Identify & Treat Sleep Apnea With The Right Foods

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A good night's sleep is an important part of your overall health, as it is associated with several things like your mental and skin health. But your sleep can be interrupted if you are suffering from sleep apnea. The following guide will help you identify and possibly deal with this dangerous issue. 

Identify Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a problem that interrupts your breathing as you sleep. During this time, your body relaxes the muscles around your throat to allow an ample amount of air into your lungs. Sleep apnea is dangerous because your muscles expand a little too much. This phenomenon shrinks your airways and diminishes the amount of oxygen your body receives.

Sleep apnea could also be a problem that starts in your brain. Your brain may fail to tell your throat muscles to relax and allow enough air to pass through. You usually can tell that you have sleep apnea if you are snoring when you sleep. Your brain may even wake you up a few times at night to prevent you from dying from an insufficient intake of oxygen. Sleep apnea is very dangerous if you have to wake up more than a few times a night. 

The Dangers Of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can lead to several health issues, including artery inflammation, artery clogging, irritability, depression, and can even kill you. 

Perhaps the most consistent problem with sleep apnea is brain hypoxia. Brain hypoxia is when your brain is not getting enough oxygen to function. The cells in your brain will become damaged without oxygen. This cellular damage will eventually hurt your memory, focus and cognitive functions to name a few things. 

You can ask your sleep apnea specialist about other dangers and potential sleep apnea procedures. But there are a few dietary changes you can make. 

Foods That Can Help

Sleep apnea is usually associated with a weight issue. The following foods should help keep you healthy, lose a few pounds and hopefully help your sleep apnea specialist make you sleep apnea-free:

  • Switch to plant-based oils like olive oil or canola oil. These oils help your body absorb nutrients and should help you lose weight as well. 
  • Whole or sprouted grains should enhance your digestive system and help you lose weight. 
  • Honey is a wonderful food to add to your diet before you sleep. Honey relaxes your throat muscles, which could help you control your sleep apnea. 

Remember that the aforementioned tips are only meant to help. You still need your sleep apnea specialist to eliminate this dangerous problem. 

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7 February 2015

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