Natural sleep aids are widely used to promote healthy sleep, but they are not a clinically diagnosed treatment option for obstructive or central sleep apnea. However, S.A.R, an herbal supplement designed to sustain nocturnal respiration, can help improve sleep and alertness without uncomfortable, costly, or dangerous alternatives. The Sleep Breathing Support has been shown to reduce sleep apnea naturally and is made in the USA in an FDA audited, GMP facility.
Nature’s Rite sleep apnea relief is an affordable and non-habit-forming option that saves you from going under the knife while sparing you the facemask. It works by helping the body relax and reduce stress, which can help relieve symptoms of sleep apnea. Complementary approaches to sleep apnea treatment, like acupuncture, myofunctional therapy, and humidifiers, may also help relieve apnea symptoms that disrupt sleep.
One capsule of Nature’s Rite Sleep Breating Support (formerly Sleep Apnea Relief) taken 30 minutes before bedtime stimulates stronger breathing, which can help reduce the drop in apnea episodes. This product has been found to work well for some individuals who have suffered from sleep apnea for years. The supplement uses natural herbs such as Lobelia, Meadowsweet, Thyme, Chamomile, and Cramp Bark, which enhance and maintain respiration intensity, increase lung efficiency, relax the sleeper, and reduce muscular tension in the neck.
While the price is a bit high for an herbal supplement, it has been reported to work well for some users. While not a miracle cure, the results have been promising for those experiencing sleep apnea.
📹 NATURE’S RITE: SLEEP APNEA RELIEF #SLEEPAPNEARELIEF
I’ve been trying this product for a week now and so far so good. My husband hasn’t woke me up yet, but we will see. I usually don’t …
Can I ever recover from sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition where the upper airway muscles relax during sleep, causing the individual to stop breathing. There is no cure for sleep apnea, but certain lifestyle factors can help reduce its intensity. Treatment options include lifestyle changes like weight loss or changing sleep positions, medical devices like CPAP machines, or surgery. Despite the lack of a cure, studies suggest that lifestyle changes, medical devices, and surgical options can help manage and alleviate sleep apnea.
Has anyone ever recovered from sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition where the upper airway muscles relax during sleep, causing insufficient airflow. While weight loss can help reduce the severity of the condition, it typically requires treatment to improve symptoms. Lifestyle changes can help treat mild sleep apnea. Doctors may recommend weight loss, avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills, changing sleep positions, stopping smoking, and treating allergies. About half of people with sleep apnea are overweight, and even a few pounds of weight loss can improve symptoms.
Avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills can also help improve air flow. Changing sleep positions, stopping smoking, and treating allergies can also help manage the condition. It is essential to consult a doctor to determine the best treatment plan for each individual’s specific needs.
Can you live a long life with sleep apnea?
Untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and premature death. A Yale University study found that those with sleep apnea for up to five years have a 300% increase in their risk of heart attack or death. The severity of sleep apnea also increases the risk. An 18-year mortality follow-up study found that over 40 of the deaths in those with severe sleep apnea were due to cardiovascular disease. The chance of heart-related death was over five times greater among those with untreated severe sleep apnea.
A 2005 study found that sleep apnea patients are more likely to die in their sleep due to a sudden heart attack, while those without sleep apnea tend to die of heart attacks during the day. The key is to treat sleep apnea sooner rather than later, as untreated sleep apnea can lead to tragic results.
Does sleep apnea ever improve?
Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that can be managed by weight loss or certain treatments. While no cure exists, treatments can help prevent or reduce the frequency or severity of sleep apnea events. These treatments should be part of a daily routine to reduce or eliminate sleep apnea’s effects on one’s life. Some common treatments include conservative nonmedical treatments, positive airway pressure and adaptive ventilation devices, oral appliances, nerve stimulators, surgery, and medications for central sleep apnea only.
What is the most successful treatment for sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition where soft tissues block the airway, causing snoring and sleep disturbance. CPAP machines are the most common and reliable treatment, pushing air through a mask to keep the airway open. BiPAP, or bi-level positive airway pressure, is similar to CPAP but does not provide constant pressure, which may be difficult for some individuals. The adapto servo ventilation machine (ASV) adjusts airflow based on breathing, while the variable positive airway pressure machine (VPAP) provides different amounts of air during the breathing process. While the options in PAP machines can be overwhelming, it is essential to consult a doctor to determine the best choice for your specific needs.
What are the best supplements to help sleep apnea?
Vitamin E supports immune health, cell function, and protects cells from damage, while Vitamin C can reduce sleep apnea episodes. Vitamin B6 aids in depression and insomnia by producing serotonin and melatonin, contributing to good sleep. Vitamin B12 supports cardiovascular health and brain function, and deficiencies in B12 can cause insomnia.
Professional treatment is essential for managing sleep apnea symptoms. Sleep dentists can provide superior treatment, including CPAP machines and oral appliance therapy, which are proven methods for managing sleep apnea. Dr. David J. Drummond, a DDS from Northwestern University Dental School, has been serving patients and families in Lawton, OK for decades. His practice offers a wide range of services, including sleep apnea therapy, and can be contacted for additional information or assistance. Dr. Drummond can be reached at 355-0344.
Can the brain recover from sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea patients can revert to structural neural injury in their brains with effective treatment, according to Vincenza Castronovo, PhD, clinical psychologist at San Raffaele Hospital and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. Treatment with CPAP, if adherent to, is effective in normalizing brain structure. The study, published in the journal Sleep, highlights the destructive nature of sleep apnea and its potential life-changing effects, as stated by American Academy of Sleep Medicine President Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler.
What really works for sleep apnea?
A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is a common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. It provides constant air pressure throughout the upper airways, which helps to facilitate breathing during sleep. The efficacy of CPAP therapy is enhanced when combined with lifestyle modifications. However, adverse effects, including congestion, dry eyes, dry mouth, nosebleeds, and runny nose, may occur.
Has anyone reversed sleep apnea?
Lifestyle modifications, including weight loss and exercise, have been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. In certain instances, the combination of positional therapy and abstinence from alcohol in the hours preceding bedtime can prove an effective treatment for severe sleep apnea.
How I naturally cured my sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea can be improved through home remedies such as changing sleep position, limiting alcohol, exercising, playing a musical instrument, and treating nasal congestion. These remedies work best when combined with medical treatments. It is essential to consult a doctor or sleep specialist about symptoms and severity to determine if additional therapy is needed.
Sleeping on your back can worsen obstructive sleep apnea, as it allows the tongue to fall to the back of the throat and block the airway. Sleeping on your side may help alleviate OSA symptoms. For those who naturally sleep on their back, a customized nightshirt can be used to switch to side sleeping. The discomfort from the tennis ball will encourage rolling back onto your side during the night.
How can I permanently fix sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea can be effectively treated if the underlying anatomical issue is addressed. Treatments may include tonsillectomy, CPAP machine use, hyoid suspension surgery, and UPPP surgery. The treatment of sleep apnea in adults presents certain challenges, the most significant of which is addressing the underlying issue.
📹 DIY Sleep Apnea Fix Update: What We’ve Learned
Learn more about Essential Craftsman www.essentialcraftsman.com.
I completely cured my severe sleep apnea through diet and exercise. I began walking daily and lifting light weights, cut out all refined foods, sugar and alcohol. I ate only a natural whole food diet (no snacking). Within 3-months my weight returned to normal, and my sleep apnea ceased. I was no longer waking up choking and gasping for air in the middle of the night. Today I still exercise daily, eat only whole unrefined foods and cut out all alcohol. Today I rarely even snore, and no more sleep apnea!!
I read the book Breath also. I am now a mouth taper. I used to use a CPAP. I recently went to a sleep clinic. The doctor did not want me to use the tape. I did not however had trained myself to breath through my nose. The sleep clinic found I no longer suffered from apnea. Occasionally, I have to go back to taping as my mouth drops open. So happy I am no longer on the CPAP. I also feel I sleep better breathing through my nose at night. I track my sleeping through a Garmin watch. I am better for all these changes.
🤫 Hidden Secret : When thinking of Sleep Apnea, think of Mitochondrial Health. The top 3 supplements for both conditions: Vit B2, Vit D3, and Magnesium Glycinate. Zinc, Vit C (the sodium ascorbate form, in case acid reflux is also an issue), and Vit E are also excellent contenders to add to the first 3 supplements mentioned. Oh, and, in case anyone’s wondering: One can make DIY nose strips out of athletic tape, for pennies on the dollar 😉 One final one: Keeping the tongue at the roof of the mouth (aka “mewing”), after vertically taping the lips, is also another hack. Really hope all of this helps! Thank you for your article as well, Sir! GREAT information all around.
While I don’t have sleep apnea, it is great to see someone carefully looking for answers on their own. I have been doing this with some of my health issues. One issue for me is the issue of high cholesterol. After many years I failed all the statins (kept the cholesterol down but horrible aches and pains, muscle weakness, and more). The two medicines beyond them were even worse. This set me on a search for information. I discovered many articles by top notch doctors, the types that have multiple PhDs, articles in top medical journals, etc. that have totally debunked the bogus idea of low cholesterol. Cholesterol is good for you–your brain needs lots of it and especially as you age, fatty meats (meaning beef, bacon, etc. not fried) are great for your health, etc. Statins and low cholesterol are linked (actual studies not guesses) to muscle weakness, dementia and other memory issues, auto-immune issues, nerve problems and more. I got off carbs (another whole issue related that I may do a second post on), went protein including meat, dairy, fish, eggs, etc. and lost weight and feel better. Still have residual issues with muscle problems, including a torn meniscus in the knee, and other issues that have cause permanent problems, but on my way to better health. Fortunately I have a family doctor that is on the same track. Here’s 3 links: spacedoc.com youtube.com/watch?v=yX1vBA9bLNk youtube.com/watch?v=t2dHQSj90-A There’s lots more on youtube as well. I’ll do a post about low carb/low sugar with links later.
I have been using CPAP very successfully for over 10 years. Having the correct device and mask makes all the difference! When I had my first sleep study my doctor claimed that I hade the most severe case of sleep apnea she had ever seen! That scared the hell out of me so I forced myself to adapt to CPAP. The improvement in Equiptment over the years is amazing! Good luck with your journey. I love your website.
I use the Nasal strips along with my CPAP and it definitely makes a difference. When it comes to nutrition and sleep I definitely take D3 and Magnesium. If you really want to dial things in, keep a sleep journal. Yes, a sleep journal! Just simple note pad, kept right by your beside and when you wake in the morning take notes on the quality of sleep you had and what your daily or pre-bedtime habits were the night before, right down, to how many hours, mid sleep wake ups to stuff like did you have a beer or whiskey. Just by taking notes you really begin to understand what is effecting your sleep patterns either good or bad. You might be thinking this is going way too far, but for some people like me, I suffered from severe insomnia and apnea that it started to effect relationships. Now I have more energy and no ‘fog brain’ throughout the day. Also the taping of the mouth does work. If you’re having trouble taping your mouth shut, get your wife to do it she’ll be happy to. LOL!
Sir, as a Registered Nurse I know what is typically recommended for conditions and ailments. But you are so right to learn everyone is different and likewise handle situations differently and everyone has different methods of dealing. If it works….it WORKS. I advise patients to be diligent and keep on to solve a problem. If it doesn’t feel right, seem right, look right…..then its probably not right. Doctor, Nurses, other healthcare professionals CAN be wrong. More than one way to skin a cat as the old saying goes. Love your articles and thanks for sharing.
Good article. Mouth taping has helped me sleeping. I used breathe right strips for years, but they irritated my skin and weren’t as effective as using Rhinomed Turbine nasal expanders, which I use now. I can use the same one for several weeks and clean it every morning with Dawn and warm water. I also use XClear nose spray that has really helped alleviate congestion. I can now breathe well thru my nose after being a mouth breather my entire life.
Something that I have learned over the years. Everything that you think will work, doesn’t always work like you thought. Along the same line, sometimes things that you think won’t work, will work. You have to be willing to try things that you think might not work. Sometimes they do. At the worst, you might learn more about what you are trying to do. Thank you for all that you do. You are a great teacher.
You’ve discovered a key to getting better sleep. In addition to your fine article, taping the lips at night may have numerous additional and interesting benefits, I’ll share: – ( ) 21 years ago a dear family member discovered a major benefit to taping his lips at bedtime. Although he had won his battle with squamous cell cancer of the tongue, the radiation treatment left him with a super dry mouth, especially at night. He described it as being “as dry as cardboard”. That’s when he began taping his lips, using a tiny piece of medical grade tape every night before bed. It was enough to keep the small amount of saliva that he was producing from evaporating from mouth to the environment. It provided him with significant relief. Since then, we’ve learned additional benefits of nasal breathing (there are many more): – ( ) Nitrous oxide gas production is a relatively recent discovery and is produced in our sinus cavities – ( ) This gas is a natural “sterilizer” for the upper airway. – ( ) Nitrous oxide actually opens the nasal passages, so after about 10-30 minutes of taping the lips, which forces a person to breathe through the nose, a stuffy nose will most likely clear up and nasal breathing miraculously becomes easy. – ( ) Nitrous oxide keeps blood vessels throughout the body dilated and healthy – ( ) A dry mouth destroys natural teeth via rampant cavities. Sadly, meth addicts get dry mouth that usually destroys their entire dentition to the jawbone. Mouth breathing also causes a dry mouth.
I taped my mouth with one wound closure adhesive strip put on diagonally. I will try the nasal strip since it was hard to fall asleep at first. But I woke up refreshed this morning with out an alarm clock. My blood pressure was low again which is normal for me. Last week it was high and was told by Dr to monitor. Good sleep is important for good blood pressure. Thank you for your article. It’s encouraging.
I jog and that helps a lot. I’ve recently started nose breathing for the first mile or so. I didn’t think my nose could flow enough air for that but it is amazing how you adapt over a few weeks and can breath better. Losing weight is a big help too, even a few pounds of fat overweight can hinder your breathing depending on how your body stores it.
I began mouth taping + nostril tape a couple years ago & it’s helped lowered my resting heart rate, increased my nightly O2 saturation, & decreased my sleep breathing variability (means I wake myself up less due to breathing issues). Happy to see others backing up the concept!!🙌🏼Sweet dreams, all!😴💜👍🏼
Scott, I’m one who learned about mouth taping in the academy. I purchased some of the Griff Grip you mentioned and received immediate help. I also purchased an O2 ring and found that with mouth taping I could maintain over 90% oxygen levels without my Cpap machine. I then upgraded my CPAP machine from a recalled Phillips to an Airsense 10 Card to Cloud. My Cpap doctor recommended some specific medical grade tape which I’m now using. With taping and CPAP use my O2 levels are close to a flat line at 96%. Keep sharing about this on your website.
Thumbs up for the vertical tape! Also, even those of us with a moderately deviated septum initially will benefit from nose breathing, since the nasal and sinus passages adapt over time to the demand. And any increased perception of the “need for air” is actually a sign of slightly elevated blood CO2 levels — which, as you know, is the very thing that physiologically triggers the hemoglobin in red blood cells to dump some O2, which in turn enables you to extract more O2 from the next breath! One thing which has made changes like this easier for me is finding out how they work or fit in with my overall health and life goals. So, the object of mouth taping is not so much to enforce a decision to become a nose breather, but to permit my autonomic nervous system to be retrained properly. This is turn depends on my overall sympathetic/parasympathetic balance — and that depends to a large degree on my circadian harmony. The hormones generated by daylight and darkness are important parts of an energetic cycle that is fundamental. (For instance, there’s strong evidence that the near infrared radiation in sunlight produces a powerful antioxidant right at the mitochondria of cells deep in the body, where the strongly oxidative stress of energy production by ATP takes place.) Similarly, what and when I eat directly impacts the currently operating hormonal regime. The goal here is certainly not to become a micro manager of metabolism, but simply to avoid the main habits that interfere with the body’s innate capability!
I have a full beard and trimmed mustache so the perpendicular taping is not practical, I cut the tape one inch wide to cover the lips only, putting it on horizontally, 2″ (2″ sideways X 1″ up and down tape) allows 1/4 ” clearance on each end so cough and a little talk can come through. This method has changed my life! Thank you! Instead of naps all afternoon, I get one nap every other day and get much more work done! By the way, I really like your website, and watch almost all your articles. Doctor Craftsman you the man!
Another side of this that is often unfortunately overlooked is diet. I suffered for decades with breathing issues and being chronically stuffed up. I tried all kinds of treatments….prescription, herbal etc. I went as far as having septoplasty surgery which was fun! Nothing worked. I also have sleep apnea and really battled to breathe with the CPAP. I did eventually discover that I have a sensitivity/allergy to dairy products and to yeast. Several years ago I drastically reduced the amount of food that contained either from my diet and soon started seeing some benefits. Not only did my nasal breathing improve but also noticed that I no longer had chronic digestion problems and I was able to stop taking medication for an enlarged prostate. I now only have to get up once or twice to go to the bathroom at night which has greatly improved my sleep and I don’t have the side effects of the medication. I’ll admit that I do struggle to keep these foods out of my diet as it is all the stuff I love but with a little tenacity it is worth it! Thanks for all the great content!!!
Thanks for the update EC. I most likely have sleep apnea and definitely a mouth breather that is plagued by sinus swelling. I do use a steroid sinus spray to help my sinus breathing. I just wanted to say that when you previously mentioned that mouth breathing at night inhibits your ability to reach REM sleep and have dreams. I noticed that I couldn’t or didn’t have dreams and mentioned it to my wife after she always tells me she has funny weird dreams. I haven’t started taping my mouth yet (but did buy some), I’m using my sinus spray more often so I can breath through my nose at night and I make it a point to make myself breath more through my nose while sleeping on my side and now I dream constantly so I must be getting more rem sleep. Thanks for that. I will definitely be trying the nasal strips and if I need to I will try the tape. So thanks for venturing off onto a subject that is important to everyone’s health! Keep up the good work.
Thanks again for all that you and Nate… the education on any and all levels that can be had on your website is refreshing in the times of bad news getting the most attention on the media. I love that I can escape here and get helpful shop tips, carpentry tricks and even the rare healthcare hacks! Thanks again! Keep up the exceptional (as well as educational, motivational, inspirational and all-around entertaining content!
good use of youtube and truly SOCIAL media. I usually despair of social media and how we humans are not really ready to interact in this way, but such articles like yours restore a bit of faith in me that there is a slim chance we might not completely destroy ourselves and our societies by (mis-)using them most of the time…
This is tremendously important to helping me as I have struggled for 10 years now as a contractor & I ask often how much longer can I do what I do & I’m only 38 years young. I have known that my right nasal passage collapse that long ago & became a mouth breather at night without even knowing it until this article. Really hoping for change as I apply these solutions. People need to know just how hard you pushed yourself to accomplish what you have with the fatigue & lack of replenishment all that time. God bless you brother. 👍🏼🙏😎
I’ve been on a CPAP for mild apnea for 4 years, always had a little problem with dry mouth and air escaping through my mouth. I tried the mouth taping and here is what I discovered for myself: 1) After sleeping for about two weeks with tape only, I slept slept okay, but the sleep quality has slowly gone down, so it is not the final answer for me. I seem to be sleeping well, but some of the old tiredness symptoms were coming back. 2) Some combination of mouth-taping and CPAP are likely to be the answer for me. Experimenting with the tape position and size is important and highly subjective. I don’t need much tape to keep my mouth shut. It helps alleviate the dry mouth problem and eliminate the snoring myself awake problem. 3) The kinesiology tape is fantastic stuff. Besides holding my mouth shut comfortably, a small piece across the bridge of my nose has improve the CPAP mask comfort, eliminating a lot of the slipping around and discomfort. Thanks, Nate, for all of the inspiring articles that make me want to improve my meager skills.
I have use an oral appliance made by SomnoMed, it is called the Herbst Advance. It is the best thing I have used so far. I went for a sleep study and was told that an oral appliance would be a good fit for my condition. I had one before this and kept breaking it. People don’t realize just how strong your jaws are. Anyway the above mentioned appliance is order through your dentist, they make impressions and send it off the lab where they are made. I can’t remember the cost but is dependent on your location. I have nothing but praise about this and my wife will tell you it has stopped my snoring, except when I’m really tired I will snore some.
I’ve suffered from sleep apnea for 40 years. I’ve had major surgery (jaw advancement),various machines, uvuolplasty, and I’m now using a dental appliance that advances my jaw forward while asleep. That has shown to be very effective and bonus keeps me from teeth grinding. There are dentists that specialize in this therapy. But I hope your insurance will cover a sleep study because it can discover other causes. Turns out that I have “restless leg syndrome” which has to be regulated with a med. It’s a long journey and effects quality of life. I’m glad you brought up the subject since it effects so many. Thanks
Been meaning to comment about this since your earlier article. Had a small heart attack ten years back and I know my apnea was part of the mix. Bad snoring for years and I woke up tired every morning with a dull ache in the chest. A drooled-upon pillow and the inability to sleep on my back got me to try a ‘snore stop’ chin strap. Worked great for a couple years until it wore out and I couldn’t find a suitable replacement on Amazon. I bought a 5-pack of cotton stretchy hair bands like a little girl would wear (white), and they work great when hooked to the chin. Extremely easy to talk, drink water, cough or whatever. Been 6 years or so and it still works … applies just enough pressure to keep the mouth shut! Thanks for sharing your path. Keep up the good work 😀 0:03
Scott. I’m glad you’re finding help. I’m not sure if you’ve tried it, but Magnesium before bedtime will help you relax and get better sleep. The glycinate form should be best for you. I’ve had mild apnea for a long time and the military doc’s have me wearing a dental mouth guard (not sure of the term) that projects my lower jaw outward in order to allow better oxygen flow. This seems to work and stops my snoring which the wife loves. 😅I probably watch the same doc on youtube and he recommends gargling with salt water before bedtime also. I haven’t tried this yet, but I will. I have heard him say that both the magnesium and salt water will reduce inflamation. I can’t see how it would hurt to try. Stay well…
On Mouth Taping I’ve used 1″ wide “3M Micropore” Tape with great results going on 5 years. You can buy a “scotch tape type” dispenser for the micropore – very convenient – so no need to for scissors. I tape my mouth up & down with a 2″ long strip (nose to chin orientation) One night I tape my lips 1mm right of centre – the next night I tape 1mm left of centre. Doing this helps the lips getting less beat up (time to heal from the tape glue & the removable thereof) – in lieu of taping the same spot every night. As indicated – with over 5 years of taping – this method keeps me breathing through my nose more than 95% of the time – while keeping my lips “fresh”-:) You would figure that after 5 years of doing this the body would do a little bit of learning & not have to tape any more – NOPE – no such luck for me. If I forget to tape or the tape just does not hold quite right, I wake up with a mouth full of “cotton ball mouth’…
Things I’ve been trying to improve my Sleep apnea: – Excercise my tongue, and jaw. For the tongue, the REMplenish myonozzle has made me very aware of proper tongue posture. Also mewing excercises help as hell. – Jawsrsize for jaw training. From what I saw in the book breathe, proper jaw training helps expand our nose airways. I haven’t measure it. Supposedly it helps with producing STEM cells that expand our nose airways. I used to moan at night when sleeping, and at least now, this has improved to some slight snoring… from recoriding my sleep at night, i don’t hear myself moan anymore, just some light snoring… I’m still on my journey on improving, but these things have definitely helped! BTW yes mouse taping is a must for me as well.
If you feel comfortable that your watch is giving you accurate results then don’t worry…keeping your O2 saturation up is the end game and how you get there reliably is all that matters. Year ago I tried sleeping with a pulse oximeter on my and that did not work out well. Maybe I need to see what the updated Galaxy watch can do…I am not much of an Apple guy. Also do some reading about taking D3 with K2…maybe that’s more of a dietary benefit than sleep apnea benefit but it won’t hurt to do some reading.
I have always enjoyed your approach to problems. You have very methodical solutions. Oddly enough at the time of your first article on this topic a friend needed a CPAP machine and apparently they are rare at the moment or unaffordable. I cant wait to share the follow up! Btw I can watch more topics you do 😉 The medical community is doing fine getting repeat customers. Anyone who tells a T2 diabetic to eat carbs or in between meals is doing a disservice to their patients. You can beat T2 by fasting and time restricted eating. I no longer have numbers that support the diagnosis. Thanks again.
You could probably achieve similar results much more comfortably using a cloth chin strap. I have been using a CPAP for 12 years now and love it. My first mask only pressurized my nose and my mouth would fall open but I solved that problem by switching to a mask that covers both nose and mouth. I recall the sleep doctor mentioning the existence of a those chin straps as an alternative though I never tried one.. As a woodworker myself, I seem to get sawdust everywhere, -often even tracks into my living quarters. So I really appreciate breathing warm humidified and HEPA filtrated air all through the night! Would highly recommend a CPAP machine!
I use the silicone nostril inserts. I’m an italian greaseball by genetics, and for the breatheright to stay on, i have to scrub my nose with alcohol. Makes it HELL getting the thing off next morning. The nostril things are pretty easy to get used to, you can wash em and reuse for MONTHS, and they’re cheap.
Love this content. I’ve struggled with this my whole life and recall a friend telling me in my youth that I was a “mouth breather”. And that was back when I was approx. 10yrs old… I do have a nose issue with one side clogging up at a time. I do have a deviated septum that was noted in an unrelated x-ray in my mid 20’s so I’d have to get that looked at, but I would love to get this resolved. Thanks for the efforts in helping others like this. Regards,
I read the book Breath, 2 years ago and Its simply made my life better. I have been using nose strips for ten years, I wear them under (medical) face masks as well. Go on youtube and search for breathing exercises, they help too. Think about starting the practice of meditation as well. And you are still using too much tape. Thanks for all your articles and good luck. PS. Most doctors do not know very much about breathing properly (through your nose) and they just want to give you some kind of drug and or a cpap machine.
One thing you get with a community of grumpy old men, is life hacks for getting old and grumpy gracefully. Mine is collagen. I put a scoop of it in my coffee every morning on weekdays. My joints feel a bit more limber, and I’ve noticed the pores on my face shrink. Side benefit. I am always confused for a younger man, which isn’t a bad problem to have.
I came back to your website to give feedback on the first mouth taping article and found this update from yesterday, which is a cool coincidence. – Thank you for sharing your experience, and doing so despite your initial reluctance. Your virtual crew has great instincts. – I’d heard the journalist you referenced give an interview on his findings a while back, and have been mouth taping since then. But no tape worked really well. – I was thrilled to stumble across your first article on the subject, illustrating what I knew could work. I was even more thrilled to try the tape you recommended. It’s perfect for this use. – I’m sleeping better as a result of your recommendation. It’s amazing not to wake up groggy and tired. – I just noticed that part of what makes you such a great communicator is that you rarely use self-interrupters such as “um” and “uh.” That’s so cool. – I wish everyone good health and projects of every kind. – Now that I’ve stumbled across you, I look forward to learning some carpentry. Cheers.
Interesting article. I’ve heard of this before and people say it has worked for them. My reason for commenting is to say the breathing strips do work, although I have only used them during allergy episodes and with a head cold. But I as sure you are aware of it but worth repeating is that Vitamin D3 is a fat soluble vitamin and must be consumed with foods like eggs,bacon, avocados etc. so taking it wit your orange juice will make it pretty much just go through!
My results have varied. The first time I taped my mouth shut and tried to sleep without the CPAP, I was so nervous that I put the CPAP on about 4 hours in because I just “needed” the air pressure to relax. The data from the sleepwatch app indicated that the time I have slept without the CPAP with my mouth taped was deep high quality sleep though. Since then I have played around with taping and not taping and comparing the overnight data from the app; for the most part my sleep quality is better with the CPAP on, but I know that I can survive with no CPAP and just mouth taping. Do I understand that you are completely off the CPAP/BiPAP? Thanks for sharing! I am much more confident with this tweaking and experimentation knowing someone else is out there searching also
I started doing the taping after your first article and really had no problems and I stuck with it. I have a mustache and goatee, so I don’t think that the method shown here would work as well, but I will try it. I think you’ve saved a lot of people from potentially dying earlier in life then they otherwise might have if they hadn’t done anything. So, thank you for that.
I have been doing this tape routine for about 8 months. What I found out was if you position your lower lip under your upper lip prior to applying the tape, eventually the tape will pull the skin under your nose down. When this happens it has a similar effect as using the nose tape. It opens up your nostrils for better air passage. Try it, you’ll like it.
Very interesting and very informative. I have been suffering with sleep apnea for probably over two decades. About ten years ago I started using a CPAP machine and it works for me. However, I do like what you have discovered and some day I may try that system. I have become used to my CPAP so it does not cause me much difficulty but I certainly see the benefits of the tape system. Thanks for sharing and you seem like a very knowledgeable person and very sincere. You remind me a lot of Buckin Billy Ray.
Scott I too have asleep apnea and a cpap machine and according to the sleep doctor I am the poster child for the cpap machine . One time at my dentist we were talking about sleep apnea and he suggested a laser treatment for my soft pallet. It seems that most of my problems were in my mouth however you can have restrictions anywhere along your airway. I did the laser treatments 6 of them you would not believe the difference they made for me. The way he explained it to me is that the laser brakes down the collagen in the soft pallet and as it heals it tightens the soft pallet. This has the same effect as having surgery for sleep apnea which as I understand more miss than hit but with the laser if there is a problem they can stop the treatments at any time and the problems will correct themselves. My advice to you as a electrician the is the son of a carpenter is find out where your restriction is in your airway if it is in your mouth find a doctor or dentist that treats sleep apnea with a laser and go for it. The only drawback is maintenance treatments are required every 6 months to maintain the soft pallet or it will go back to it’s origional shape but for me that is not a problem because I go th the dentist every 6 months anyway Greg
My VA clinician said I’m part of a small percent of her patients who uses my CPAP. Before using it I needed 2 hours in the morning to get to where I could think clearly. Now I wake up rested, alert, and ready for my day. I’m sure my experience is nowhere near universal, but when the difference is that profound… well, I know what you mean about giving thanks every day. Thanks for the info and the perspective.
You never cease to amaze me, SERIOUSLY !!!!!! We are a sleep deprived society . As a retired Professional Firefighter, I simply figured that my shift work for over 25 years seriously forever affected my ability to ever sleep soundly again. Being woken up throughout the night at all hours by alarm calls is known to “throw off one’s circadian rhythm”, basically eliminating the ability to ever feel rested in the morning ever again. I’m going to try this option, exactly as presented, vitamins included. I will journal for 2 months and report back to this website. I am a very open minded individual, and I have found that Doctors in my area here in Nova Scotia, Canada, are VERY, VERY, CLOSE MINDED. I am lucky if I get 4-5 hours of sleep a night. Tonight I fell asleep at 11pm and woke up at 1:32am, it is now 3:29am locally. I found this episode while searching how to locate an air leak in my son’s plumbing system in his brand new house (pex pipe under concrete slab protected by foam insulation somehow is leaking) and the Inspector arrives in 2 days. I believe in FATE and KARMA, BIG TIME. Your Youtube website is BY FAR one of the very best on the Internet. I wish you all excellent health and much happiness. Thank you for this topic.
Hospitalised for 8 fractured ribs. To increase kxygen the nurse brought an empty plastic vinegar bottle,cut off the top. They filled it with water 1/2 ti the top. Then inserted a tube from hardware store. I also have asthma & they said to increase oxygen levels, breath in hold to count of 5 & then blow into the tube in the water,until i couldnt push out anymore air. I do this twice a day 5 times and it helps keep my lungs aerated. Such simple methods work.
Glad you’ve found solutions that are working for you and that you’ve shared your solutions with others. One cost saving alternative to the Breath Right nasal strips you might want to consider would be one of many different nasal dilators which are typically made of silicon and that can be used over and over again.
Every single night I wear a Breathe Right nasal strip to bed (or the Acme brand like your example, lol) to keep me from snoring and to help me breathe through my nose. It helps me so much that I started basically wearing them on the job all day too. I get a lot of “What happened to your nose?” comments, but it makes a world of difference for me
I had a nose job to increase the opening in my nasal passages 8 years ago. That helped with breathing some but it doesn’t last forever maybe 5 years but it is still a bit better than before. If they open your passages up too much you can suffer from dry nose so doctors are conservative. Like me, some folks’ nasal tissues swell when they lie flat. This is not related to allergies or a cold, it is a positional thing. I purchased a tempur-pedic adjustable mattress and raise my head and the top of my body at an angle which alleviates this problem and made a huge difference. If I sleep in a hotel or cannot sleep with my head higher the difference is huge. Low testosterone causes sleeping problems as well so get your levels checked. It is easy to rub some gel on your shoulders and it helps with sleep too. Breath right strips and D3 are helpful for me as well. Sleepwatch and other apps are very useful I have used SW for years. Even if you are asleep 8 hours it does not guarantee you get restful sleep. Sleep Apnea prevents you from traversing the full sleep cycle 4 times a night – level 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1 and wake. Thank you so much for sharing what you have discovered on your path to restful sleep and thank you for caring!
I take vitamin D3 primarily for depression. I was not getting enough sun. I was thinking about suicide all the time. A rheumatologist I saw for pain found my D3 levels were very low. She gave me a high dosage for a couple of weeks and then instructed me to take supplements. I am at 6K IU. The suicidal ideation went away immediately and my overall feelings of depression and fatigue decreased. Omega 3 also helps with depression, fyi.
I am generally refreshed with 6-7 hours of sleep. But I have to sleep on my side. If I lay flat on my back in bed and fall asleep I usually wake myself up with a very loud snore and feel like I was chocking for air. We are all physiologically different. As a life long tobacco abuser I am still astounded that I seem to prefer to breath through my nose at night as long as I lay on my side.
Mouth taping is awesome. I’ve been doing it ever since I saw the interview of Joe Rogan with James Nestor on JRE #1506. Go watch it, it’s so good. As for the tape I use: Leukosilk 2.5cmx5m works best. You can tear it to size, so no scissors required, and just a narrow strip, half of what is shown on this article, is enough to keep the lips tight. And another tip: If you are a runner: Start breathing through your nose as much as possible. Within 2 months of weekly running I was able to run as fast and as far as I can, breathing only through my nose. Why is that useful? Because the inside of you nose is adjusting and becoming less resistant to air flow and that makes breathing through your nose easier even when you’re not running.
A lot of people develop poor breathing habits because of poor posture. Depending on your spine curves and how straight your posture is will determine which areas you use to breathe. Hunched over posture compresses the lower diaphragm and you are more likely to chest breathe. Head forward posture favors mouth breathing etc. We like to breathe using the path of least resistance. Fix the posture, fix the breathing! I too am in the construction trades, but this is my experience 🙂
Vitamin D supplementation is very important for many reasons for people in Northern climates. Please look into the importance of taking a vitamin D supplement that also includes vitamin K2 as that additional vitamin helps keep the vitamin D from stealing calcium from the bones and/or helps shuttle calcium into the bones rather than have it floating through your bloodstream and tissues. Lots of articles on this on youtube if you search for vitamin D and K2.
Just a posssible work around for the mouth tape/nasal strip. The nasal strip, with a slight shortening of strip length, MIGHT, work as well, if not better, than the tape. It would definitely give you more “breathe around” room than the tape. As a submarine corpsman I often found I had to make what I needed out of what I had
I have a CPAP with a nose mask and the difference in my sleep was astonishing. I went to sleep the first night with my CPAP and once I closed my eyes, I went into a deep, deep sleep. My wife said I never moved even one time the entire night and I slept almost 10 hours straight. I have had it for over 2 years now and I sleep great. I had no trouble breathing using my nose only once I turn on my CPAP. My wife now sleeps great because I don’t snore at all anymore and I find that I have a lot more energy during the day.
Another great article. I use a pair of bottle jacks to keep my nostrils open- sorry, I mean a size large generic nose strip, in addition to my CPAP machine. It hasn’t been a miracle cure, but I do feel better, and I was also one of those people who pegged the meter in terms of apnea incidents per hour (and also a blood oxygen level of 79%!). I may try the taping method at some point, but I’ll definitely continue to use the nose strip. A great invention, and one that could have been developed a hundred years ago, just nobody thought of it.
A simple exercise got rid of my severe sleep apnea. Doctor told me there is a muscle in the throat that allows sleep apnea to occur. I asked him for an exercise. He did not have 1. Took me 2.5 years of further research to stumble on the right one. Learn to play the digeridoo. Since I did not have one, I just used different sizes of pipes or tubes. The smaller the pipe, the harder you have to blow. This back pressure effectively exercises the weakened muscle
I am a Registered Sleep Technologist and Registered Respiratory Therapist and PAP user. The reason many (if not most) people open their mouth on CPAP/BiPAP is they do not have their humidifier set properly, most have it set too low. This causes the nose to congest and thus you open your mouth. Humidity levels will vary depending on location, so you will have to experiment. This should greatly help but is not always curative, especially if you have a deviated septum, nasal polyps, seasonal allergies. Talk with your sleep physician ( I personally do not recommend PA or Nurse practitioners as they are NOT specialists and lack comprehensive training).
I used the nasal strips for years and the glue would irritate my nose after a while, so I switched to this thing called a mute nasal device. Works the same way, but from the inside out, so you don’t need the glue. Also, I just recently learned that taking vitamin D3 without K2 can be bad for your arteries. A lot of supplement companies are selling them together now.
I’ve suffered from sleep apnea for years, and had bad experiences with CPAPs. I went out and bought the kinesthesiology tape you recommended right after the article, and have been using it for weeks with good result. It doesn’t completely eliminate it, but I’ve noticed the improvement, and my wife has too.
I left out that my insomnia I’ve had for decades is now replaced with wonderful dreaming and waking up feeling wonderful. I take Mg Oxide and Mg Citrate. I like the idea of elasticizing all the arteries and other websites. I believe that I took Calcium Magnesium Zinc and D3 which might have helped me a lot, for decades, as did my mother, but this supplement didn’t have enough magnesium, so I have calcium deposits everywhere, like thyroid nodules, abnormal calcium deposits causing me to limp in my thigh-groin area. I have new hope of magnesium clearing these out. Thx
I’ve been making Reishi mushroom tea for about 6 years now and it changed my life and increased my health so much it’s pretty hard to believe. If you search for “1 pound reishi” on ebay, I buy the one from NY that costs 25 dollars and it lasts me a month or two of brewing a pot every day or two. As for how it relates to this article, I find it does an incredible job clearing out my sinuses and airways. My mucous will go from hard and dark colored to perfectly clear and gel like and almost runny. Just like they say how a dog with a dry nose is not healthy I think it’s the same for us with dry crusty nose boogers. I drink it any time my nose isn’t clear, I have a sore throat, upset stomach, or feel weak and unhealthy in any way. I fill a pot of water and put it on the stove and break up enough mushroom slices to cover the surface of the full pot of water and simmer it as low as it will just barely make bubbles for about an hour then the pieces will sink to the bottom and it’s best drank hot just like coffee. I hope that helps people, it’s one of the oldest known health remedies in the world too so it has pedigree.
I’m a carpenter and general contractor by trade also. Never commented on one of your articles, but I’ve been perusal a long time. I didn’t know that I had sleep apnea until recently… I put a lot of money into bonding over the past few months on my teeth, so my dentist recommended a mouth guard to protect them. Likewise, I went along with his suggestion and when I slept with the mouth guard, I was thinking it was going to be horrible to get used to. Turns out, I got the best night of sleep in years because it adjusted my jaw position. I have a beard, there is no way I will tape my face shut every night, but if that works for you I’m glad you are sleeping well. Best wishes – Tim
Out here in the Midwest where I live we have doctors who specialize in alternative breathing solutions. They advocate for a procedure called balloon sinuplasty, which helps open up your nasal airway if you have issues getting enough oxygen through your airway. In addition, you might want to invest in a pulse oxymeter with a histograph (memory function) to record your pulse and oxygen rate at night. I have heard of many complaints about how accurate the Apple watches are at measuring vitals.
Hi I’m new here and just watched this article, I use cpap machine only for the last 4 months and I find it troublesome. I use a full face mask which I’ve tried a few masks and I find a full face mask the most comfortable . I use red med 10 machine with the humidifier, how ever, my mouth was constantly dry even using the humidifier. (I take medication that drys my mouth also)So I had a look online and found these on Amazon to moisten the mouth while you sleep. The little round discs are adhesive and sticks to the upper gum line and stays there all night and does not move, it dissolves slowly whilst sleeping moistening your mouth. I’ve found this helps a lot. Called xyliMelts you can buy a trial pack of 4 discs to try. But they are a game changer for me. I’m from the United Kingdom.
Super glad to see the Apple Watch helping you, although I didn’t work on this directly, it’s really nice to see people getting benefit from a product from a company I worked at. I originally dismissed the Apple Watch the toy without real purpose, boy was I wrong, I have now heard several stories of it saving peoples lives by detecting a car crash or fall with an elderly person. And again I didn’t work on this personally, but it sure made me feel good to know I was working for a company that was having real measurable positive impact in peoples lives.
I’ve had issues with sleep apnea, for 25+ years, having worked for 40 years in construction, most recently I’ve been carving designs in carpet, 20 years. After trying all of the things you spoke of I learned that the C-pap was more likely to kill me than help, so I bought a football mouth piece with upper and lower capacity, and I formed it while thrusting my lower jaw forward, It felt a little strange, but after 3 nights, I found that I could sleep without snoring. Long story short, 20+ years later I have made 4-5 of them when they get worn out, and I never need the Cpap, or nasal strips, and I get the same effect as taping your mouth shut, but I just put in the mouth piece. I’ve been told that you can buy a mouth piece for sleep, but they cost $100’s of dollars. In 20 years I may have spent 40$! Important part is to thrust your lower jaw forward when you are forming the mouth piece. I’m nearly 70 years old now have had a lot of back /knee/and hip surgeries, and I don’t think I’ll ever change. I do soak the mouthpiece in mouthwash, water and hydrogen peroxide ever week, and it came with a container that I clean. If I sneeze or something I can flip the mouth piece out easily with my tongue etc.
I think you’re onto something here… My grandfather used a chin strap for his snoring and apnea as recommended by his doctor. He lived to be nearly 100. The concept is similar in that it keeps the mouth closed and forces you to breath through your nose, but leave the lips free and is relatively easy to still cough, talk, or even get a sip of water in the middle of the night.
As a mechanic day time sleepiness and falling to sleep while driving customers cars scared me badly. I am retired now. The Good Lord was perusal over me and I never wreaked or got in an accident while driving customers cars. Yes I have been using a CPAP machine for 20+ years now. When my allergies flare up the CPAP machine struggles to keep up. I will try the mouth tape. Some morning I get up with headaches because the machine failed to overcome head congestion. Thank you for sharing. As I talk to many people I am surprised how many have sleep apnea. A good night sleep is a vary valuable thing. Now I think about you climbing around in the rafters of that building you are making, glad you are getting a good night sleep.
I’ve been dealing with headaches and neck pain for years. Recently, I started wearing a soft-molded mouthguard. As it turns out, I had been grinding my teeth at night which was causing all of the tightness in my neck which in turn caused tension headaches. So, for $15 on Amazon, I was able to buy a box of DIY mouthguards and consequently relieve a lot of misery from daily headaches
I just saw my first article on tape 2 days ago. First thought: People’s ability to think outside the established norm must be very, very, very poor! How in the heck could such a simple solution only be coming to light now? I tried it right away. Luckily in the medicine cabinet I found a very nice medical tape that works great. My first note, is that I used to wake up with a dry throat. Not with the tape. The first night, I woke up a few times, similar to before. The second night, not only did I go to bed early, but only woke up once. No bad side effects so far. Usually I don’t sleep well going to bed early.
Trimming nasal hair very short and keeping your room totally blacked out and cool improves your breathing and you won’t cut your sleep short by the morning sun. Also, make sure your pillow and bed are not worn out. Check out sleep apnea pillows that help keep your neck from getting tweeked and reducing your air flow.
I’ve had started the hard way and went 2-1/2 years without REM sleep and had been fired from one job and so happens another boss hired me because he knew my work and was willing to help,long story short the first night after receiving my machine after much testing was almost a miracle I awoke the next morning feeling like a kid again I was then in my early 50’s, currently I’m 62 and will only sleep about 4-6 hours at a time regardless of how tired I am. So I’m willing to try anything to assist my sleep time. Thankyou for sharing your active pursuit of happiness. Yes I started right outa High school as a framer carpenter and hated it,but soon found my niche as I leaned towards being a finish carpenter and building cabinets. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge in this trade.❤️👍🙏
I watched your other article on suspenders a while ago, but I went the other way, overalls Anyways I searched sleep apnea yesterday, and today YouTube recommended this article I bought a mouth guard that’s supposed to help, if it doesn’t I’ll try the nasal strips nexts, good article, the suspenders article was good too
First and foremost,Thank you for the carpenter articles, being one myself for the past 23 years I have learned more and more each time. Commercial carpenter is what I’ve been doing (insulating buildings/specialty trade with the Union). I had an accident in2013 where I fell and broke bones in both my legs,which ended up being a blessing in disguise for which I found out that I had sleep apnea to the point of almost dying in my sleep. Wake Up Call! My wife and oldest daughter recognized it while I was passed out from the pain meds. They noticed that I would stop breathing for up too 20 seconds or more at a time. Thru this discovery I looked into getting a sleep study done and found out how bad it was (don’t really remember the numbers but they were Bad). Received a cpap machine from my insurance and haven’t regretted anything! Better night sleep ever since,4 to 6 hours of solid sleep is all that I need to get thru my busy,busy day.
You may want to look into the Bohr effect, that explains how higher CO2 in your blood actually facilitates cellular oxygen intake, and into Buteyko breathing, the practice of desensitizing your autonomous system to your CO2 sensors (“capnic”). I learned about those thanks to my sleep apnea specialist.
As a young man who wants to learn how to be handy and wants to do more diy stuff. You’re articles have been invaluable to me. I have learn so much from your articles and have inspired me to learn. As an engineering student as well I have been able to take the wisdom of construction you have passed on to me and incorporate it into my thought process and what is involved with manufacturing. I love how your articles are showing us the learning process. Most people gloss over mistakes and issues and I love how you embrace them. I love seeing that learning and embracing issues and mistakes. Keep up the good work. I wish I had the money to contribute to the website. Just know what you are doing for young people is fantastic
My major health tip is to get stung by a honey bee(assuming you aren’t allergic) at least once and see how you feel in a few hours. It has been life changing for me. From debilitating joint pain and general inflammation down to a very manageable level within minutes of the sting. After a times of once a month stings I’m a new person.
In case no one has mentioned, using a neti pot before bed to flush out the sinuses might allow for more efficient nose breathing. I use an even thinner strip and I use paper medical tape. It works pretty good but I don’t like the residue it leaves on my lips in the morning. I’m going to try the nasal strips. I already take vitamin D but after seeing this I think I’ll start taking more. Thank you for the follow up.
For dry mouth try XyliMelts . XyliMelts are oral-adhering discs that stick to your teeth or gums to relieve persistent dry mouth.. The tabs are easy to use you slip one in between your lip and gum where they will stick and slowly melt. One mint will l last the night. Recommended to me by my dental hygienist. They’re available at Walmart or Amazon.
Carpal Tunnel/hand/fore arm stretching. 1) Tips of fingers on edge of counter/table/ vehicle dash. 2) Elbow as straight as you can get it. 3) Bending at the wrist can get a better stretch. Start with it straight and work into it… 4) Curl index finger into your palm. 5) Be prepared for the jolt you’ll feel… 6) Hold for 10 count. 7) Move to next finger, placing all others on the edge. 8) I don’t usually get much stretch from the pinky finger, but I do stretch it from time to time. 9) DON’T shake your hands out after stretching. Instead, stretch your wrist using your other hand to help bend it, forward and back. Been doing this for years now, every morning and evening while driving. Sometimes stretch during the day depending on what I’ve been doing. Most of the time I can get a stretch clear up into my elbow. My hands don’t hurt after a day of driving decking screws and my forearms don’t feel like rock hard concrete.
I take more vitamin D in the winter, because I can’t get it from the sun or the veggies as much as the rest of the year. That’s part of the reason you feel a little better. Being in PNW, you will have less possible winter sunlight hours than I do in TN. I spent a year and a half in AK. The winter months there were BRUTAL for my mental health and overall energy levels.
One thing to keep in mind is that it is very often the case that expertise, particularly the credentialed kind, is inextricably intertwined with conflict of interest. This shows up in all kinds of different domains, but the way it manifests here is that many sleep docs make a very handsome living from pushing the most expensive solution to the problem, CPAPs and similar electronic medical devices. When my wife’s family doctor suggested she get a sleep study, the place that does them was already calling her before she even got back to her car. That level of eagerness is at least a small red flag in my mind. Does that mean all docs are selling you up the river for a buck? No, but at the same time you can’t assume that every doctor’s incentives are as pure as the wind-driven snow. I still think CPAPs are a robust treatment for many people, but for those who can’t tolerate them for whatever reason, I’m glad that this kind of information is being shared around by people who don’t have that much to gain by it
Great tips. I had a mini stroke in 2022. It was brought on by sleep apnea. My #’s in the beginning were like up in the 40’s or higher episodes per hr. 1 yr in on using my cpap & i come across Dr Ken Berry’s youtube chl. He has so much helpful tips. I changed by diet to carnivore. By doing that i learned im gluten intolerant. On the 1st day of eating only meat my cpap # went to 0.8. That is such a Big difference it was mind blowing. I got off all my blood pressure meds & lost 30lbs. I keep a journal of my progress. My bp is ALWAYS Normal range. My cpap # is ALWAYS Under 10. But if if eat a burger & the bun not only do i get sick with diarrhea, but my cpap # ends up higher like 18. So diet plays a MAJOR Roll in this situation. Something my dr acts surprised about. She told me she was glad i listened to my body & took it upon myself to be my dr. Drs aren’t always right & who else can tell if u feel goid other than yrself. Thanks for sharing & possibly helping others
I’ve been using CPAP and now APAP for 10 years and I have a couple of tips. You pick up a lot of junk in the air you breathe, so most important is getting and keeping good air filters in your machine. The new fatter and fuzzier filters for the A-10 are excellent, but I usually back them up with bit of hypoallergenic filter cut from a pleated vacuum filter. You may be able to find something better, but i have noticed that my nose is usually more blocked after a long day and having a good filter in with a humidifier will help my nose to get clear in an hour or two. Sometimes in allergy season my nose is so plugged by bedtime that I can’t breathe through it and that is when Oxymetazoline Hydrocloride (commonly known as Afrin) is helpful. I use old nasal spray bottles filled with distilled water and a pinch of sea salt or canning salt (no additives) to flush out my nose and follow up with a light squirt of Afrin or better yet Zicam Extreme Congestion Relief (which contains a bit of Aloe and does not sting like Afrin does). This tiny bit of OxyHydride will open any clogged nostril! Use only one squirt and give it five minutes to work, repeat if necessary. Note the label which says not to use it more than 3 days in a row. Save the empty bottle to use for your saline solution which unlike the stuff at the drugstore will not hurt since it contains no (and needs no preservatives).
Get info, and thanks for sharing this. I don’t yet suffer from any sort of lack of O2 sleeping but I do wake up often in the middle of the night for no good reason and have a hell of a time going back and staying asleep. I have found that I keep a large water jug (something easy to drink out off without sitting up and disturbing the wife any more than I already do;) at the bed side and just take drink a good amount of water really helps me get back to sleep and say asleep. maybe just my use case but may help someone else.
I started using CBD before bed years ago when I wore the CPAP device for Central Sleep Apnea, hoping it would help me get to sleep with all of the noise and discomfort. I noticed first that a few drops of CBD tincture knocked me out very well, kept me asleep until I need a restroom visit, and allows me to go back to sleep afterward. Shortly after, I ditched the CPAP and have never put it back on again. Before I started CBD, I would wake up with my heart racing from holding my breath. It can still happen occasionally when I am under alot of stress, but not like it used to.
I’ve been a long time subscriber but for some reason never saw your “tape the mouth” article until a friend sent me a link. I was skeptical since my sinuses are almost always clogged, but I gave it a try. My experience has been that the “sleep app” stuff says I sleep about the same, but my subjective experience suggests that I awake more “refreshed” with the CPAP. I even tried taping my mouth and CPAP simultaneous and I do awaken with a less dry mouth that way. I’ve had sinus surgery to try to open my sinuses and it helped but wasn’t enough. I’ve slept with those nasal strips and I don’t notice much difference. The only thing that “works” for me is a puff of Afrin/generic but of course you can’t use that 365 days.
Take a look at the “mute” by Rhinomed. Get the trial pack 1st to find the right size. The go in the nose, it feels weird at 1st but I find them more comfortable than the strips on the outside of the nose, they alway come unstuck for me halfway through the night. The mute (they also make the “turbine” for athletes) stays in all night for me.
If you’re feeling better, it’s the “right thing”. D3 has been incredibly beneficial to me starting about 2.5 years ago. A pretty healthy daily dose (<> 10K IUs per day from a quality manufacturer) ended a seven-year stretch of seasonal bronchitis which would put me out of work for up to two weeks. God-send. On the nasal strips, I used them in the past, and found (as the instructions usually say) it may take up to two weeks for the cartilage structures of the nose to fully relax before the full effect is realized. Hopefully your O2 sats will continue to improve over the coming weeks, Scott. Thanks for everything!