Throat Exercises Can Relieve Sleep Apnea

[n2doc]

By ANAHAD O’CONNOR
Published: May 24, 2010

For people suffering from sleep apnea, specialized breathing machines are the standard treatment.

The machines use a method called continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, which keeps the airway open and relieves potentially dangerous pauses in breathing during the night. But the machines are expensive, and some people complain that the mask and headgear cause uncomfortable side effects, like congestion.

One free and fairly simple alternative may be exercises that strengthen the throat. While they aren’t as established or as well studied as breathing machines, some research suggests they may reduce the severity of sleep apnea by building up muscles around the airway, making them less likely to collapse at night.

In a study published last year in The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, scientists recruited a group of people with obstructive sleep apnea and split them into two groups. One was trained to do breathing exercises daily, while the other did 30 minutes of throat exercises, including swallowing and chewing motions, placing the tip of the tongue against the front of the palate and sliding it back, and pronouncing certain vowels quickly and continuously.

more

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/health/25real.html

[meegbear]

1. OH MY!

:evilgrin:

[eShirl]

2. play the didgeridoo

[CoffeeCat]

3. As someone with sleep apnea...

...and a CPAP--I'll stand on my head, eat spray cheese out
of a can and sing "Afternoon Delight" by the Starland Vocal Band,
if it will help alleviate the apnea.

Thanks for posting! :)

[supernova]

4. Sending to my fiance

He has terrible sleep apnea and uses a CPAP.

We are in our mid-40s but he's had the condition since he was a young, skinny 20 something.