Today people are desperate for good sleep, and they realize that sleep deficit is at the root of many complex health issues. The most common western diagnosis will be obstructive sleep apnea, and the solution is the C-PAP machine or other pressure based device for air flow, which can save lives because people can die in their sleep of a sleep disorder.
The worldwide supply chain for many commodities and finished products is in shambles since the pandemic and due to economic instabilities and rippling inflation across the world. That means C-PAP machines are back ordered and out of stock. What can you do in that case for better sleep? Is there no other hope?
So what did we do before C-PAP devices?
Well, obstructive sleep apnea is a real thing, but it is not inevitable or random. It can be preventable, avoidable and reversible just like type 2 diabetes and obesity. We don’t have to be a victim. Please do not let this statement be interpreted as shaming those who have a sleep disorder-my point is to cast light on ways to reverse these disorders in some cases, as with all my posts.
How to sleep with sleep apnea without a CPAP?
Sleep disorders can cause death, so we do not want to ignore an obstructive sleep apnea and just skip CPAP use. The idea here is to begin to change the lifestyle habits that are the root cause of obstruction in many people.
The airways are sensitive to immune responses to antigens-allergenic molecules in some food and water and air, and they can swell over time. The cells lining the airways are mucus membranes and antigens also produce acid excretions, weaken barriers, increase inflammation, and drive extra mucus and ear fluids. All of this contributes to obstruction and promotes easier infections.
Some glutens and caseins in wheat and dairy are converted into gluteomorphin and caseomorphin by gut bacteria, and these are real opiates-yes, morphines- that are paralytic to the brain stem. This needs more study, but we see great changes in those who attempt to change these habits.
What causes sleep apnea?
Some studies examining non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, NAFLD, show that it is rampant, and may be related to sleep obstruction in a curious way. There is no blood test for NAFLD, and it often occurs with obstructive apnea.
What is curious is a new finding from MRI studies called fatty tongue syndrome by some. It appears that as the liver visceral or organ fat increases (the bad fat), the tongue fat grows too. Both kinds of fat are different from the subcutaneous fat we can all see below the skin all over our bodies.
Luckily, we can lose the visceral liver fat and tongue fat generally by watching our macros-the ratio of fat to protein to carbs we eat daily. Lowering carbs and increasing healthy fats helps reduce fatty liver and fatty tongue and insulin resistance. And yes, clean saturated fat is healthy for the heart when carbs are controlled. We also need omega 3 fats more than the inflammatory omega 6 fats from seed oils.
Is sleep apnea reversible with an elimination diet?
Other people notice irritation of their sinus passages and ears are triggered by dairy proteins
and grains. Reducing dairy proteins and grains, beans, seeds and nuts and especially flour ground from these foods-even though it may be gluten free-often helps people make less mucus and have a better airway, making for less apnea episodes. We have reversed sleep apnea and other sleep disorders in my practice and those of my colleagues using elimination diets over time. Lectins often act as irritants or antigens and can drive swelling and inflammation of many tissues including sinuses and throat mucus membranes without infection.
This elimination may take 12 weeks or longer because some people are sensitive to lectins in these foods, and these food proteins take weeks to decay and leave the intestinal lining before one can feel the sinus inflammation reduced.
Other holistic options to consider…
- Open your airways: Some patients have also found good results by taping their nostrils more open, and stretchy tape can help this more than medical bandage tape. Several products are on the market to expand the nares (nose openings).
- Neti pot use is the rinsing of the nasal sinuses with warm, lightly salted water, and it can open sinuses in some people.
- Natural products and natural antihistamines can help control nasal mucosal swelling. These may include magnesium, quercetin, and anti-inflammatories such as turmeric, curcumin from turmeric, Boswellia, resveratrol, white willow bark, and methylators such as methyl B12, trimethylglycine and others.
Managing sleep apnea is important if you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep.
For more information and resources visit my YouTube channel here.
If you’d like personalized advice, you can also book a coaching session with Dr. Michael Pierce.
For more resources feel free to visit my Blog Page.
