But the most dramatic impact can be made by the administration of a few common herbs.īecause the root cause of this cascade of events is caused by a diminution of the signal from the brain to the diaphragm, you can turn to lobelia. It is beneficial to strengthen the muscles of the soft palate, and it is advantageous to reduce muscular tension in the neck as the nerves from C3, C4, and C5 travel through this area and ultimately become the phrenic nerve that services the diaphragm.īoth of these things will make a noticeable improvement in the condition. The appropriate solution is to accentuate (increase) the ability of the brain to communicate with the diaphragm so that steady breathing is maintained throughout the night. There would then be no resulting snort that arouses the sleeper. If breathing is sufficiently deep, then a rapid inhalation would not be demanded by the brain and the soft palate would not be sucked into the airway. The resulting snorting awakenings typically occur every one to five minutes. As the subject starts to drift off to sleep again, they move into stage 2, the muscle tonus drops, the soft palate sags, signals to the diaphragm diminish, and the cycle repeats anew. Upon awakening or returning to stage 1 sleep, the inhibition causing the reduction of muscle tonus for entry into stage 2 sleep is released and respiration begins again in a somewhat normal manner. But it still disturbs their sleep enough so that they return to stage 1 sleep. Most times, however, the subject is not fully awakened and thus isn’t aware that this is even happening. This obstructs air flow and causes an explosive “snort” that partially or fully awakens the subject. This causes a large pressure differential in the pharynx and literally sucks the sagging-soft palate into the airway. When blood gas levels get too far imbalanced, the brain intervenes and causes the body to make a large and immediate inhalation. This is where the safety back-up system comes in. In an older individual, the respiration reduction causes a significant imbalance in blood gases. In a young and healthy individual, this would elicit stronger and deeper breathing from the control system that regulates these activities. When breathing ceases, blood oxygens level drop and carbon dioxide levels rise. The result is that breathing becomes shallower, due to insufficient signal strength to the diaphragm muscles. While this is happening, the same inhibition of muscle tonus is attenuating the signals to the diaphragm. The muscles of the soft palate in the mouth also become weaker. In patients with sleep apnea, upon entering stage 2 sleep, their breathing will actually come to a stop (apnea means “cessation of breathing”).
The first problem is that the inhibition of signals from the brain to the skeletal muscles tends to inadvertently reduce the signal that tells the diaphragm to breathe. This is called “reduction of muscle tonus.” This function occurs normally and appropriately to keep the dreamer from physically acting out the movements of their dreams. When entering stage 2 sleep in preparation for dreaming, muscular activity is inhibited (blocked). Stage 2 is the transition state before entering REM (rapid eye movement). When people begin to fall asleep, they move from stage 1 (drowsiness) into stage 2 sleep. To better evaluate the solutions, consider what causes sleep apnea.
The cause, addressed succinctly, can be mitigated to a point where sleep is not disturbed. Those devices and techniques address the symptoms of the problem, but leave the cause unaddressed. There is, however, a different approach that is less physically intrusive than surgery or a dental appliance, and far more comfortable than CPAP. And some users develop respiratory infections from the mask. Experience has shown though, that 60 percent of patients are not able to tolerate the mask and ultimately discontinue using it. This forced-air mask, worn during sleep, does insure proper inhalation. Dental mouthpieces can be difficult to sleep with and their long-term effects on tooth alignment are questionable.Īnother common option is to use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. Beyond that, surgery is a possibility, though it is painful and has limited success. When diagnosed, the patient is told to lose weight, drink less alcohol, and quit smoking. There are also serious health consequences of prolonged sleep disturbance and deprivation. The condition prevents the sleeper from entering REM and delta sleep, causing them to become anxious, irritable, and tired during the day. It ruins the sleep of 25 million Americans, with likely millions more who are undiagnosed sufferers. Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disturbance problems in America.
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