Sleep Apnea Helped by Chiropractic Care and Nutritional Changes

On June 22, 2023, the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine published the results of a case study showing that chiropractic care, in conjunction with dietary changes, significantly helped a patient who was suffering with severe sleep apnea.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a branch of the National Institute of Health, describes sleep apnea as "Sleep apnea is a common condition in which your breathing stops and restarts many times while you sleep. This can prevent your body from getting enough oxygen."

There are two types of sleep apnea. The less common type, known as "central sleep apnea," is when the brain fails to send signals needed to breathe properly during sleep. The much more common form of sleep apnea is known as "obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)".

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, "Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by episodes of complete collapse of the airway or partial collapse with an associated decrease in oxygen saturation or arousal from sleep. This disturbance results in fragmented, nonrestorative sleep. OSA has significant implications for cardiovascular health, mental illness, quality of life, and driving safety." It is estimated that 18 million Americans have sleep apnea.

In this case study, a 42-year-old man presented himself for chiropractic care. At that time, he was suffering with obstructive sleep apnea with snoring. The man was diagnosed over five years earlier with OSA and had been using a CPAP machine, which he disliked using, for the past five years. A CPAP machine is designed to take in room air, filter and pressurize the air, then delivers it through a tube into a mask. The continuous flow of air is supposed to prevent the patient’s tongue, uvula and soft palate from shifting therefore stabilizing breathing and improving overall sleep quality.

Prior to chiropractic care, the man was averaging 55.4 breathing events per hour during his sleep. An examination was performed, and the man was started on chiropractic care in addition to specific mouth exercises and dietary changes designed to help him lose weight. The man was on a regular routine of his care for 90 days, after which a re-evaluation was performed to check his progress.

At the conclusion of the 90 days, the study reports that his OSA events had decreased during his sleep to only 3.4 events per hour. Additionally, the study also reports that the man’s posture had improved and he had lost 40 pounds.