BC Living
Embark on Culinary Adventures: 5 Must-Try Solo Dining Experiences Around BC
You Gotta Try this in April 2024
English Muffins – From Scratch
4 Tips on Balancing a Nutritious Diet with a Side of Indulgence
Choosing Connection: A BC Family Day Pledge to Prioritize Presence Over Plans
Embracing Plant-Based Living this Veganuary and Beyond
Inviting the Steller’s Jay to Your Garden
6 Budget-friendly Holiday Decor Pieces
Dream Home: $8 Million for a Modern Surprise
Travel Light, Travel Right: Minimalist Packing Tips for Solo Explorers
A Solo Traveller’s Guide to Cozy Accommodations
Local Getaway: Relax at a Hidden Cabin along Jordan River
Films and TV Series that Inspire Solo Travel
B.C. Adventures: Our picks for April
Cooking Classes
Sḵwálwen Botanicals – Changing the Face of Skincare
Culinary Fashion: What to wear on “Foodie Field Trips”
Freshen Up your Skincare this Spring with these 9 BC Based Skincare Products
If you're experiencing headaches, anxiety and hypertension, sleep apnea might be to blame
Sleep apnea – a disorder that causes your breathing to stop repeatedly while you sleep – is believed to affect more than seven million Canadians.
During sleep apnea, blood oxygen levels are reduced, CO2 levels rise and sleep is disturbed, as the sleeper must wake to resume breathing. The strain on the body over time can have both physical and psychological consequences such as headaches, depression, anxiety and hypertension.
According to the BC Lung Association, weight loss, exercise, talking to your doctor about the medications you are on, reducing your intake of alcohol and caffeine, and quitting smoking can help.
But what about all those infomercials that claim they can cure sleep apnea? Perhaps, rather surprisingly, Dr. Menn Biagton from the BC Lung Association says they shouldn’t be dismissed completely.
“It depends on the severity of the sleep apnea,” Dr. Biagton told Wellness Matters. “I wouldn’t write them off quite yet. For some people wearing a shirt with a tennis ball attached that will prevent you from sleeping on your back can work, for others a mouth guard that will correct your airways may help.”
She adds that obesity has also been linked to sleep apnea.
Before you decide to explore the possible options, Dr. Biagton advises that you visit your doctor who will be able to diagnose the severity of your sleep apnea by conducting a sleep study.
While most sleep apnea is reported by a spouse, if you are living alone it could be harder to detect. Here are some classic symptoms: