Q Are there foods that worsen sleep apnea?
A Alcohol, sedatives, and sleeping pills excessively relax the airway muscles and worsen apnea. Late-night overeating, wheat flour, and dairy products can also increase phlegm-dampness, so caution is needed.
Detailed Answer
Foods and Habits to Avoid
- Alcohol: intensifies relaxation of the upper airway muscles, increasing the number and duration of apnea events. Avoiding alcohol for 3 hours before bed is recommended.
- Sleeping pills and antihistamines: their muscle-relaxing effect can worsen airway obstruction.
- Late-night snacks and overeating: raise abdominal pressure, pressing on the diaphragm and narrowing the airway.
Korean Medicine Dietary Guidance — Eating to Reduce Phlegm-Dampness
At Dongjedang, we recommend limiting wheat flour, cold foods, dairy products, and greasy foods that weaken Spleen-Stomach function. These foods promote the formation of phlegm-dampness and can cause the airway tissues to enlarge.
Instead, warm porridge, multigrain rice, and vegetable-centered meals strengthen the Spleen-Stomach and help improve a phlegm-dampness constitution.
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