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Sleep Apnea, its symptoms and how you can prevent it?

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Has anyone ever told you that you have a tendency to snore? Or maybe you don’t…but you have a partner or family member who does? Do you find that you tend to wake up throughout the night? Or maybe you think you get good sleep, but you consistently find yourself with a dry mouth in the morning?

These are all signs that could suggest that you (or…your beloved snoring family member) may have something called “Sleep Apnea.” Well, there are people who cannot sleep without a machine and that is because they suffer from a medical condition called ‘Sleep Apnea’.

Let’s actually break this down. What is Sleep Apnea?

The most common type of Sleep Apnea is ‘Obstructive Sleep Apnea’ (OSA). OSA is a potentially life-altering and life-threatening breathing disorder that occurs during sleep.

The upper airway repeatedly collapses, causing cessation of breathing (apnea) or inadequate breathing (hypopnea) and sleep fragmentation. The breathing stops during sleep for 10 seconds to a minute or longer. Oxygen levels in the blood decrease.

One challenge with something like this is that you may not necessarily wake up entirely. So it’s not always easy to self-diagnose. BUT – Sleep fragmentation results in chronic daytime sleepiness (which you would expect if you’re constantly getting interrupted throughout the night). This disrupts healthy sleep and causes a number of short-term and long-lasting effects that threaten the health and well-being of those who suffer from the condition.

How many people have OSA? The prevalence of OSA in the general population is still unclear. Several epidemiological studies have attempted to examine this issue. Epidemiological data from Young, Palta, Dempsey, et. Al (1993) in a study paper titled:- Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: natural history, diagnosis, and emerging treatment options, estimated that in a group of 602 middle-aged individuals 2% of women and 4% of men meet the minimal diagnostic criteria for sleep apnea with excessive daytime sleepiness.

People most likely to have or develop OSA may have any of the following:

  • Obesity, especially in the upper body
  • Small upper airway due to excess throat tissue or abdominal jaw structure
  • Nasal Obstruction
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Family History of OSA
  • Overweight Obese individuals

Obesity, particularly abdominal and upper body obesity is the most significant risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea. Excess body fat on the neck and chest constricts the air passageways and sometimes the lungs – thus setting the stage for interrupted breathing during the night. And according to the research…The more obese a person, the greater the risk of apnea.

The good news is that there are some general things that can make a big difference.

This includes:

Losing some weight, if you are overweight or obese (even as little as 5% of your body weight can make a change)

Avoid alcohol, sedatives, and hypnotics (as they can sedate the very muscles we need to breathe)

Sleeping on your side or in a semi propped position

If you have sleep apnea, do not take sleep medicines or sedatives. These chemicals will increase the relaxation in the tissues of the upper airway and make the obstruction worse. The specific treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is usually a mask worn at night to keep the airway open or using a sleep machine that can help you breathe and sleep properly.

If OSA is left untreated, it can increase the risk of developing:

  • Hypertension
  • Cardiac Arrhythmias
  • Myocardial Ischemia
  • Stroke Pre-diabetes
  • Decreased quality of life (because who wants to feel sleep deprived?)

Weight loss is frequently recommended to improve OSA among obese patients. Not only does sustained weight loss improve OSA, it also improves many other independently linked comorbidities such as Hypertension, High Cholesterol, and Diabetes. The greater the change in body weight or waist circumference, the greater is the improvement in OSA

Prioritize your sleep health by recognizing the symptoms of sleep apnea and implementing preventative measures. Share your experiences and insights on managing sleep apnea in the comments below. For personalised advice and support, consult a healthcare professional specializing in sleep disorders or reach out to our certified experts by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce

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Healthy Heart Diet: 8 Steps to Prevent Heart Disease

Prevent Heart Disease 2The heart plays a very vital role in the well-being of an individual. It supplies oxygenated blood to all organs of the body and also carries nutrients, fuel, hormones, and other components.

Its tremendous work pressure is never-ending but meritorious. But sometimes, just because of negligence and ignorance, we cannot pay attention to the well-being of our hearts. Lack of proper diet, eating fried foods, inactive lifestyle, smoking, and infection give rise to malfunctioning of the heart.

How Can You Prevent Heart Disease?

Changes in lifestyle and modification of diet are the key factors in improving the functioning of the heart and its long life. By following these 8 simple steps, you can have a healthy heart to lead a healthy life!

1. Include more Fruits, Vegetables and Whole grains

Prevent Heart DiseaseFruits & vegetables are rich in vitamins & minerals and low in calories. They also keep a check on cholesterol levels as they are very rich in dietary fiber. A diet rich in dietary fiber maintains weight as well as the gut. You need to select whole grains over refined grains as whole grains are rich in complex carbohydrates and control blood pressure and are good for the heart. Include quinoa, broken wheat, barley, oats, and whole wheat flour.

2. Keep a Check on Foods Containing Sodium

Sodium plays an important role in elevating blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease. Limiting salt intake is very important as in every meal, sodium is introduced and the total count increases unknowingly.

Canned food, pickles, chutneys, sauces, soups, and market mixtures are all loaded with salt and increase the total intake of salt. It’s always advised to keep an eye on evening snacks too, which are generally filled with biscuits, cookies, and mixtures.

Salads and fruits should be taken without salt and as these are rich in potassium – which can help to keep sodium on the lower front. The habit of table salt should be discouraged.

3. Choose Healthy Fats

Healthy fats should be an integral part of a heart-healthy diet. One should limit fat intake to 2-3 tsp per day including visible and non-visible fats. Butter, mayonnaise, and cheese can be replaced with homemade healthy spreads.

Poly and mono-unsaturated fats are good choices over saturated fats but all should be taken in limited amounts as all fats are high in calories. Nuts, seeds, and olive oil are good choices.

4. Make Portion Control a Habit

Portion ControlQuality and quantity both are important while having meals. Portion control is very important as it maintains and controls calories and weight. Utensils are selected for portion control and all food groups should be included to make it a balanced diet.

5. Never Skip Breakfast

Skipping breakfast and having unhealthy foods for breakfast is not at all good. As breakfast is the first meal of the day, it should be healthy and should contain a combination of proteins & complex carbohydrates. Skipping breakfast lowers the metabolism and makes the next meal heavier.  A healthy breakfast makes a healthy heart and mind too.

6. Choose Low-Fat Sources of Protein

Try to incorporate protein in every meal as it maintains weight and as the body is made up of protein, the requirement of protein is more. Pulses, seeds, and nuts are good low-fat sources of protein and should be included in daily routines.

Toned milk & milk products are preferred over whole-fat milk to keep a check on cholesterol levels. Lean meat, poultry, fish & eggs are also some of the best sources of protein that can be taken.

7. Menu Planning Should Be Done Prior & Keep One Day for a Treat

A menu can be made so that all options are at your doorstep and you don’t need to think daily about what to have in meals. Include all veggies, fruits, pulses, grains, nuts, seeds, milk & milk products.

Any one day, you can add a little cheat meal so that overindulgence will not happen and your taste buds will get satisfied as a little fun is important as well.

8. Set a 30 min Physical Activity Goal

To maintain proper functioning of the heart, one should do daily 30 min of physical activity that could be anything including brisk walking, yoga, cardio, or strength training. Walking is an overall exercise that improves blood supply, improves lung capacity and is also good for the gut. Take out 30 min of time for walking either in the evening or morning.

The above points, if kept in accordance with daily routine, will make the heart stronger and happier for a long period of time. If your heart is happy, you are happy!

If this article helped you, let us know in the comments below! Find more tips on living a healthy life here. If you want to make these habits a part of your daily life and need help, reach out to a GOQii Coach by subscribing to Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

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9 Steps For Building and Mainting Immunity

build immunity

In the wake of the ongoing pandemic, maintaining one’s immunity has become a must. However, even if not for any random virus flying off, one’s immunity is the biggest strength against any onslaught of a virus and bacteria. Taking care of one’s self is a lifestyle. It must be down as a means to protect one’s body. I’m writing this article touching on a few aspects of maintaining one’s immunity. Since these worked for me, I believe it might work for you all as well. Being healthy has to be imbibed in one’s lifestyle just so no virus or bacteria can affect you. 

How Do You Build Immunity?

If only maintaining immunity was as easy as popping a pill, life would have been a bed of roses.  But it’s not! You have to work for it to earn it. One’s immunity depends on the way one is born, to one’s genes! But, we are talking about factors which are in one’s hands. The thumb rule is to listen to your body, it never lies. And, most of what your grandmother said was right in terms of health… keeping all that aside, here are a few quick tips to build up your immunity.

  1. No Stress & Yes to Happiness: Stress can wreck any organ in your body. Let go and be happy. Remember, if you are stressed over Corona, you are at risk. A happy and positive person is less likely to fall sick usually.
  2. Maintain Personal Hygiene: Wash your hands with soap before and after eating, bathe, wear breathable clothing and follow all the instructions in basic science textbooks of a 2-3 class child. It will help to prevent a lot of infections!
  3. Seasonal Vegetables and Fruits: Every area is known for its own vegetables and fruits as per the season. For instance, the Saag in North India is awesome during winters. It’s a must have. And yet you get it during summers in some regions. That’s a big no! Watermelon is a fruit of the summer. It is best to have it at that time.
  4. Home cooked food is the best because there is no adulteration. It should be cooked by a healthy person who has no infectious disease, be it your maid, or a house member. I strongly believe that basic hygiene like washing hands before touching food, washing the vegetables before cutting, etc. must be followed. In fact, these are taught in our curriculum in primary sections!
  5. Back to Basics: Consume natural food, have good nutrition and avoid unnecessary medication. By natural food I mean raw vegetables and fruits. Refer to your doctor/nutritionist for your diet plan if you are unable to do so.
  6. Daadi maa ke nuskhe (Grandmother’s Secret Recipes) might just work better than medications for basic ailments like cough and cold. See what works best for your body. As a child, I remember my mother giving me ginger juice mixed with honey every day in the morning during winters. I hardly had a runny nose during childhood. When I grew up, teenage took over and the orthodox medicine said that medicine is the best cure, but it didn’t work for me. Even at this age, ginger juice and honey is my prevention from cough and cold and I’ve no idea why it works for me! Try and find what your remedy is!
  7. With respect to air borne  infections, we need to protect our body, especially the orifices from where we breathe. So for the nose, take very little cow ghee/castor oil/any kachhi ghanni (cold pressed) oil and rub it inside your nostrils. The thick ghee captures the dirt and germs in the nostrils itself. For your skin, apply virgin pressed coconut oil.
  8. Sun is a Friend: Basking in the morning sun is good. Don’t overdo it but remember that the sun is the best and the strongest natural disinfectant. So if you do not have a medical condition, and if the doctor has not advised otherwise, make the sun your friend. I do not deny the ugliness of buildings since people dry their clothes outside, but remember one’s clothes are best disinfected in the sun.
  9. Exercise: Are you a yoga person, jogger, swimmer or gymmer? See what suits your body and get into shape. Pranayam though must be followed by all.

We hope this helps you build and maintain your immunity against the coronavirus. For more articles on immunity, nutrition and the coronavirus, check out Healthy Reads. To get these tips directly from your GOQii Coach, sign up for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr 

Stay safe, stay healthy and #BeTheForce 

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Hand Sanitizer vs Washing Hands: Which Works Better?

sanitizer vs washing handsHead-to-toe hygiene is a high priority for each one of us and these days, keeping your hands clean is essential to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. Whether you’re using a sanitizer or washing your hands with soap, you’re on the right track as this habit will help you keep micro germs and viruses away. But, the question is – hand sanitizer vs washing hands – which one is better? 

Are Sanitizers Good Enough?

There is no doubt that sanitizers are now a staple in every purse, pocket or even keychain. These small bottles are a convenient way to clean your hands, are more portable and accessible on the go, which helps reduce the transmission of viruses. It is a perfect option when soap and water are not available. Unfortunately, hand sanitizers are not effective against all types of viruses such as the norovirus which may cause diarrhoea. So while they definitely serve a purpose, they’re not a perfect prophylactic. Some sanitizers also may leave residue on the hand which may feel slick or uncomfortable on the skin.

Why Should You Prefer Soap and Water? 

Though we find big bottles of sanitizers at the doctor’s clinics, as per health experts, soap and water are a better choice anytime over the sanitizers. Soap and water are simply more thorough as washing hands kill the bacteria more effectively and sanitizers don’t remove the actual dirt and debris. Soap kills germs, binds them, and helps physically remove them with water, off your skin and down the drain. One can try using antibacterial soaps if one wants to go the extra mile for the best results but even normal soaps would kill the viruses.

So in the end, if we squeeze up, sanitizers are good as second alternatives only when soap and water are not available. Hand sanitizers are great in a pinch and are more convenient, but soap and water ultimately are better. 

We hope this article helps you understand what works between a hand sanitizer vs washing hands. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more safety and hygiene tips, do visit GOQii Play and watch LIVE videos by experts! 

#BeTheForce 

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