In this episode of The Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews Dr. Dylan Petkus, a sleep apnea researcher, author, and functional health expert, to explore the often-overlooked connection between sleep apnea and thyroid disorders — particularly Hashimoto’s. Although the condition frequently goes undiagnosed, especially in women, sleep apnea is surprisingly common among those with Hashimoto’s. Dr. Petkus shares his personal journey and research-backed insights into natural, non-invasive approaches for overcoming sleep apnea without relying solely on CPAP machines.

Listeners will discover:

More than 50% of people with Hashimoto’s may also have sleep apnea. The more severe the sleep apnea, the more likely you are to have elevated thyroid antibodies.

Women are often misdiagnosed or missed altogether. Sleep problems are frequently chalked up to menopause or stress, not airway dysfunction.

A scalloped tongue could be a red flag. If your tongue presses against your teeth at night, it may indicate airway obstruction and poor nighttime breathing.

Slow, intentional breathing can retrain your system. Just 10 minutes a day of breathwork can start to shift your patterns, improve oxygen flow at night, and improve sleep quality.

Deficiencies in nutrients like thiamine and copper can make things worse. Supporting your mitochondria may be key to restoring energy and reducing inflammation. 

Tune in to learn more about how sleep apnea may be holding back your healing — and what you can do about it.

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For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/