Are you getting enough sleep?

Sleep is an?essential function and is both the gateway and the key to our health. It allows our body and mind to recharge. Good sleep also helps keep our immune system strong so we can fight off infection and disease to stay healthier.

If you've read?any of my recent?articles, you know that I'm on a new health journey of sorts. For the past few years, I've struggled with bad headaches and I was recently got a diagnosis of?sleep apnea.

I'm going to share my personal experience with hacking my way to better health through a foundation of better sleep as well as introduce you to some of the methods and routines that worked for me -- including a revolutionary bed designed with?technology made by Matteo Franceschetti's company, Eight Sleep. If you suffer from insomnia, sleep apnea,?or other medical conditions that are potentially serious health issues, you should consult your doctor. We all have different genetics and biology, so there are many ways to approach the problems outlined here. I can say that simply redesigning my bedroom with blackout curtains, removing my phone, or committing to be more disciplined about my sleep time and routine didn't work for me. Getting a proper night's sleep can be more complicated, especially as we age.

I saw a neurologist who did an MRI and scanned my brain for possible tumors. I consulted a cardiologist for my carotid arteries and got a complete heart check up and blood panels. Thinking I could have an infection in my teeth causing headaches, I saw my dentist who did a full 360 scan of my teeth and gums. I thought my problem could be eye strain or an outdated prescription, so I had my eyes examined by my optometrist. Am I allergic or sensitive to certain foods? I talked to a nutritionist about food allergies and took several sensitivity tests. I saw an endocrinologist for hormone and blood sugar levels. Finally, after several months and thousands of dollars in medical expenses, my insomnia and apnea were getting worse. It was like my own version of the?Groundhog Day?movie with poor sleep, fatigue, exhaustion, and migraines every day on repeat cycle.

The cardiologist actually tipped me off about the apnea as I was totally unaware of it at first. My heart checkup revealed that I had unusually high blood pressure, heart flutters, and high red blood cell?count. Because of my (relatively young) age and the fact that I don't smoke, the doctor cited that something was strange and that I shouldn't be having this kind of trouble. He pressed me about my sleep habits and I realized that I had a vague memory of waking up during the night but it was fuzzy.

The cardiologist sent me to a pulmonary specialist, who gave me a sleep test. It was clear that I was experiencing sleep apnea. This means that I was waking up 10 to 50 times each night without knowing it. In my case, my jaw and tongue were relaxed and falling back into my throat and blocking my airway. Without air to breathe for several seconds, my body would sense that I was suffocating, and then jolt me semi-awake and I'd start breathing again. This pattern probably repeated all night -- every night for months. No wonder I was fatigued and getting headaches.

The doctor prescribed a CPAP machine for me to take home. It is a small electric box and air compressor with an air hose that flows oxygen through a mask to my nose and mouth that I wear at night. This keeps air flowing into my lungs so I don't stop breathing and I can get a full night of uninterrupted sleep. Unfortunately, after three months of trying, I couldn't get used to the CPAP machine and sent it back. The air flow was uncomfortable and dried out my nose and mouth. The mask made me feel claustrophobic and I was depressed thinking that I had to wear this thing to bed for the rest of my life. I felt frustrated and hopeless. What I didn't know at the time -- and what the doctor didn't explain to me -- was that I had other options to cure my particular case of apnea.

Please remember that this is my personal experience and your own results may vary. You could have serious sleep apnea and the CPAP machine is saving your life. I support you and I'm happy that you found a solution. But for me, I believe my doctor was being lazy for not properly explaining other options. I came to terms with realizing that I had to take responsibility for my own health if I wanted things to change. If you want to see different results, you have to do something different.

Here's what I did that actually made a difference:

• I cut out all desserts and food/beverage with too much added sugar. This does not include regular fruit and veggies as well as other foods with natural sugar. My philosophy is that if it grows naturally and you don't overeat it, it's not bad. That said, I also make my decisions based on how food makes me feel. I'm eating almost no bread and dairy these days (except for eggs) for this reason.
• I'm doing intermittent fasting. This means I skip breakfast and don't eat my first meal until about 1:00 p.m. Also, no in-between snacking because this raises my insulin levels too much during the day and messes up my energy. I also try to eat my last meal before 7:00 p.m. so I don't feel full going to sleep. Eating too late at night causes occasional acid reflux.
• I go to the gym and lift weights five days a week. My rule is, I can miss one day but not two days in a row. I'm doing bench presses, squats, curls, etc., with heavier weights as well as walking on a treadmill for a mile. Consistency and quality reps are the key.
• I'm taking vitamins like D, B, L-lysine and plenty of electrolytes with magnesium via a drink mix called LMNT. I started taking cold showers, doing the Wim Hof breathing method and cold plunging.
• I got a new pillow and a bed that gives?the proper lumbar support. Find something you like. The bed I chose is from Eight Sleep (this is not a sponsored endorsement) because it thermoregulates my body temp, tracks my sleep, and has other useful tech.

The result of all this so far is that I have lost 15 pounds in the first three months of changing my diet, exercise, and sleep habits. I'm feeling much better and my apnea is gone. No high blood pressure or heart flutters. I really do feel happier and healthier. My clothes fit loose and more comfortably. I have more energy and a higher sex drive, and I don't get down or have as many days when I'm feeling depressed. I'm not saying life is perfect. I still have bad days with high stress and anxiety. But I feel more prepared to face the day and battle back if I have to. I'm on a good path doing what I can to have a better quality of life for me and my family.

In my case, it was a combination of several new behaviors that lead to better sleep and health. Since I spend about eight hours a night recharging in bed, I wanted to make sure I was optimizing my sleep. I am always intrigued when founders and innovators shake things up by disrupting an established industry, but I'm even more invested when they make something that improves my quality of life by several exponents.

Want to read my full article on Inc. Magazine? Here's the link.