SLEEP APNEA
Sleep disorders are now epidemic and an important cause of accidents, health problems, loss of productivity, learning problems in some cases of children, and even some obesity. The importance of adequate rest is often underestimated. Fatigue and exhaustion set the stage for every imaginable illness, both physical and emotional.
Nutritional and biochemical imbalances usually are the cause for most sleep disorders.
SLEEP APNEA, in particular, has received more attention lately as doctors are beginning to recognize it more.
It is characterized by a pause in breathing during sleep of at least 10 seconds. Often there is loud snoring punctuated by periods of silence as breathing stops. It is most common in older, obese men but we find more women are diagnosed with this problem, including young women.
Nutritional and biochemical imbalances usually are the cause for most sleep disorders.
SLEEP APNEA, in particular, has received more attention lately as doctors are beginning to recognize it more.
It is characterized by a pause in breathing during sleep of at least 10 seconds. Often there is loud snoring punctuated by periods of silence as breathing stops. It is most common in older, obese men but we find more women are diagnosed with this problem, including young women.
COMMON CAUSES
Common causes are side effects of many medical or over-the-counter drugs, and allergies, especially allergies to wheat, dairy and gluten.
Another common cause is being overweight.
If a person corrects all these causes, the problem often goes away on its own without the need of medication.
If it does not go away on its own, then one may need a ‘sleep study’ at a center set up for this purpose, though often a spouse will recognize that the partner stops breathing at times.
Symptoms that often accompany sleep apnea are fatigue during the day, narcolepsy, morning headaches and, if the condition is severe and persistent, high blood pressure.
If you have sleep apnea, you ought to take a pro-active approach otherwise it will actually weaken your immune system. When your body doesn't get the rest it needs, it has trouble creating antibodies and cells that fight off infection. Taking any kind of medication to relieve the burden will exasperate the issue in the long run.
Common causes are side effects of many medical or over-the-counter drugs, and allergies, especially allergies to wheat, dairy and gluten.
Another common cause is being overweight.
If a person corrects all these causes, the problem often goes away on its own without the need of medication.
If it does not go away on its own, then one may need a ‘sleep study’ at a center set up for this purpose, though often a spouse will recognize that the partner stops breathing at times.
Symptoms that often accompany sleep apnea are fatigue during the day, narcolepsy, morning headaches and, if the condition is severe and persistent, high blood pressure.
If you have sleep apnea, you ought to take a pro-active approach otherwise it will actually weaken your immune system. When your body doesn't get the rest it needs, it has trouble creating antibodies and cells that fight off infection. Taking any kind of medication to relieve the burden will exasperate the issue in the long run.
SLEEP APNEA MAY HAVE NEUROLOGICAL CAUSE
This is less common and due to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system that controls breathing. Any nutritional causes of autonomic dysfunction such as nutrient deficiencies and the presence of toxic metals may be involved in neurologically-caused sleep apnea.
NARCOLEPSY
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep and it may be due to food sensitivities, in which case a person may feel extreme fatigue after a particular meal. Changing the diet or testing for food sensitivities may be very helpful in these cases.
Hypoglycemia or elevated blood sugar can cause extreme fatigue in some cases. This may be revealed on a hair mineral analysis by an imbalanced calcium/magnesium ratio or by a low ratio of sodium to potassium. Low chromium may also be associated with blood sugar imbalances. At times, the nutritional balancing program is sufficient to correct blood sugar imbalances, and of course diet can play a critical role.
COMMON MEDICAL TREATMENT
The most common medical treatment is a C-PAP (continuous positive air pressure) device that one wears at night. It is a mask or tubes hooked to an air pump that keeps the air passages open. Other devices are also sold to accomplish the same end.
NATURAL WAY TO DEAL WITH SLEEP APNEA
One should experiment with elimination of all wheat, and all gluten and all regular dairy products except perhaps butter for at least a month or more.
Eating at least 4 to 5 cups of cooked vegetables, like cauliflower (white, orange and purple), broccoli, broccolini, red and white cabbage, savoy cabbage, carrots, daikon, rutabaga, all types of onions, will help the digestive tract.
Eating 2-protein daily, such as eggs, chicken, lamb, beef and/or fish.
Try to stay away from sweets mainly.
And eat gluten free products.
This natural way should help you lose weight and help you reduce chronic nasal and sinus problems that might also contribute to sleep apnea.
One last thing, by eating a balanced diet and eliminate some foods that cause allergies to your body, you will find yourself sleeping better and thus have more energy.
Copyright © 2016 Josephine Certified Holistic Nutrition, CHN, FDN
This is less common and due to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system that controls breathing. Any nutritional causes of autonomic dysfunction such as nutrient deficiencies and the presence of toxic metals may be involved in neurologically-caused sleep apnea.
NARCOLEPSY
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep and it may be due to food sensitivities, in which case a person may feel extreme fatigue after a particular meal. Changing the diet or testing for food sensitivities may be very helpful in these cases.
Hypoglycemia or elevated blood sugar can cause extreme fatigue in some cases. This may be revealed on a hair mineral analysis by an imbalanced calcium/magnesium ratio or by a low ratio of sodium to potassium. Low chromium may also be associated with blood sugar imbalances. At times, the nutritional balancing program is sufficient to correct blood sugar imbalances, and of course diet can play a critical role.
COMMON MEDICAL TREATMENT
The most common medical treatment is a C-PAP (continuous positive air pressure) device that one wears at night. It is a mask or tubes hooked to an air pump that keeps the air passages open. Other devices are also sold to accomplish the same end.
NATURAL WAY TO DEAL WITH SLEEP APNEA
One should experiment with elimination of all wheat, and all gluten and all regular dairy products except perhaps butter for at least a month or more.
Eating at least 4 to 5 cups of cooked vegetables, like cauliflower (white, orange and purple), broccoli, broccolini, red and white cabbage, savoy cabbage, carrots, daikon, rutabaga, all types of onions, will help the digestive tract.
Eating 2-protein daily, such as eggs, chicken, lamb, beef and/or fish.
Try to stay away from sweets mainly.
And eat gluten free products.
This natural way should help you lose weight and help you reduce chronic nasal and sinus problems that might also contribute to sleep apnea.
One last thing, by eating a balanced diet and eliminate some foods that cause allergies to your body, you will find yourself sleeping better and thus have more energy.
Copyright © 2016 Josephine Certified Holistic Nutrition, CHN, FDN
Josephine your Certified Nutritionist
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Josephine Certified Nutritionist.
She earned and completed her certification in holistic nutrition and in Functional Diagnostic Nutrition and she is now practicing Hair Mineral Analysis and Nutritional Balancing Science to people all over the globe . She is the author of Nine Servings of Vegetables, the cookbook to reduce toxic metals, balance your minerals, balance your biochemistry and prevent diseases. |