sleeping on the back can worsen the symptoms of this condition, thereby reducing your chances of getting a night of restful sleep.

But, studies have confirmed that sleeping on the side can help make breathing easier for patients suffering from sleep apnea. You can use a body positioning pillow or a similar item to ensure that you don’t return to the supine position while asleep.

3. Oral appliances can help

Another effective way of dealing with symptoms of sleep apnea is using oral or dental appliances that keep your jaw in a certain position to ensure unobstructed breathing. A sleep apnea mouthpiece is easy to use and comfortable enough for daily use.

There are several types of such appliances though. You can either opt for cost-effective ones that are sold over the counter or go for dentist prescribed ones to ensure a perfect fit.

4. Quit smoking and alcohol consumption

Last but not least, cutting down on smoking and alcohol can also help minimize symptoms of sleep apnea. Smoking regularly can increase swelling or inflammation in your upper airways. And this can worsen your sleep apnea.

The same is true for alcohol too. Drinking alcohol can relax the throat muscles, making your airways narrower. As a result, you become prone to snoring and poor sleep. Too much alcohol can also cause inflammation in the airways, thereby blocking air flow. By refraining from smoking and drinking alcohol, you can improve your sleep apnea symptoms to a considerable extent.

Hopefully, following the above tips will help reduce symptoms of sleep apnea and enable you to have a good night’s sleep. But in case none of these work, it’s likely that you have a more severe condition and it’s best to consult an experienced medical practitioner immediately.