Natural Remedies for Managing Central Sleep Apnea
This is a collaborative post
Central sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which an individual’s breathing abruptly stops and starts during sleep. Scientifically, this happens because your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that regulate your breathing.
This condition is different from obstructive sleep apnea (the most common type of sleep apnea), which is caused due to upper airway obstruction.
Since possible causes of central sleep apnea could be a stroke, heart failure, or sleeping at a high altitude, treatments usually involve treating existing medical conditions (if any). In most cases, doctors advise adopting lifestyle changes or trying natural remedies to find relief.
Here, we’ve shared four natural ways that work best for managing the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Shed Some Pounds
Obese people usually have thick necks with fat collected in their throats. Experts comment that neck fat can block the upper airway, which causes snoring and airway blockage. This can cause your breathing to repeatedly stop and start.
So, losing some pounds may help manage the symptoms if you’re overweight. Although it won’t completely eliminate the sleep disorder, you will be able to sleep well.
Try Changing Your Sleep Position
As per Cleveland Clinic, many people experience the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea only when they sleep on their backs. In such times, it is advised that you sleep in a side position and take a wedge pillow to get relief. The best positions for managing sleep apnea are sleeping on your belly, your back (with your head elevated), and your side.
Many patients report that sleeping on their side or their stomach reduces snoring during the night time. Thus, people with apnea should try different sleeping positions as repositioning takes the pressure off your chest and diaphragm, allowing your airways to remain open and you sleep better.
Try CBD for Improved Sleep
Did you know out of 80% of people who use CBD for anxiety, 60% of them report improved sleep after taking CBD for a consistent period? CBD, or cannabidiol, is a herbal substance that millions of people use to get relief from stress, anxiety, and insomnia.
Most users prefer smoking CBD to get sound sleep. For smoking, they prefer using bongs or dab rigs from an online head shop and smoking at least half or an hour before they go to bed. However, make sure not to smoke too much CBD as it might overwhelm beginners.
Cut On Booze
Too much alcohol consumption can disrupt a person’s sleep cycle. It can slow respiration, trigger shallow breathing, and decrease blood oxygen levels, which further prevents the release of carbon dioxide.
And since alcohol is a depressant, it can over-relax your throat muscles, which collapses the airway and makes it difficult for you to breathe. Thus, if you have sleep apnea and are a regular booze drinker, cut down your consumption.
Wrapping Up
Living with sleep apnea can be frustrating as it disrupts your sleep schedule. Poor sleep can prevent you from feeling your best self, which eventually hampers your quality of life.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from sleep apnea, suggest incorporating the above lifestyle changes to get quick relief.