Sleep apnea can raise your risk for cardiovascular disease, memory problems, daytime sleepiness, and diabetes. The most common treatments include using a continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP machine, and snoring surgery. While these treatment options are effective, your obstructive sleep apnea in Surrey doctor may recommend nutritional interventions to relieve your symptoms. Here are some nutritional supplements to help treat sleep apnea and snoring.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C may help alleviate severe snoring and sleep apnea. While you can increase your dietary intake of vitamin C by consuming more citrus fruits such as lemons, grapefruits, and oranges, eating large amounts may lead to digestive problems such as acid reflux disease and heartburn. Instead, your doctor may recommend that you take a vitamin C supplement. Vitamin C helps enhance the function of endothelial cells and blood vessels so that you breathe easier, snore less, and sleep better. Be sure to take your supplements with food because taking them on an empty stomach may cause nausea and abdominal cramps.
Vitamin D
People who are deficient in vitamin D may be at a higher risk for obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. Vitamin D helps enhance restorative sleep and may also help promote optimal respiratory functioning so that people who snore don’t wake up gasping for breath in the middle of the night. Vitamin D is found in dairy products and fatty fish such as tuna and salmon. Spending a few minutes in the sun will also help increase your vitamin D stores because sunshine helps your body manufacture vitamin D.