Sleep Apnea

OSA affects 10-17% of men and 3-9% of women in the general population.¹ As obesity rates continue to rise, the prevalence of OSA will continue to rise. In OSA, because of the insufficient breathing, the patient’s oxygen levels decrease and carbon dioxide levels increase. This results in he/she awakening to activate the upper airway muscles in order to open the obstructed airway. This leads to poor sleep quality with frequent awakenings leading to other medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

Symptoms of OSA include:

• snoring, choking or gasping for breath while sleeping
• waking up to urinate during the night
• daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and lack of energy
• poor memory or brain fog
• morning headaches
• dry mouth
• sore throat

The risk factors /causes of OSA include:

• age
• male gender
• obesity
• upper airway abnormalities
• enlarged tonsils
• menopause
• tobacco use
• alcohol use
• medical conditions, such as pregnancy, heart failure, hypothyroidism, and chronic lung disease

Diet

• Obesity is a major cause of OSA. A Nutritarian diet will aid in weight loss, supplying the body with micronutrients while avoiding the weight-inducing and addicting foods of the Standard American Diet. A Nutritarian diet includes a wide variety vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, and seeds and minimizes the use of processed foods and animal products. It is designed to be creative, tasty, and filling, while allowing the body to reverse high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and obesity.
• Avoid alcohol, which can worsen sleep apnea.

CPAP

A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine may be necessary initially until the patient adheres to a Nutritarian diet and loses weight. Pressures can be titrated by your physician.