Last updated on 10 July 2025 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic Editorial Team
Feeling fatigued? Have you been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and are just feeling lost with where to go next?
Sleep Apnea is based upon sleep-induced loss of upper airway tonicity of the pharyngeal airway. Sleep Apnea is a worldwide epidemic and has tripled worldwide since 1975. Recent studies have established associations between disease and comorbidity, obesity, insulin resistance, increased sympathetic pathways (sensitive nervous system), heightening inflammatory markers, sedentary lifestyles, and cardiovascular disease.
The dilator muscle motor neurons for the airways are subject to neurotransmitters and neuromodulators to which become imbalanced due to cardiovascular underlying mechanisms. Thus, it is absolutely vital to be improving cardiovascular health. There is a strong link towards hypertension (high blood pressure) influencing chemoreceptor sensitivity and the association between excessive vasoconstriction and vascular inflammation. If you are suffering from hypertension, this will be an important factor to consider in your health care journey.
Obesity contributes to upper airway obstruction due to increased neck adiposity and weight, collapsing the airways during sleep. Sleep Apnea induced hypoxic episodes to induce sleep fragmentation and initiates a hormonal stress response further increasing sympathetic nervous system stimulation, activating the stress hormone cortisol and glycogenesis (the bodies internal synthesis of sugars). Pretty much this means that you’re probably feeling pretty stressed and certainly not functioning at your best! Prolonged Sleep Apnea episodes result in further inflammatory responses and oxidative stress impairing glucose metabolism and decreasing insulin release.
Oxidative stress and inflammation are major contributors to other systemic diseases and should be addressed asap.
From a holistic perspective, Naturopaths will review your body from an individualised perspective. We will dive deep into your health and ask many questions to find potential causes and imbalances. We often find the following are imbalanced and help to re-balance these issues:
- The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
- Sympathetic nervous system downregulation/homeostasis (anxiety, depression, nervousness, depletion etc.)
- Insulin resistance / sensitivity
- Circadian rhythm homeostasis
- Cardiovascular and muscular system structural integrity
- Systemic inflammation
- Healthy BMI and weight-loss goals
- Healthy lifestyle habits (exercise, wholesome foods, mindful activities, support, hobbies, stress relief etc.)
- Sleep hygiene and maintenance to support sleeping positions, humidifiers, etc.
This is supported not just by a pill but also by lifestyle and dietary advice to ensure you live your healthiest life.
