Sleep Apnea Solution

8/3/2019 Sleep Apnea Solution

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Easy Sleep Apnea

Solution

Report Compiled By:

Jane Oelke, N.D., Ph.D

Natural Choices, Inc.

www.NaturalChoicesForYou.com

1-888-893-7225
http://www.naturalchoicesforyou.com/http://www.naturalchoicesforyou.com/


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Table of Contents

Heres the Story! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Whats the Solution! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Snoring Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Sleep Apnea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Epworth Sleepiness Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Why is it important to breathe through the nose? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

More Problems with Mouth Breathing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Signs and Symptoms of Hyperventilation Syndrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

One More Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21


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Disclaimer: This Easy Sleep Apnea Solution is provided for educational purposes

only. Neither this procedure, nor Jane Oelke, ND, PhD. and Natural Choices, Inc.intend to diagnosis, treat, cure or prevent disease. A physician or other health care

practitioner should complete diagnosis and treatment of specific health conditions.


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Easy Sleep Apnea Solution

Heres the story!

For the last few years I must admit I did have a snoring problem that lead to

a sleep apnea problem. I avoided staying with friends in hotels due to snoring and

breathing heavily. Earlier last year, it seemed to get worse. I was developing sleep

apnea and would wake myself up, or my husband would wake me up to make sure I

was still breathing. It got to the point that either I slept in my sons room or my

husband slept on the couch to make sure we were both able to sleep. But I was

getting more tired during the day, and my blood pressure started to go up and I had

trouble controlling it.

Time to take action! I looked online for ideas. I had considered doing a sleep

study but I did not want to use a C-PAP machine ifI didnt need to. I went to

puresleep.com, and snoringsolution.com. I purchased the snoring sling first. This

sling fit over my head and tried to keep my mouth closed. But it caused other

noises at first. More like gurgling, since I was drooling much more with this sling

on. The snoring noise was changed with the sling but it did not noticeably improve.

At first I did automatically take off the sling while I was sleeping the first few

nights, but I eventually got used to it. Over time this sling seemed to stretch out

and I couldnt get it to shrink back to fit. So I ordered the Pure Sleep mouth piece.


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I never had to wear a mouth guard before, but I was able do the hot water

formation of the guard for my mouth with no problem. The directions say to move

your lower jaw forward so that when you imprint your jaw in the guard your lower

teeth are more forward than your upper teeth. I was not sure I wanted to have my

jaw adjusted 8 hours a night in this position, but I tried it anyway.

Again I took the mouth guard off during sleep the first few nights since I was

not used to it. It did seem to slip around in my mouth when my mouth opened too

much and I would have to wake up and adjust it. Then I decided to use both the

sling and the mouth guard together. Would both work? I guess it was better at

times according to my husband and family while we were on vacation, but not

always.

Then I went to a convention where I was staying with a friend. I was

concerned about keeping her awake and brought both my snoring appliances. They

did not do the trick as I had hoped. I wasnt horribly snoring but I did keep her

awake at least one of the nights.

While I was at the convention I was talking to another colleague about new

ideas on balancing the nervous system. One of the major topics of the convention

was making sure the nervous system and brain are functioning to their best ability,

and many ideas were passed back and forth. Besides nutritional and homeopathic

supplements that were promoted, there were other devices and techniques shared.

One of the ideas is this stop sleep apnea solution, even though it was not

promoted for this use. In learning to balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic


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nervous system one idea was to use the night time to connect the two central and

governing meridians with the tongue touching the roof of the mouth.

In the process of using this technique I not only ended my snoring and sleep

apnea problems, but have created more daily energy, lowered my blood pressure

back to normal, and can sleep with my husband next to me again.

What is the Solution?

What I am recommending is to cover your mouth with a piece of 1 Micropore

tape during the night. This tape is made by 3M and sold by NexCare, as Gentle

Paper Tape. It is the tape used to attach gauze to a wound. The Micropore label is

on the inside of the roll when you purchase it. I bought a package with 2 rolls for

$2.99 recently. That was a sale price from $3.50, but I have enough tape to last

about one year with those two rolls when I change the tape daily.

When I say cover your mouth with the tape, I mean cut a piece of Micropore

tape to the width of your lips and then bend the edges about 1/8 to1/4 inch back on

itself to make a little tag on both ends. This will allow two things

1. A handle for you to get the tape off your mouth more quickly, and

2. Some open area on the edges of your mouth.

The tape goes lengthwise across the mouth, not vertically. I know my

husband tried to use a smaller piece vertically, but it works better the other way.

When putting the tape on your lips, close your lips together like you normally rest

your mouth while breathing through your nose. Do not have your lips parted at all.

There will be breathing space on the edges of your lips, and you will be able to


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breathe better through your nose even if you have trouble doing that regularly.

Practice wearing the tape when you are still awake so you know how it feels while

breathing through your nose. Feel where your tongue is placed, lightly touching the

roof of your mouth.

The first few nights you may pull off the tape from your mouth as a reflex

action. Sometimes if you have to cough, or are just not used to the tape you will pull

it off. I know I did a few times the first week, but I did the same thing with the head

sling and Pure Sleep devices too. Now I only pull it off when I have to cough, when

I am usually waking up anyway. The tape can be reattached again even if you pull

it off. When I get up at night for any reason I can take off the tape, put it on the

back of my hand until I am ready to reattach the tape easily.

Snoring Facts

Snoring is now called Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome, and it has become

a social problem. Many people snore. Studies show that about 45% of men and 30%

of women snore regularly, and those that do not snore are often trying to sleep with

a partner that is snoring.

Snoring can be temporary, since it often gets worse during an illness, after

drinking alcohol, or commonly gets worse as we age or with shifts in weight. There

are both thin and heavy people who snore, so even though there are stereotypes

that heavier people snore, it is not always true.

Snoring is caused by vibrations of the tissues of the nose and throat that

cause turbulent airflow. Snoring is caused when the back of the throat narrows. The


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smaller opening causes the tissues around the throat to vibrate because the air is

moving more quickly than usual. This narrowing of the tissues can also be found in

the mouth or nose, and cause other snoring sounds depending on what tissue is

vibrating.

In the back of the mouth is the soft palate and uvula that are often the

vibrating tissues that cause snoring noises. The soft palate separates the mouth

from the nasal passages and either keeps the nasal passage open for air to get to the

lungs, or switches during swallowing so that food will go down into the esophagus

and not back into the nose. The tonsils in the back of the throat can also swell

when fighting viruses and bacteria, and if the stay enlarged they can also vibrate

and cause snoring. Even the tongue can get in the way and cause snoring when it

slips backwards and blocks part of the throat.

Good breathing habits involve breathing through the nose. Our nose is a

filter for incoming air, along with being a heater and humidifier. When we breathe

through our mouth we bring in cooler, drier air that can be more difficult for our

lungs over time.

During our natural breathing cycle the side of the nose that is doing most of

the breathing will change about every 8 hours. If the right side of the nose gets

swollen or inflamed from cold viruses or allergic reactions the left nasal passage will

take over. And then it will switch back and forth between nasal passages during the

day automatically usually without our knowledge.


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Snoring most often occurs when we sleep on our back. In this position

gravity pulls the soft palate, tonsils and tongue backwards. The airway then

narrows causing tissue vibration from turbulence in airflow and then snoring.

Sleeping on the side often helps open the airways and can help reduce snoring.

The problem with snoring is that it can lead to more serious problems.

Sometimes the problem is mostly with the sleep partner of the snorer who has to

endure the snoring sound. But over time the longer the snoring continues, and the

weaker the tissues in the throat get, deeper problems begin to develop. Often

snorers become mouth breathers, and can develop sleep apnea.

The real problem comes with mouth breathing that most often causes

snoring. People with a deviated septum, sinus infections, or allergies will have

more trouble breathing through their nose and will tend to move toward mouth

breathing.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is characterized by a pause or reduction in breathing during

sleep. Officially apnea occurs when breathing stops for 10 seconds or more. Other

definitions of apnea is when there is a 4% drop in saturation of the blood oxygen, or

when there is less than 25% of a normal breath taken for 10 seconds or more.

Apnea causes sleep disruption, and the severity is measured by how many times

apneas occur during the hours of sleep.

A hyponea is another type of decrease in breathing that reduces airflow to

less than 70% but more than 25%. The number of hyponea and apnea events is


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measured during a sleep study and when there are more than 15 per hour a

diagnosis of sleep apnea can be made. Common complications related to sleep apnea

are heart disease often beginning with high blood pressure, daytime sleepiness,

insomnia, and mood swings.

There are two major types of sleep apneacentral sleep apnea and

obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea occurs when our brain does not send

the signal to the muscles to take a breath, so there is no muscular effort to take a

breath. Usually our brain monitors several things to decide when to breathe. If

there is a lack of oxygen or too much carbon dioxide in the blood, breathing will

speed up. When there is a long term increase in carbon dioxide levels in the blood,

the brain disregards the oxygen levels and uses the carbon dioxide levels to

determine when to take the next breath.

When there is a chronic (long term) increase in blood carbon dioxide, the

brain starts to ignore the oxygen level and monitors the blood carbon dioxide level

to determine when to take the next breath. Breathing can slow down or stop until

the carbon dioxide level rises again. So when this occurs there are cycles of fast

breathing followed by slow breathing called Cheyne-Stokes breathing seen with

central sleep apnea.

In obstructive sleep apnea the brain does send a signal to the muscles to try

to take a breath but they are ineffective because the airway is obstructed and

prevents the flow of air. In obstructive sleep apnea the airway collapses, and when

we try to take a breath we are unsuccessful. Then the oxygen level in the blood


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drops signaling the body to wake up and take a breath. Often this is heard as

silence followed by gasps for air. Obstructive sleep apnea is more common in people

over 50 and in obese patients. Up to 50% of cardiac patients and 60% of stroke

patients have obstructive sleep apnea.

Common health conditions caused by obstructive sleep apnea are problems

staying awake during the day, and high blood pressure due to an increase in

sympathetic nervous system and adrenaline that constrict the blood vessels. If

blood pressure is hard to control with medications then look to obstructive sleep

apnea as the cause. Also atrial fibrillation caused by an imbalance in beats between

the upper and lower parts of the heart is more common in people with obstructive

sleep apnea.

So how do you know if you have a snoring or sleep apnea problem? One of the

best ways is to interview family members for feedback, and then evaluate symptoms

of daytime sleepiness or napping, and how often you wake up at night. Also restless

legs during sleep can be another symptom of a potential sleep disorder. One

common test for sleepiness is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. In this test the

person rates his likeliness to fall asleep doing

0 = no risk of falling asleep,

1 = slight risk of falling asleep,

2 = Moderate risk of falling asleep, to

3 = high likelihood of falling asleep with the following symptoms will help rate how

sleepy they really are.


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Rank each category and add up the total score. The higher the total score (up to 24)

the more problems with sleepiness. Any score higher than 10 means moderate to

severe sleepiness.

Epworth Sleepiness Scale

Situation Risk of Dozing

Sitting and reading

Watching television

Sitting (inactive in a public place)

As a passenger in a car riding for an hour

Lying down to rest in the afternoon

Sitting and talking with someone

Sitting quietly after lunch without alcohol

In a care while stopped for a few minutes in traffic

Why is it important to breathe through the nose?

Mouth breathing is common not only with people who snore, but with people

who have more allergies, asthma, heart disease and other medical problems. It is

important to find a way to breathe through the nose while sleeping for both children

and adults.

By breathing through the nose we get better balance of oxygen and carbon

dioxide in our lungs, so that our blood actually has a better pH level that it needs to


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keep our whole body functioning better. The nitric oxide that is produced by the

sinuses during nose breathing helps kill of bacteria we breathe in through our nose.

Also the air coming in to the lungs is warmer and so helps with maintaining body

temperature.

When breathing though our mouth oxygen absorption is decreased, because

our brain thinks carbon dioxide is being lost too quickly. This creates more mucus,

slows the breathing rate and constricts the blood vessels, actually making breathing

more difficult, and causing snoring. Mouth breathing can increase dehydration by

accelerating water loss.

By breathing through our nose, five cranial nerves to the brain function

better because of the improved smelling, moisturizing, dehumidifying, filtering, and

warming of the air that comes into the nasal passages. So our smell ability is better

with nose breathing, which creates better memories and conscious awareness of the

world around us. These olfactory bulbs in our nose are direct extensions of the

hypothalamus in our brain. The hypothalamus controls our heartbeat, temperature,

thirst, blood pressure, sleep cycles, and emotions.

Being consciously aware of nose breathing while awake can help you be able

to nose breathe while sleeping too, preventing snoring. Nose breathing requires

nearly 50 % more resistance to the airway than does mouth breathing, resulting in

10% to 20% percent better oxygen uptake. There must be sufficient nasal resistance

to maintain good elasticity of the lungs. Breathing through the mouth with the nose


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obstructed usually imposes too little resistance and can lead to poor ventilation in

the lungs, seen as emphysema.

Some people think they cannot breathe through their nose because of

congestion or allergies. But with nose breathing mucus cannot build up in the nasal

passages and sinuses as easily so less congestion actually occurs. Taping your

mouth will actually create less mucus in the in the nostrils and you will wake up

with less congestion in the morning.

More Problems with Mouth Breathing

Studies show that when we breathe through our nose we produce nitrous

oxide which not just kills bacteria, but also helps keep our arteries dilated. But

when we do mouth breathing we do not create nitrous oxide so our arteries and

capillaries become constricted and less oxygen gets to our cells.

Hyperventilation Syndrome has symptoms of breathlessness,

lightheadedness, dizziness, excess fatigue, numbness and tingling, and chest pain.

Hyperventilation shows up more in people who have anxious thoughts and stressful

lifestyles. Sometimes these people look calm but have underlying emotions that

they hold inside. Hyperventilation shows up as over breathing when someone is

very upset or anxious.

Physically, hyocapnea and respiratory alkalosis show up with

hyperventilation. One sign that you may be suffering from hyperventilation is when

you take an occasional deep breath while maintaining a normal respiratory rate.

(Personal note: I was noticing that I was taking these deep breaths during my


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normal waking hours, and it was another reason I was seriously looking to make a

change.) Respiratory alkalosis causes less oxygen to get to the tissues, called the

Bohr Effect, and leads to reduced cerebral oxygenation, seen as dizziness or

lightheadedness.

Signs and Symptoms of Hyperventilation Syndrome

General: Weakness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, blurred vision

Psychiatric: Anxiety, depression, phobias, sensations of being unconnected with

reality

Neurologic: Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in extremities,

lightheadedness, fainting spells, vertigo, disorientation, impaired thinking,

seizures, and headaches.

Cardiac: Atrial fibrillation, chest tightness (angina).

Respiratory: Shortness of breath for no reason, unable to take in a deep inspiration,

sighing, and continuous yawning.

Gastrointestinal: Bloating, belching, flatulence, dry mouth.

Muscular: Cramping, spasms, chest muscle pain.

One study showed that hyperventilation causes 23% of vertigo symptoms.

Also shortness of breath symptoms caused by hyperventilation is due to excessive

respiratory efforts to balance the system.

In mouth breathing large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) are removed from

the lungs, blood and tissue cells. A deficiency of CO2 causes alkaline pH and when


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the blood gets too alkaline there is less oxygen to the brain, heart, kidneys, and

other organs.

A carbon dioxide deficiency causes smooth muscle spasms in most organs

including the brain, intestines, biliary ducts, and bronchi. Hypoxia, or brain oxygen

starvation, that is caused by mouth breathing causes tension in the arteries, known

as hypertension.

We often think of carbon dioxide as a waste product that we need to get rid of

since it provides no use to the body. But it works with oxygen to keep the pH in

balance in the tissues. Oxygen is carried by the red blood cells to the all the cells of

the body, while carbon dioxide is found in the blood plasma along with nutrients

our bodies use to regenerate. There can be levels of high CO2 and high oxygen at

the same time in the blood, or with critical conditions both CO2 and oxygen are low.

Carbon dioxide functions to keep the acid/base balance in the body, controls

respiration, and influences circulation in the heart and extremities.

We swallow about 2000 times per day. If we swallow with our mouths open a

lot air is being swallowed. Eventually this causes more pressure in the stomach,

pushing against the esophagus, and weakness will occur, and show up as acid

reflux. The increase in stomach fluids in the esophagus and the throat will cause

loss of elasticity of the tissues in the throat, or stiffness, making it easier to have a

blockage. The soft palate needs to be flexible to avoid this, and the best way is by

nose breathing. Even the increase in asthma, emphysema, and Chronic Obstructive

Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) could be caused by too much mouth breathing. Mouth


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breathers have difficulty swallowing pills. Another tell-tale sign of mouth breathing,

the lower lip needs to be constantly licked because of dryness.

Mouth breathing can be an underlying cause of many problems. Think of how

many people you know who have acid reflux, bloating, heartburn, flatulence,

fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, bronchitis, colitis, asthma, diabetes, or high blood

pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it Really Safe to Cover My Mouth Like This?

Yes, you still can breathe through your mouth slightly, and you can practice

having the tape on when you are not sleeping to get a feel for how you need to

breathe. In fact, if you tend to be a mouth breather during the day I would

recommend wearing the tape at home to get used to it, and to learn to breathe

through your nose regularly.

What about congested sinuses or deviated septums?

Of course, if you cannot breathe at all through your nose due to plugged nasal

passages, you will have to unclog your nose to make this work at all. If you truly

have a deviated septum, you may not be able to effectively wear the tape while you

are sleeping.

A quick trick to get sinuses draining is to put a little (and I mean just a few

grains) of cayenne or red pepper on the outside of your nose that is blocked, or both

sides if necessary. Make sure not to get it in your eyes. The cayenne will not


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damage your eyes but they will burn. The natural heat from the herb will begin the

drainage process in the sinuses very quickly.

What about Nose Snoring?

Even with this tape on sometimes with congestion in the nose, there can be

some light snoring noises. This is where Breathe Right strips could still help. Yet

over time I have noticed much less mucus in the nose upon waking than ever before

since the airways are not creating mucus from pollutants that are being inhaled.

What About Children?

Children have a problem with mouth breathing that can affect their tendency

towards asthma and allergies. Young infants under 6 months old have a natural

reflux called tongue thrust. When they first eat food at about 4 months old they spit

out most of the food until they learn to place their tongue at the roof of their mouth.

By placing the tongue on the roof of the mouth, there are peristaltic waves created

to send the food down the esophagus into the stomach. Air does not get into the

stomach this way. But with the increased use of pacifiers and sippy cups that place

the tongue lower in the jaw while eating or resting, more mouth breathing habits

are occurring in children.

I have not had any experience with children using this tape yet. But my

daughter and I are planning on working with my grandson soon to see how it works.

We did just realize he is a mouth breather.

Over time will this cure my problem eventually so that I do not have to use the

tape?


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From one persons experience that has done this for a while, they were able to

sleep better without snoring without using the tape after just four months. My

experience of using this for the past year has shown that even when I do not use the

tape I do not have sleep apnea symptoms, even though I do mouth breathe still.

What other ideas help to stop snoring and sleep apnea?

1. Avoid dairy especially near bedtime. Dairy products tend to create moremucus in the system due to the casein protein that many people cannot digest

well.

2. Avoid alcohol before bedtime or other muscle relaxing supplements that mayrelax your tongue and throat muscles.

3. Raise the head of your bed by 4 inches so that your airways can stay openmore easily.

One More Benefit

Balancing the Governing and Central Meridians

The Governing meridian is a yang meridian that is the channel of control. It

starts at the base of the spine at the coccyx and ends at the upper palate of the

mouth just inside of the top lip. Energy flow is needed in the governing meridian to

keep our immune system strong.

The Central meridian is a yin meridian that is the channel of function. It is

also called the Conception Vessel and is located up the middle front of the body

starting at the center of the perineum near the pubic bone and ends at the


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depression of the lower lip. This central meridian controls how much energy we

have to interact with the environment.

By touching your tongue to the roof of your mouth you connect these two

meridians like an electrical circuit. It helps create more energy flow through the

body automatically when you consciously keep your tongue touching your upper

palate, improving circulation and reducing overreactions to the environment.

Conclusion

There are many products used to reduce snoring. Some people can be helped

with Breathe Right strips across the nose to open nasal passages. There are also

nasal sprays to help reduce nasal obstructions. The most common device used for

sleep apnea is the C-PAP machine. This device gives a constant increased air

pressure through a mask to keep the airway open. Yet this machine can be noisy

and uncomfortable for both the user and the sleep partner.

Become aware of your breathing during the day. Are you mouth breathing or

nose breathing? How about when you are eating? Is your mouth open when you

chew? Breathing through the nose is proper breathing. George Catlin said more

than 150 years ago, "Shut Your Mouth and Save Your Life". By keeping your

mouth closed while sleeping, you will not only stop most snoring, but will help

prevent many chronic health issues. Try the Micropore tape on your mouth. Learn

to breathe through your nose and not your mouth, daytime and nighttime. Sleep

better and have more mental energy.


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References

Buteyko, K.,Basic Principles of Buteyko Therapy

Henderson, Y., (1940). Carbon Dioxide, Cyclopedia of Medicine

Magarian, G., Middaugh, D., Linz, D., Hyperventilation Syndrome: A Diagnosis

Begging for Recognition, Topics in Primary Care Medicine.

Mercola, J., (2007), Nine Ways to Help You Stop Smoking, www.mercola.com

Sivasankar, K,. Oral breathing increases pH and vocal effort by superficial drying of

vocal fold mucosa.Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders,

Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois

Walter, D. (1988), Applied Kinesiology Synopsis, Systems DC, Pueblo, CO

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