Posts Tagged ‘sleep apnea’

Sleep apnea (apnea meaning lack of breathing) is a common disorder characterized by shallow breath patterns and pauses during sleep. There is often an associated snort or choking sound that precipitates a resumption of normal breathing.

To the casual observer, it may appear as though someone suffering from sleep apnea is holding their breath, withholding oxygen intake until they finally have to gasp for air. From a chiropractic perspective, the presence of sleep apnea points to nerves that communicate with the diaphragm, the primary muscle involved in breathing. These nerves exit from the mid-cervical spine, and if a subluxation is allowed to press down on them, mechanical functioning of the diaphragm can be impeded. Sleep apnea sufferers often find improvements after chiropractic adjustment to this region.

Consider the anatomical picture of this condition: as you approach deep sleep, the brain sends signals to the muscles telling them to relax. The tissues surrounding the throat sag into your airways, restricting the amount of room for air to flow, meaning less oxygen in the blood. If your diaphragm is also malfunctioning, this will compound the problem by not allowing you to breathe sufficiently. Eventually your body produces an emergency response, the snort, which prevents you from fully relaxing unto deep sleep.

At Holmes Chiropractic, we believe that sleep apnea can be impacted positively through natural means as opposed to prescription medication. We focus on correcting subluxation in the spine, thereby improving the function of your chest muscles. All of our treatments will help your airways to acquire the proper amount of oxygen and nutrition they need to provide you with healthy, deep sleep.

Call our office in Houston at 713-862-2440 to schedule an appointment today.

Dr. Randall Holmes, D.C.