Many people do not realize they have a potentially dangerous condition called sleep apnea, because they don’t talk to their doctor about their symptoms. This condition is caused by a partial collapse of your airways, which hinders your breathing. If you want information on this scary and life-threatening condition, read this article.
If your narrow airways are causing sleep apnea, get a mouth guard designed for sleeping. Devices like these can align your airways properly to allow you better sleep. Speak with your doctor to learn more, and get yourself fitted for a mouth guard if you think it will help.
One thing that affects sleep apena is obesity. Losing weight may help to greatly reduce sleep apnea symptoms in many patients. Follow a strict diet and exercise regimen for awhile to see if this makes a difference. Taking carbohydrates out of a diet is something that studies show helps people lose weight.
If you are dealing with sleep apnea and you’re a smoker and drinker, you should quit now to help improve the symptoms of this condition. These habits can cause airways to relax too much, which can worsen sleep apnea and snoring. Getting rid of these habits can save you money as well.
Mouth Guards
Talk to your doctor about fitting you with a mouth piece you can wear at night. It may just be that your breathing passage is naturally narrow or your jaw is small. By aligning the position of your jaw and throat, you will find that you can sleep with fewer symptoms of sleep apnea.
Sleep mouth guards can benefit you if you suffer from sleep apnea. These mouth guards correct airways and facilitate breathing. If you think a mouth guard might help you out, consult a physician and ask her to fit you with one.
Avoid alcohol if you have sleep apnea. Consuming alcohol causes your muscles to relax too much. Although many users find this to be one of the benefits of drinking, it tends to make the effects of sleep apnea much more serious. Your throat muscles become relaxed and cause your airways to become blocked. If you feel you must drink, try not to do it as often or before you go to sleep.
Do you smoke or drink? Break these unhealthy habits right away. Smoking and drinking have negative effects on your airways. Smoking swells up your airways, while drinking depresses your nervous system and muscles into excess relaxation. This can both cause and exacerbate sleep apnea. If it is not possible for you to quit cold turkey, then try not to smoke or drink immediately before bedtime.
Children can suffer from sleep apnea, also. If he or she is cranky, active, inattentive and tends to breathe through their nose, they may have sleep apnea. A lot of sleep apnea symptoms are associated with ADHD, so work with your doctor to investigate all possibilities.
If your doctor prescribes a mouth guard, make sure it is properly fitted. Sleep apnea patients can have mouth guards that are custom made specifically to treat their condition. The mouth guard is more comfortable to use than a CPAP machine that works by applying constant positive airway pressure. A mouth guard will work by positioning the jaw and tongue in a helpful way that will allow for easier breathing while asleep.
Your doctor may suggest keeping a sleep journal to help pinpoint if you have sleep apnea or not. In it, you’ll be expected to log the hours you sleep nightly, any symptoms you may feel and the overall quality of your sleep. Your partner can help with that, as they know whether you are a loud snorer or jerk about. These pieces of information are key to helping your doctor diagnose your sleep disorder.
Sleep Apnea
If you wear a CPAP for your sleep apnea symptoms, but are still bothered by your mouth opening when you try to sleep, get a chin strap. This inconspicuous piece of cloth will keep your chin up when you are asleep and your mouth from gaping open. CPAP therapy will not work if your mouth is open, so try this simple device to see if it fixes the problem.
Fighting back against sleep apnea often involves eating healthier and losing weight. Normally people are quite surprised to learn that unhealthy eating is a major source of their sleep apnea. It has been shown through many studies that people who eat a poor diet usually suffer with worse sleep apnea than someone who is just overweight but manages to still eat somewhat healthier.
You can actually reduce your sleep apnea symptoms by practicing a few simple tongue exercises. Try holding your tongue up toward the roof of your mouth for at least three minutes. This will help strengthen weak tongue and throat muscles so that they don’t slip back and block your airway while you sleep so easily.
Reduce your consumption of alcohol. Alcohol causes all the muscles in your body to lose their tension. Although some people do enjoy this, it can contribute to sleep apnea. Alcohol relaxes throat muscles and can make it difficult to keep the air passage open. While you might still drink, limit yourself and avoid it at bedtime.
One method you can try to improve your condition is to strengthen your throat muscles. When you sleep, your airway relaxes and collapses and you cannot get enough air through. As your strengthen your muscles, you will have more control over them.
Sleep apnea is not a condition to take likely. Talk with your doctor immediately if you see any of the warning symptoms. If he says you have sleep apnea you should go to a sleep specialist so that you can get tested further.
Curb drinking heavily if you have sleep apnea. Drinking causes the throat muscles to relax excessively, which causes snoring and a blocked airway. If you can, avoid all alcohol or make sure not to drink at all at least 4 hours before bedtime. You’ll be less likely to suffer from alcohol-related sleep disturbances this way.
Maintain a regular sleeping schedule if you suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes regular interruptions in your ordinary nightly sleep cycle. This is why it is important to maintain a consistent sleep pattern, which will eliminate sleepiness in the day. The most important adjustment to make is to go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
Take up a wind instrument. You can pick up a new skill, but more than that you are able to exercise and learn to control the very muscles that have to do with breathing. As you make these muscles stronger, you will see increased control and minimize apnea symptoms.
Nasal Spray
Don’t be ashamed that you have to use a CPAP machine. Use it when you need to, and make others aware that it is necessary to your health and well-being. You have to use your CPAP machine or else you might not get a solid night’s rest, so everyone you know should understand.
If you are suffering from sleep apnea and have a cold or allergies, try using a nasal spray. This type of product can ease occasional congestion or dryness. Do not use nasal spray over long periods of time: this could damage your nose and cause irritation. Ask your pharmacist what other options you can try to keep your nasal passages clear.
Sleep apnea may make you feel anxious. Take a warm bath before bed to calm down and induce good sleep. Warming yourself up with a bath gets rid of the tension in your muscles and helps you relax. You’ll find that it’s easier to get to sleep following a bath, and the odds of getting interrupted by apnea symptoms are much lower.
You should now understand a bit more about this condition, and sleep apnea can be potentially life threatening. Just keep in mind that the best way to get a definitive sleep apnea diagnosis and set out an effective course of treatment is to speak with a medical professional.
There are some sleep apnea cases that you can cure with oral devices. Some people have an overbite or narrow jaws that are set in such a way that cause the apnea. Corrective mouth guards can improve night-time air flow by holding your jaw and throat in the ideal alignment for unimpeded breathing.