Bappi Lahiri, the famed Indian singer passed away due to Obstructive sleep apnea. Here is everything you need to know about the condition and ways to better manage it:
Are you waking up tired every day? Have your friends and relatives been complaining about your snoring? You might be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. OBS is characterized by periods of loud snoring interrupted by silence. During this silence, the individual stops breathing. This experience causes daytime sleepiness and a host of other health problems.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea
Treating Sleep Apnea Naturally
What is Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the relaxation of your throat muscles that restricts breathing. It is the most common sleep-related disorder. During the day, air flows freely from the nasal passage to the lungs, sleep should be no different. However, individuals with OSA stop breathing multiple times during the night. It can lead to blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
The most common symptom is that of daytime drowsiness. Individuals complain of sleepiness and tiredness during the day due to interruptions in their sleep cycle.
Symptoms during sleep:
Snoring
Choking
Snorting
Periods of no breathing
Symptoms during the day:
Headaches
Irritability
Tiredness
Forgetfulness
It is important to remember to remember that not all snoring is caused by sleep apnea.
Risk Factors For Sleep Apnea
Certain disease conditions and physical features lead to the narrowing of the throat. This throat narrowing restricts airflow and causes sleep apnea. No one condition causes sleep apnea, it can be a combination of the following conditions:
Disease Factors:
Lung Disease: Conditions such as asthma and pulmonary fibrosis make it harder to breathe
Thyroid: Hypothyroidism makes it harder to breathe
PCOS: Causes higher visceral fat percentage that might make it harder to breathe
Stroke patients: Impaired brain signaling to the lungs makes it harder to breathe
Heart failure: Can lead to fluid buildup in the air passage
Physical and Lifestyle Factors:
Obesity: Narrowing of airway due to fat accumulation
Large tonsils: Block airway
Smoking: Damages lungs
Pregnancy: Increased need for oxygen
Family history: other features that constrict air passage and lifestyle determinants.
Treating Sleep Apnea Naturally
If you or someone you know is suffering from sleep apnea, the first step is to ensure you get a correct diagnosis.
Healthy Weight
Individuals who are overweight or obese have been shown to relieve symptoms once they lose weight and maintained it using exercise and correct meal planning. Immediate weight loss can lead to a host of other problems so ensure you are not using any "quick fixes".
Exercise, Yoga, and Pranayama
Individuals with weakened lungs and diminished lung capacity can benefit from various workout routines like yoga and pranayama. Exercise not only improves breathing patterns throughout the day but also strengthens lung tissue that improves breathing at night.
Position
Sleep position can impact breathing significantly. Sleeping on your side rather than your side prevents the throat and tonsils from blocking the airway. Over 50% of individuals reported an improvement in sleep when they shifted from sleeping on their backs to sleep on their sides.
Humidity
Dry air tends to irritate the throat, a humidifier can help alleviate congestion and leads to easier breathing.
Acid Reflux
Chronic acidity can affect your sleep by irritating your throat lining, try an elimination diet to find and cure the root cause of your chronic acidity.
Looking for more personal advice? Contact us to find personalized advice on your condition.
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