ÿþ<html> <title>Nutter's Bulk & Natural Foods - Article on Sleep Apnea</title> <meta name="description" content="With sleep apnea, pauses in breathing can last from a few seconds to minutes and often occur anywhere from 5 to 35 times per hour. "> <meta name="keywords" content="sleep, apnea, sleep apnea, breathing, stop breathing, pauses in breathing, brain, snore, stops, chronic, partners, waking, rest, condition"> <STYLE> A:visited {text-decoration:none} A:active {text-decoration:none} </head> <center> <table width=800 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0> <td width=800 valign=top> </td></tr> <tr> <font face="Arial" size=4 color="#E0E0E0"> <a href="index.php"><font color=white>Home</a> | <a href="stores.html"><font color=white>Locate A Store</a> | <a href="wellbeing.html"><font color=white>Wellbeing Information</a> | <a href="recipes.html"><font color=white>Recipes</a> </table> <table width=800 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0> <td width=800 valign=top> <a href="artsindex.html"><font face="Times New Roman" size=4" color=red> <br> <br> While asleep, pauses in breathing can last from a few seconds to minutes and often occur anywhere from five to thirty times per hour. Typically, normal breathing restarts itself from cues from your brain, sometimes offering up a loud snore or snort. Regrettably, once breathing resumes, it typically stops again with seconds or minutes. <br> <img src="snoring.jpg" align=right hspace=20 vspace=12 border=0><br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <UL> <LI>Noticeable pauses in snoring. <LI>A sudden, urgent, loud intake of air after a pause in breathing. <LI>Excessive tiredness during the day; fighting to stay awake. <LI>Waking up exhausted; feeling like you haven't slept. <LI>Memory, concentration or learning problems. <LI>A dry throat upon waking. *It should be noted that not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. <br> When you rest at night, your body has a chance to detoxify and repair itself. If you're not getting a good night's sleep, this nocturnal rejuvenation doesn't occur as effectively as if you'd slept soundly for eight hours. Therefore, if you're not well rested, your body remains in a state of ill repair and it is likely you'll contract more colds and flues (and take longer to get over them) than someone who's getting serious shut eye. <br> Sleep apnea can also have a direct effect on other conditions such as blood pressure, stress, risk of heart disease and diabetes. <br> <b>Treatments and Natural Solutions for Sleep Apnea</b><br> The whole goal of treating sleep apnea is to have you achieve a good night's sleep so you can wake feeling rested and ready for the day. <br> Once you and your primary health care provider have determined that sleep apnea is likely occurring on a consistent basis, you could be sent to a sleep lab for evaluation. This evaluation usually includes a questionnaire for your sleep partner to fill in so that your health care provider can determine how best to treat your condition. <br> In cases of mild sleep apnea, sometimes all it takes are lifestyle changes to begin to remedy the situation. Occasionally, mouth pieces (sometimes referred to as oral appliances) are recommended to ensure you continue breathing normally throughout the night. These are generally custom made for you by an orthodontist. <br> Lifestyle changes include avoidance of alcohol, weight loss, sleeping on your side rather than your back, keeping your nasal passages open at night with sprays or medications and quitting smoking. <br> How do you stop yourself from rolling on your back? There are special pillows you can purchase that serve this purpose. You might think it sounds silly but sewing a pocket on to the back of your pajamas big enough to fit a tennis ball into is terribly effective at stopping you from rolling on to your back at night. <br> For moderate to severe cases, a breathing device might be prescribed. And in the most severe cases, shots to shrink excess tissue or surgery to remove excess tissue in the mouth or throat may be indicated. <br> <img src="cpap.jpg" align=left hspace=20 vspace=12 border=1><br> The most common breathing device is known as a <i>Continuous Positive Airway Pressure</i>, or CPAP machine. This machine uses a mask, fitted over your nose (and/or nose and mouth) to blow air into your throat, forcing you to breathe. The air pressure is adjustable; you need to determine an effective setting that allows you to breathe and sleep comfortably at the same time. <br> Side effects of a CPAP machine include dry or stuffy nose, irritated skin on your face, dry mouth and headaches. Proper adjustment of the mask itself, and the flow of moisture from the mask, can solve these problems. Today, there are a few different types of CPAP machines to choose from. It takes a bit of getting used to, but wearing a CPAP at night can make all the difference to your day. <br> <br> <b>Nutritional Support</b><br> Immune system support is paramount. A good quality multi-vitamin with iron, including extra antioxidant support (vitamins A,C,E, and zinc) can help your body fight off colds and flues. <br> Try and maintain a balanced diet, including fresh fruits and vegetables, green teas and whole grains and stay away from caffeine, fats, alcohol, processed foods and sugars. This fresh diet will also help you to either lose weight or maintain a healthy lower weight which can help make a difference to those living with sleep apnea. <br> <b>Nutter's Can Suggest</b><br> <img src="royaljelly.jpg" align=left hspace=20 vspace=12 border=0><br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/SleepApnea/SleepApnea_WhatIs.html <br> <br> <br><br> <br> </td></tr> <tr> <img src="dancingbanner.jpg"> <td width=800 height=40 bgcolor="#c62a29"> <b>Nutter's Bulk & Natural Foods </b>107, 1601 Dunmore Road SE., Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1Z8 (403) 529-1664 <img src="transpacer.gif" height=20 width=20 ALIGN="absmiddle"> </td></tr> </html>