Sleep Apnoea

What you need to know:

Weight loss and avoiding alcohol are the first steps to improving this serious problem, which is thought to be the cause of many early morning road accidents. Constant disruptions to your sleep patterns during the night result in severe fatigue the following morning, which causes drivers to fall asleep at the wheel on their way to work.

You can help yourself by choosing one of our healthy weight-loss programmes that will be available on this site at the end of July 2001.

The most useful Herbs:

Essential oils of eucalyptus, pine, rosemary, thyme and oregano can all be used in a fragrancer during the night
Tea tree oil - 5 drops to a glass of hot water - is great used as a gargle at bedtime

Other useful advice:

Reducing consumption of dairy products can cut down on the amount of mucous produced by the body, which reduces the risk of snoring - but don’t give up milk, cheese etc long-term without getting nutritional advice.

There are also a number of mechanical gadgets that dilate the nasal passages and improve breathing.

Sleep apnoea is always worse when you lie on your back, so try the old Victorian trick of a couple of clothes pegs clipped to the back of your pyjama jacket. This makes turning on your back uncomfortable, so you automatically move onto one side.

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The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.