Snoring, Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease

Do you associate snoring with heart disease? Should you? A recent CNN article 

shows us why there is a very real link between snoring and serious health concerns such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Here are some highlights from the article…

What causes snoring? It occurs when something is obstructing the airway. Often it’s because the muscles in the roof of the mouth or the back of the throat relax and partially block the airflow. Some of the common factors are:

• Sleeping on your back
• Drinking alcohol before bedtime
• Suffering from allergies or a cold
• Being overweight
• Having an enlarged uvula – the tissue hanging at the back of your mouth

Sleep apnea becomes a problem because you’re brain and heart aren’t getting enough oxygen to function properly. According to the article, between 5% and 15% of middle-aged adults probably suffer from sleep apnea. Apnea refers to episode where the signal is sent to the brain to force a gasp because the breathing has stopped. These on-off oxygen levels are causing stress and damage to your body cells. Your brain should be resting and restoring itself, instead it’s forced into high-alert because of the sleep apnea. This disrupts your deep sleep, causing exhaustion and a host of other health issues.

The good news is that sleep apnea is very treatable. Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or sleeping on your side, may be helpful. Another possibility is using a CPAP machine. You should discuss with your own doctor the best solution for you.

Sleep therapy can effectively help treat mood disorders, anxiety and depression. Do you want to explore positive and lasting ways to optimize your health? Have you been struggling with weight loss? Poor sleep patterns? Perhaps it’s time to get help from a NET practitioner who focuses on holistic health solutions. If you live near Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA please contact my office and schedule an appointment.