Sleep Apnea and its Hidden Impacts on Your Respiratory Health

When one of my sons was 7, he suffered from sleep apnea. I would watch him sleep and be alarmed at the long periods of time he wouldn’t breathe, before he choked and gasped, breathed for a little and then stopped again in an ongoing cycle. He had his adenoids and tonsils whipped out, plenty of icecream and jelly and was immediately more energetic and less tired.

It is not that simple for many people who suffer from sleep apnea which comes in a variety of shapes, forms and causes.

The most common type of sleep apnea is caused by an airway blockage and because of that is called obstructive sleep apnea. This occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much during sleep, causing the airway to narrow or close, blocking airflow.

Another type of sleep apnea is central sleep apnea which occurs when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to your muscles which control breathing. This is less common but can be combined with obstructive sleep apnea to cause mixed sleep apnea for some people.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Loud snoring;
• Gasping or choking during sleep;
• Morning headaches;
• Excessive daytime sleepiness;
• Difficulty concentrating;
• Irritability;
• Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking.
• Chronic coughing.

Risk factors for sleep apnea include:

• Obesity;
• Gender and age (it’s more likely to be older males who suffer);
• Smoking;
• Alcohol use;
• Nasal congestion and allergies.

If sleep apnea is left untreated it can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. It is worth seeing your medical practitioner if you experience symptoms, because there are treatment options which include:

• Lifestyle changes – weight loss and reducing alcohol or cigarette consumption;
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) which is an oxygen mask you can wear while sleeping to keep your airways open;
• Oral appliances which reposition your jaw or tongue;
• Surgery to remove excess tissue or modify your jaw structure.

Foods to Support Oxygen Levels

When you have sleep apnea, your oxygen levels can drop significantly while you sleep because of the pauses in breathing. 

It's a good ideas to eat foods which support oxygen levels in your body. These include:

1. Anthocyanin-rich foods (like blackcurrants and purple cabbage). Anthocyanins improve blood flow aiding in oxygen delivery and reduce inflammation. They are also a great antioxidant and mop up damaging free radicals.
2. Iron-rich foods (like red meats and legumes). Iron is a crucial component of haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen around your body.
3. Vitamin-C rich foods (like citrus and kiwifruits). Vitamin C enhances iron absorption in your body.
4. Foods high in nitrates (like beetroot and carrots). Nitrates convert to nitric acid in the body which helps relax and widen blood vessels, improving blood and oxygen flow.

Sleep apnea can be reversed

Darcy suffered from obstructive sleep apnea and slept with a CPAP for many years.  Recently he donated his CPAP to someone else.  He didn’t need it anymore with his improved breathing, sleeping and oxygen levels because of the lifestyle changes he has made and his regular use of Zestt Breathe+ products to support oxygen flow in his body.

All the best, Anna and Darcy.

If you would like to discuss any of this further, please contact Darcy or Anna (who you can contact at +64 27 599 2255 or +64 27 4861418 respectively) or via info@zesttwellness.com.