Sedentary Lifestyle
Overweight people have a much higher chance of getting sleep apnea. During our sleep, our airway muscles tend to relax more, which can lead to blockage of the airway. Thicker necks have narrower airways, which makes the simple act of breathing much harder. The fat around our abdominal area puts pressure on the chest in such a way that our lungs don’t function to their full capacity, and this increases the severity of the condition. Hormonal changes at times lead to reduced levels of a particular hormone called leptin, which is required to regulate our breathing.
Effects of Smoking & Alcohol on Sleep Apnea
The air passage and the soft tissues lining our throat and nose become swollen and inflamed due to the presence of the chemicals in the cigarette smoke we inhale.
The relaxant present in alcohol also poses obvious problems by numbing our brain and impairing its ability to respond and correct the body’s responses to those frequent and dangerous pauses in breathing.
Say Yes to Exercise
While undergoing treatment for sleep apnea, along with the CPAP therapy, it was equally important that I include a regime of light exercises in my daily routine. It was not going to be easy, but thanks to my CPAP therapy-induced uninterrupted peaceful slumber, I now had the energy to exercise and sustain my journey on the road to complete well-being.
No to Smoking and Alcohol Consumption
The drinking and smoking habit was another problem. While it was personally easy for me to immediately reduce alcohol consumption to an almost negligible amount, quitting the dreadful habit of smoking posed a bigger challenge.
It took me three months. However, once I finally quit smoking, I realized that becoming a creature of this nonsensical habit is the most foolish thing one could do to one’s own health.
Lessons that I Learned on My Road to Well-Being
Nourish your body, sleep well, stay active, and say no to smoking and alcohol to truly honour the temple that is your body.
