Sleep apnea......any natural treatments besides the machine?!
Question:
Sleep apnea......any natural treatments besides the machine?
Was wondering if there might be some natural treatment for sleep apnea with out having to use the machine that you wear a mask all night and it puts greater inward pressure of air so you lungs fully fill up with air. My mother uses the machine and she wants me to be tested for apnea because of some symptoms I have but I doubt I could get used to wearing something all night. any suggestions.
Answers:
Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by episodes of stopped breathing during sleep.
Symptoms
It is important to emphasize that often, the person who has obstructive sleep apnea does not remember the episodes of apnea during the night. The predominant symptoms are usually associated with excessive daytime sleepiness due to poor sleep during the night. Often, family members, especially spouses, witness the periods of apnea. Symptoms that may be observed include:
* Loud snoring
* Periods of not breathing (apnea)
* Awakening not rested in the morning
* Abnormal daytime sleepiness, including falling asleep at inappropriate times
* Morning headaches
* Recent weight gain
* Limited attention
* Memory loss
* Poor judgment
* Personality changes
* Lethargy
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
* Hyperactive behavior, especially in children
* High blood pressure
* Automatic behavior (performing actions by rote)
* Leg swelling (if severe)
Weight management (or intentional weight loss) and avoiding alcohol and sedatives at bedtime may relieve sleep apnea in some individuals. If these measures are unsuccessful in stopping sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a form of mechanical breathing assistance that involves the use of a specially-designed mask worn over the nose or nose and mouth at night, may be prescribed.
Mechanical devices inserted into the mouth at night to keep the jaw forward may be useful in mild to moderate cases.
Surgery to remove excess tissue at the back of the throat (called a uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or UPPP), to remove enlarged tonsils or adenoids (see tonsillectomy), or to create an opening in the trachea to bypass the obstructed airway during sleep (tracheostomy), may be helpful if anatomical causes are present. In some people, surgery to remove blockage of the nose or upper throat may relieve sleep apnea.
Removing enlarged tonsils or adenoids may be all that is necessary in children to cure obstructive sleep apnea.