Sleep Apnea Home Treatment Can Reduce Symptoms

October 1st, 2009 · No Comments

Welcome back!

Although sleep apnea is a serious medical condition, if you have mild sleep apnea you can often use home treatment to reduce the symptoms. Mild sleep apnea is described as five or fewer apnea episodes a night.

There are several ways you can treat mild sleep apnea at home:

Lose weight. One of the indicators of whether someone will have problems with sleep apnea is whether they are overweight or not.
Limit the use of alcohol and medicine. Excessive drinking or taking certain medications such as sleep pills or Viagra shortly before bedtime appears to increase the episodes of sleep apnea.
Get plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep seems to increase the episodes of apnea.
Sleep on your side. A number of studies have shown that sleeping on your side will reduce the number of apnea episodes. One recommendation is to sew a pocket in the middle of the back of your pajama top, place a tennis ball in the pocket, and close the pockets with stitches. Whenever you roll over on your back, you are immediately prompted to return to your side.

Lose weight to gain needed rest

This post will concentrate on how weight loss can help reduce the number of episodes of sleep apnea a night, and in many cases may end the apnea problem.

Apnea by definition means that you temporarily stop breathing or the airflow to your lungs is reduced while you are asleep causing loud snoring and gasping because the airway becomes blocked. A number of studies revealed that weight loss played a significant roll in preventing sleep apnea from occurring.

The condition can cause serious risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.

Because sleep apnea is more common in obese people, it makes sense that losing weight decreases the likelihood of problems breathing during sleep. Doctors suggest that losing as little as 10 percent of one’s body weight can improve his or her condition.

The importance of exercise

A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine revealed the importance exercise played in not only reducing the weight of those who had sleep apnea, but also in helping them in their success.

Researchers followed two groups of adults with type 2 diabetes. One group was given a portion-controlled weight loss program and an exercise regimen to follow during the week. The other group received no weight loss or exercise advice, but did follow a diabetes management program. One year later, the first group lost an average of 24 pounds while the second group lost just over one pound.

More importantly, the first group had a significant decrease in their sleep apnea symptoms, while the second group actually experienced an increase in their symptoms.

The bottom line is that weight loss plays an important role in reducing the occasions of sleep apnea, with exercise as a major aid in losing weight.

We all know the importance of healthy eating and regular exercise. Now, we know that those who suffer from sleep apnea and its potential for further serious health problems can also benefit from living a healthier lifestyle.