Tag Archives: sleep apnea

Water Retention: Is That Bloated and Puffy Feeling Anything To Worry About?

January 5, 2009Water Retentioncardiomyopathy, chest pain, concentration problems, congestive heart failure, cough, emotional distress, fatigue, health, heart attack, heart disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, inability to sleep unless propped up, low oxygen level, retaining fluid, sleep apnea, smoking, swelling, technorati, tiredness, waking up breathless at night, weakness, weight gainCarrie Tucker

“Everyone gets a little bloated and puffy feeling, right?”

If your doctor isn’t concerned, why should you be?

It’s just a little water retention.

There Are Reasons YOU Should Be Concerned About Excess Fluid:

Your body becomes completely out of balance when it holds on to fluid in an effort to protect you.
Any excess fluid interferes with absorption of OXYGEN and NUTRITION!
The sooner you achieve a healthy fluid balance, the less damage will be caused to your kidneys, heart and other vital organs.

Rapid accumulation of fluids can be life threatening.

Creating a healthy fluid balance may be as simple as reducing your exposure to toxins, making better food choices, or supplementation with the right amount of the right nutrient.

Be Aware That Creating Fluid Balance Immediately Could Also Save Your Life!

How Do You Know Whether Your Water Retention Is Life Threatening Or Not?

When your body loses the ability to maintain your fluid balance, you are on a slippery slope of deterioration.

If you have swollen ankles or a tight hard belly, have your oxygen levels checked to identify a potentially fatal problem!

Could Shortness of Breath Be Your First Sign Of Big Trouble?

This is a process of elimination to identify what the culprit might be. Why are you retaining fluid?

You want to look at all possibilities starting with the most dangerous ones!

If your water retention issue doesn’t make you feel short of breath when you climb a flight of stairs and you don’t feel overly concerned about it, then lets look at some other causes of fluid retention.

One very common cause of fluid retention is vitamin and mineral deficiency.

* The American Medical Association says that magnesium is the most prevalent mineral deficiency.

* Magnesium is a valuable electrolyte, if you are deficient you will have fluid balance issues!

* You may quickly shed water weight when you address deficiency!

You may be carrying a significant amount of excess water around, and not even be aware of it.

Click on the link below to check the list of water retention symptoms to see if you should be worried.

Signs Of Water Retention

Many blessings,

Carrie Tucker, RCP
The Life Breath Coach
Heart Failure Solutions

PS– Remember everyday:

Relax and Release tension
Exhale Slowly
Be active in a way that adds joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter

Food Matters!

November 24, 2008Ideal Weightanemia, arrhythmia, arthritis, cardiomyopathy, chest pain, concentration problems, congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure, cough, Diabetes, emotional distress, fatigue, heart attack, heart disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, inability to sleep unless propped up, low oxygen level, lung disease, lupus, retaining fluid, sleep apnea, smoking, swelling, technorati, tiredness, waking up breathless at night, weakness, weight gainCarrie Tucker

Have you seen the trailer for the new movie? I stumbled across it on You Tube and began jumping for joy.

At LAST an effort to get the message out!

You are what you eat!

Are you killing yourself with the food choices you make?

Food Matters!

Food Matters is an educational organization based in the UK.

They offer tutorials on every disease process you may be addressing. Educate yourself so you will not be fooled with misinformation and you will feel confident to resist your doctors urge to drug your symptoms without taking action to address cause.

As the “Life Breath Coach” I recommend that my clients supplement their nutrition while they learn what to put in their shopping cart and what to avoid.

Vemma is my supplement of choice because they have a safe track record even with their weight loss line of products!

I’m hearing awesome testimonials of folks getting OFF of drugs for blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar!

This is GOOD stuff!

Nutrition Matters

Many blessings,

Carrie Tucker, RCP

The Life Breath Coach

Heart Failure Solutions

PS– Remember everyday:

Relax and Release tension
Exhale Slowly
Be active in a way that adds Joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter

Why Is Sleep So Important?

November 14, 2008Sleepdepression, emotional health, Fitness, health, heart disease, heart failure, insomnia, Sleep, sleep apnea, technorati, wellnessCarrie Tucker

Why are American’s so proud of sleep deprivation?

Do you take pride in working yourself to death?

Sleep is SO important, because the fuel we burn is electricity, and you only make it while you sleep.

Out of gas? Need coffee and other stimulants just to get through the day?

Change your attitude about sleep, and fill your gas tank.

It is this low fuel level that begins the process of all disease. No matter what your diagnosis, your sickness began by neglecting to provide your body with the fuel it needs to do it’s job each day.

ALL Diseases follow a process that has 7 stages ending in cancer.

Often the disease process will kill you before it reaches this final stage, but never the less, all disease follows the same progression.

The best way to prevent ALL disease is to get PLENTY of sleep, and stop dis-ease, before it advances and becomes uncomfortable and dangerous.

The 7 Stages of Disease:

nervous exhaustion (not enough fuel)
toxicity (resulting from lack of energy)
irritation (from building toxicity)
inflammation (suffering begins as your body struggles to heal!)
ulceration (toxicity eats away at tissues)
induration (your body encapsulates the toxicity to protect itself)
cancer (the cells of your harmonious organism turn against you)

Unfortunately, stages 1 through 3 are not even recognized as disease, nor given a second thought by the average person or doctor.

Most health care providers do not recognize disease

Until it has advanced to “inflammation” (Stage 4) and is causing discomfort.

At this point, interfering with your bodies attempt to do some house cleaning (detoxifying) will only further advance your disease.

Build your health BEFORE you lose it if you have the choice.

However, it is NEVER too late to Heal.

Do you want to feel better?

What can you do?

As the “Life Breath Coach” I teach an action plan I call BLESS.

B- BREATHE

Discover how your breathing makes you sick and what you can do about it.

L- LOVE

Learn how to navigate life from your heart space. Love really is the answer.

E- EAT

Become aware of the poison in the US food supply and find out why it is so hard to nourish your health with food.

Food really is your medicine IF it has not been polluted and altered with genetic modification.

S- SIT

Cultivating Stillness is a very important aspect of your Healing.

Stillness is very challenging to create in today’s world.

Seek Quiet Stillness

Invite Nature’s Healing Power

Take Time To Connect With Others

S- SPEAK

You were born with a powerful ability to heal yourself and your world.

Sacred Breathing means returning to your normal breathing rhythm.

Sacred Breathing means discovering your healing potential.

Sacred Breathing will give your Voice strength to pay it forward!

Heal Suffering

Embrace Connection For Change

Life Spirits To Raise Hopes

Put People First

Will Yours Be the Next BLESSed Life?

Join the “Life Breath Club” today and learn what you need to know to get a better night’s sleep asap!

Click on the link below to check out all the benefits of membership.

JOIN NOW

This is a private membership site to protect your medical privacy.

It’s FREE!

Many blessings,

Carrie Tucker, RCP

The Life Breath Coach

Heart Failure Solutions

PS– Remember everyday:

Relax and Release tension
Exhale Slowly
Be active in a way that adds Joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter

What Foods Help Get Rid of Fluid Retention?

November 5, 2008Water Retentioncarrie tucker, concentration problems, congestive heart failure, cough, fatigue, foods high in magnesium, heart failure solutions, low oxygen level, lung disease, retaining fluid, sleep apnea, swelling, technorati, tiredness, weight gainCarrie Tucker

Today one of my clients asked me what they could eat to get rid of fluid retention.

It isn’t an easy question to answer because there are many causes of fluid retention that will not be healed by eating foods that make you pee.

Some foods can make you retain fluid by slowing down your kidneys, while others can help your kidneys work better.

Anemia, protein deficiency, and an abnormally high need for one or more vitamins or minerals can cause fluid retention as well.

Keep in mind that fluid retention is NOT simple to treat.

Maybe you aren’t even aware that those difficult to lose pounds are actually fluid rather than fat!

You don’t lose fluid weight the same way you lose weight from fat!

You can burn fat, but you don’t “burn” water you release it!

This subject can be a bit overwhelming, so don’t let yourself get complacent!

Fluid retention drains your health!

Cover the simple stuff first:

sip water all day even when you feel bloated (unless your doctor advises you not to because of kidney failure)
have your hormones checked
treat all low oxygen levels with supplemental oxygen

The most common cause of fluid retention is dehydration! So sip all day and if you are on fluid restriction, it’s a good idea to stick to water with fresh lemon.

Hormones are another issue that could be causing your fluid retention and your doctor can evaluate if this is a problem for you.

Low oxygen levels are potentially fatal, so you want to look for them when you are active and distressed as well as when you are sleeping!

Discovering what foods help get rid of fluid retention is only slightly helpful early on in your disease process.

Is this the information you were looking for?

Foods that cause you to release fluid:

celery
onion
parsley
garlic
peppermint
eggplant
cabbage
cranberries
asparagus
corn
cucumber
grapes
watermelon

Some sources say to reduce intake of parsley and celery to avoid water retention. They are both high in chlorophyll so it’s no wonder they are hugely helpful in addressing the issues that may contribute to fluid retention. A list of foods high in magnesium will help as well. Magnesium is the “relax mineral” so it helps fluid retention in several ways.

Herbs that help you to release fluid:

uva ursi
buchu
horse chestnut (also used to promote leg vein circulation in Europe for many years)
dandelion root or tincture (good for kidneys, adrenal glands, and liver)
Dong Quai (also soothing to intestines and bladder)

Be careful with herbs, like drugs, they are potentially harmful!

Fluid Retention can be very uncomfortable.

The discomfort of fluid retention can be eased with the use of essential oils.

Essential oils, used in baths, gargles, mouthwashes, vaporizers, inhalants, as well as compresses and massages can be helpful:

cypress
geranium
juniper
lavender
rosemary

Fluid BALANCE is the goal, and many foods can be helpful in righting your fluid balance.

Helpful foods, vitamins, and minerals:

brazil nuts
fish
Vitamin B6
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
magnesium (would a list of food sources help?)
selenium

Give your attention to a few other concerns that effect fluid retention!

Avoid constipation, eat foods high in dietary fiber:

grains
beans
fruits

AVOID the following:

table salt (for severe fluid retention use only potassium chloride)
sugary foods and drinks
too much protein OR not enough protein
unhealthy fats
being still for long periods of time
crossing your legs
tight clothing
alcohol
smoke
coffee
black tea
processed foods
fast foods
white flour foods

There is no quick fix for fluid retention but it is likely to cause oxygen and nutrition problems because it interferes with absorption.

Better safe than sorry!

Get your oxygen levels checked and nourish yourself with a quality nutritional supplement.

Heart Failure Solutions recommends Vemma products because of their safe track record.

Click on the link below and learn more about what nutrition can do for you!

Nutrition Is Your Medicine

Many blessings,

Carrie Tucker, RCP

The Life Breath Coach

Heart Failure Solutions

PS– Remember everyday:

Relax and Release tension
Exhale Slowly
Be active in a way that adds Joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter

Fluid Retention Steals Your Health, Want To Stop It?

November 3, 2008Water Retentionanemia, arrhythmia, arthritis, cardiomyopathy, chest pain, concentration problems, congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure, cough, Diabetes, emotional distress, fatigue, heart attack, heart disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, inability to sleep unless propped up, low oxygen level, lung disease, lupus, retaining fluid, sleep apnea, smoking, swelling, technorati, tiredness, waking up breathless at night, weakness, weight gainCarrie Tucker

When you retain fluid oxygen and vital nutrients can’t get where they need to go!

Fluid retention is such a big problem because the extra water in your system is in the way!

When oxygen and other vital nutrients cant’ get where they need to go, you deteriorate!

If you don’t want your health to fade, watch for signs that you may be retaining water:

When you press your fingernail firmly into your thumb-pad, does it stay deeply dented for more than a second or two
When you press the tip of your finger into the inside of your shinbone, does your nail make a dent?
Do your ankles ever swell?
Does your shoe size increase as you get older?
Do your rings sometimes not fit?
Is your tummy ever tight and swollen?
For women, do you suffer from breast tenderness?
Does your weight fluctuate by several pound within the space of only twenty-four hours?

You should be concerned if you recognize water retention symptoms, even if your doctor isn’t!

Fluid Retention TO DO LIST:
Continue reading Fluid Retention Steals Your Health, Want To Stop It? →

Is Sleep Apnea Robbing You of Restful Sleep and Destroying Your Health?

October 29, 2008Sleep Apneacpap, fatigue, health, heart disease, heart failure, heart health, sleep apnea, technorati, Water RetentionCarrie Tucker

Your family will probably notice your sleep issue before you do.

If your family is worried, you should be.

If you live alone, you may not be aware that you stop breathing while you sleep.

Do you feel tired all the time?

Do you fall asleep easily during the day?

Sleep apnea victims often fall asleep while standing up or driving.

To avoid serious injury or death, time is of the essence.

Beyond these obvious signs of sleep apnea, the condition may go unnoticed and untreated.

Over the 10 years that I spent advocating for patients that I suspected had sleep apnea, the length of time that it took for those patients to schedule a sleep study, and to get those results read by a doctor shocked and alarmed me.

Often patients have to schedule a second sleep study after the first one shows they have DANGEROUS sleep apnea just to evaluate which equipment would treat the condition best! MONTHS go by before ANY treatment is provided on a routine basis.

WHY are patients waiting for many months to a year for treatment of dangerous sleep apnea!

The only thing that makes this care cost effective is if the patient dies in their sleep before they accumulate too very many medical bills!

What is the motivation to ignore a potentially fatal illness?

Ignorance keeps many of these people from having any type of evaluation for MANY years before their doctor finally starts asking questions. More often than not, the doctor asking the questions is an emergency or critical care doctor wondering why you fell asleep in the middle of your day.

Caregivers in rural areas are more likely to miss sleep apnea just because they don’t see it very often.

BUT, many times patients are SENT HOME without sleep apnea equipment EVEN WHEN sleep apnea has been documented DURING their hospitalization!

WHY?!

What’s WRONG with this picture?

Come on now! Why is this issue not causing more alarm?

You can’t put all the blame on overwhelmed physicians. I think we should hold the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology accountable as well.

A joint statement from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology called for large-scale studies to determine the mechanism for the link between sleep apnea, and the increased risk for dying from cardiovascular disease.

Come on now. They acknowledge that “de-saturation of blood oxygen levels is a stressor”.

Talk about an understatement!

Dangerously low blood oxygen levels are extremely harmful and potentially fatal!

Every time you stop breathing your oxygen level falls and your carbon dioxide level climbs causing a very harmful shift in your acid/base balance.

Sleep apnea effectively fries your body with acidity. (Check out the ruler, your pH drops when you stop breathing!)

Why would they advise further research instead of treating the extremely dangerous condition that has already been identified?

DO SOMETHING to get the help you need TODAY.

Why is the American Heart Association choosing to fund further research instead of spending those dollars on solutions for the individual?

After all, the lead researcher, Terry Young, PhD, professor of epidemiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison said,

“In epidemiology you rarely get such strong, robust findings. This strong association between sleep apnea and increased risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular risk was striking.”

Enough endless spending on research. Finances and Science are only valuable resources when put to good use.

The Obesity Epidemic Will Make Sleep Apnea

MORE Prevalent in the Near Future.

Weight gain is also a side effect of sleep apnea.

The time to evaluate and act is NOW!

Your life is in danger every time you sleep!

Have this discussion with your doctor!

Lose Weight and Utilize Home Oxygen

LIVE!

Many blessings,

Carrie Tucker, RCP

The Life Breath Coach

Heart Failure Solutions

PS– Remember everyday:

Relax and Release tension
Exhale Slowly
Be active in a way that adds Joy to your life

Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter