Sleep issues are increasingly common, affecting millions across the UK. Whether you’re struggling to fall asleep, waking up frequently, or not feeling rested, sleep quality is crucial to your health and well-being. And yet, one in four adults in the UK experiences sleep difficulties. How can we help our bodies relax naturally for better rest?
Why Are Sleep Issues on the Rise?
Over recent decades, sleep problems have become more common across the UK and beyond. While no single cause is clear, it’s suspected that our busy, highly stimulating environments make it harder for our bodies to switch off. The good news? Deep, steady breathing can help overcome these challenges, allowing your body to unwind naturally.
Deep Breathing: The Key to Calming the Body
Our brain regulates alertness through a complex system that signals our body to either stay active or relax. Deep, calm breathing acts like a "switch", telling our body to slow down. When we take deep breaths, we activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which:
- Reduces heart rate and blood pressure
- Calms digestion and other bodily functions
- Prepares the body for relaxation and sleep
The challenge: When stress and daily demands make make us breathe quickly and shallowly, slowing down can feel impossible without a little help.
WellO2 – Your Support for Deep, Restful Breathing
Originally developed in Finland, the WellO2 breathing trainer was designed to promote calm, deep breathing. It combines resistance breathing with warm steam to encourage slow, controlled breathing. This gentle resistance engages the lungs during inhalation and exhalation, promoting calmness and helping you unwind.
For those moments when winding down feels difficult, WellO2 can be the support you need to slow your breathing and prepare for a better night’s sleep.
The Power of Warm Steam for Relaxation and Better Sleep
In addition to breathing exercises, WellO2 provides warm steam, which:
- Moisturises the upper respiratory tract
- Eases congestion and dryness
- Soothes symptoms that often interfere with restful sleep
Studies on sauna use have shown that heat relaxes muscles and promotes relaxation. Many WellO2 users report that inhaling warm steam before bed has helped them fall asleep more easily and enjoy deeper, more refreshing sleep.
Snoring Affects Sleep Quality – Here’s How WellO2 Can Help
Snoring can disrupt your sleep and affect those around you, but regular WellO2 training helps strengthen respiratory muscles that keep airways open. This, combined with warm steam to keep nasal passages clear and moisturised, can reduce snoring and promote a restful night’s sleep.
How WellO2 Supports Quality Sleep:
- Strengthens airway muscles: Can help reduce snoring.
- Moisturises nasal passages with warm steam: Reduces congestion and dryness.
- Calms and deepens breathing: Activates the parasympathetic nervous system to support relaxation.
The WellO2 breathing exercise device is currently involved in a study conducted by researchers in Finland at the University of Turku and the Turku University Hospital Sleep and Respiratory Centre, investigating the effects of upper respiratory muscle strength training on sleep apnea. The final results of this study are expected by the end of 2024. Read about the preliminary findings here >>