Oxygen news: Sleep apnoea patients 'may feel better with less red meat'
Sleep apnoea sufferers can benefit from using portable oxygen, but those who want to try other techniques as well could try changing their diet.
Mrs Marianne Davey, director of the British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association, explained that being overweight is a large factor in developing the disorder.
A study published online in the European Respiratory Journal earlier this month showed a Mediterranean diet was particularly effective in tackling the condition, yielding better results than simply eating prudently.
This could be because the exercise and food regime the researchers had their participants follow was very good at helping people lose weight, Mrs Davey suggested.
She noted: "The Mediterranean diet clearly shows that they eat far less red meat and refined cereals - which are high in fat content - but eat more in the way of fresh fruit and vegetables.
"This, plus the exercise, would help enormously to reducing weight," the specialist added.
Mrs Davey went on to say that making sure the bedroom is only used for sleeping and sex is another good way of improving the quality of slumber.
Meanwhile preparing to go to bed is another essential factor in quality rest, she claimed, setting out some guidelines to follow.
These include not smoking, drinking alcohol or eating for at least the last four hours before going to bed and making sure there is nothing about the place of rest that promotes wakefulness.
For instance, if there is any external noise, people may find earplugs helpful, while those who are sensitive to such things as feathers and dust mites may find anti-allergic bedding of use, Mrs Davey stated.
The specialist explained if people react to allergens they could snore and have poorer quality sleep, suggesting vacuuming mattresses and changing pillows frequently can make a difference.
Meanwhile, the environment in the bedroom is also important and the expert recommended taking out all televisions and radios as well as trying to keep the space at a comfortable temperature.
Posted by Jenny Richards
08/11/2011 14:38:23
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