How Diet Can Influence Sleep Apnea Severity

Food is the source of energy, and it helps your body function properly. This is the reason why it is often said that you are what you eat. If you have any medical complications, then the first thing you should pay attention to is your diet. Likewise, sleep apnea, a sleep-disordered breathing condition, caused fragmented sleep and reduced oxygen intake. It affects millions of people worldwide and can have serious health consequences if left untreated. Sleep apnea is also known for causing cardiovascular disease.

There are many factors that cause sleep apnea, such as genetics and lifestyle. The leading cause is usually lifestyle, the unhealthy choices of people. While you can certainly control these risk factors of sleep disorders with sleep medicine, it's important to track your food intake to manage it. This article will explore the intricate relationship between diet and sleep apnea and how making dietary adjustments can alleviate its severity.

Understanding Sleep Apnea

To understand the impact of diet on sleep apnoea, it's important to know what it is. There are three commonly known sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), Central sleep apnea and Complex sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome is quite common and a mild form of sleep disorder related to breathing pauses during sleep only. Central sleep apnea has the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea but is also related to the incompetency of the brain to send signals to the breathing muscles to breathe. Complex sleep apnea, also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, is a severe form of sleep-disordered breathing that requires immediate medical attention.

Loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness are some of the symptoms found in sleep apnea patients. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to other medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Complex sleep apnea can sometimes be life-threatening as well. That's why it is a treatment-emergent condition.

The Diet-Sleep Apnea Connection

Sleep apnea can result from poor diet as it can cause complications while sleeping and affect your sleep quality. The pauses in breathing when you sleep are known as apneas. Fatty meal aggravates apnea and can worsen the symptoms. Some individual dietary components can also cause sleep disturbances, thereby causing sleep-disordered breathing. Some of the common links between diet and sleep apnea are:

patients with obstructive sleep body fat distribution

Metabolic Syndrome

It is a disorder that includes abnormal cholesterol levels, high blood sugar and high blood pressure. These conditions can have significant cardiovascular risk factors. All these conditions also contribute to sleep-related breathing disorders, and the most prominent one is sleep apnea. This is because compromised cardiovascular health can lead to low oxygen levels, which can subsequently have an impact on the apnea-hypopnea index. Not to mention, consuming unprocessed or processed red meat puts you at risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thus, it's important to keep track of your diet quality and dietary intake.

Weight And Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity

Your body mass index or body fat distribution plays a crucial role in your health. One of the most significant links between diet and sleep apnea is body weight. Slow-wave sleep is commonly found in obese individuals. Not to mention, individuals with higher body mass indexes (BMI) are more likely to experience severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) symptoms. Excess weight, especially around the neck, can put pressure on the airway, making it more susceptible to blockage during sleep. Therefore increasing OSA severity. Thus, treating sleep apnea in obese patients is through weight loss, which can be achieved through exercise and diet interventions. To control gaining weight, one should estimate usual dietary intake and eliminate deficient energy diet,

Inflammation and Sleep Apnea

Inflammation is another factor that can worsen sleep apnea. People with genetic inflammation are tied to an increased risk of sleep apnea as it affects the upper airway by narrowing it and increasing the likelihood of an obstruction during sleep. Diet can either promote or mitigate inflammation in the body.

Sleep Apnea and Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body's cells do not respond effectively to insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. It is not only a precursor to type 2 diabetes but also a factor that can worsen sleep apnea. Research has shown that individuals with insulin resistance are more likely to have severe sleep apnea.

Alcohol and Sleep Apnea

Excessive consumption of alcohol causes various health issues in the long run. Alcohol is a known respiratory depressant, meaning it relaxes the muscles involved in breathing. This relaxation can increase the risk of airway obstruction in sleep apnea patients. As a result, their symptoms get more severe. Alcohol consumption, especially before bedtime, is associated with an increased frequency of sleep apnea episodes.

Reducing or eliminating alcohol intake, particularly in the evening, can prevent worsening sleep apnea symptoms. If nothing, then the least you can do is avoid alcohol close to your bedtime, as it can help minimise muscle relaxation in the airway and improve overall sleep quality.

Positional Factors and Dietary Patterns

Some individuals with sleep apnea experience positional obstructive sleep apnea (POSA). It is a condition when the symptoms are more pronounced when sleeping in specific positions, such as on their backs. Interestingly, diet can also influence POSA severity.

Certain food items trigger acid reflux, which can make sleep apnea worse when individuals sleep in a supine position. Avoiding food that is acidic in nature, especially before bedtime, can reduce the likelihood of acid reflux-related sleep apnea symptoms.

Conclusion

Sleep apnea is a complex sleep disorder with various contributing factors. While genetics and lifestyle choices play a significant role, emerging research suggests that diet can also influence its severity. The bad dietary pattern also comes under lifestyle choices. Thus, by adopting healthier eating habits and incorporating a rich diet, you can potentially reduce issues related to weight, inflammation and insulin resistance.

It's important to note that dietary changes should be made in consultation with a healthcare professional, especially for those with existing medical conditions or those taking medications. Your diet should complement other recommended treatments for sleep apnea, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy or oral appliances.