Tobacco consumption has been linked to various health problems, including sleep apnea – a common sleep disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. By emphasizing the correlation between smoking and compromised respiratory and sleep function, we can educate individuals and help them understand the significant risks they face by continuing to smoke.
What is sleep apnea and why does it matter?
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects millions of people worldwide and is characterized by interrupted breathing patterns during sleep. There exist a few types of sleep apnea, the most common being Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). You may suffer from OSA if you have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Loud snoring
- Sudden and repeated episodes of interruption of breathing, followed by snorting or gasping
- Awakening with a dry mouth
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Attention deficit while awake
In a healthy individual, the passage of air through the nose and mouth into the lungs should be unobstructed, even during sleep. However, in cases of sleep apnea the normal flow of air is repeatedly disrupted, leading to episodes where breathing temporarily stops. This can result in lowered blood oxygen levels, leading to elevated levels of stress hormones, abnormal heart rate, and blood pressure. Over time, the continuous strain caused by sleep apnea on the cardiovascular system may lead to heart failure, heart attacks or stroke.
Sleep apnea is a condition that is also infamous for its hazardous effects on marital relationships. The sleeping partner often endures prolonged periods of wakefulness during sleep hours, impeding their own sleep restoration and elevating stress levels. Consequently, this can result in daytime irritability, potentially causing harm to the relationship dynamics.
The connection between Sleep apnea and Tobacco
Smoking has been identified as a primary contributor to interruptions in breathing during sleep, which can even lead to apneic episodes. The impact of smoking on sleep quality manifests in three distinct ways:
- Inhaled smoke provokes an inflammatory reaction on the muscles in the upper airways, causing them to swell and blocking the passage of air to the lungs.
- Nicotine relaxes the muscles on the upper airways, which increases the likelihood that it will block the flow of air.
- Nicotine also affects the ability to fall asleep, as it works as a stimulant. This is yet another way of how smoking can decrease our sleep quality.
Smoking is also notorious for its effect on other areas of health, including obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, all of which can indirectly contribute to the development and worsening of sleep apnea.
Quitting smoking may be a challenging journey, but there are numerous resources available to support individuals in achieving their goal, including nicotine replacement therapy, counseling, and support groups. Taking the first step towards quitting smoking can lead to a significant improvement in respiratory and sleep health, as well as overall well-being.
Anti-snore System Advanced sleep tracking technology for better sleep habits
Sleep apnea can cause various symptoms such as morning headaches and mood swings. It affects a person physically, mentally, and emotionally. Thankfully, there are various non-medical approaches available to prevent sleep apnea, including Ergomotion®’s adjustable beds.
The ErgoSportive™ Smart Bed Anti-Snore Intervention System detects when the user is snoring and will automatically raise the head of the bed by 15º during sleep. Having the head in a slightly raised position will open up the airways and reduce the intensity and frequency of snoring and apnea episodes. After the snoring episode is resolved, the bed will automatically return to its original position. The bed is set-up to raise and lower the head at about half the normal speed, which helps prevent the user waking up during the automatic adjustments. The snoring detection is made entirely through non-audio channels. The sensors on the frame pick up even faint vibrations, heart rate variations and breathing rate variations to determine when the user is experiencing a snoring or apnea episode.
Through the ErgoSportive™ App, users can adjust the sensitivity of the snoring intervention system, choosing to adjust the trigger to a smaller or larger frequency of snoring episodes. It will revolutionize your experience with 24/7 monitoring and provide you with breathing and heart rate reports, deep & light sleep times, anti-snoring control and other vital biometric data.
Maintaining your health has never been easier. Upgrade your lifestyle with Ergomotion® Plus.
