If you are suffering with sleep apnea and it’s harming you at night, doing something immediately is the best solution. It is detrimental to your health and can even be dangerous to go through life without enough sleep. Take into consideration the ideas and tips laid out in this article, so that you can find better sleep even in spite of having sleep apnea.
Stopping bad habits may help with your sleep apnea. Drinking alcohol and smoking are very bad for the condition. Alcohol relaxes the muscles in the throat, which restricts the airway while a person sleeps. Smoking damages the lungs. Drop as many bad habits as you can as early as possible.
Drop your bad habits to relieve your sleep apnea. Drinking alcohol and smoking are very bad for the condition. The muscle-relaxing effects of alcohol are very hard on the whole respiratory system and lead to significant breathing problems. Smoking damages your lungs over time. Quitting both of these habits completely will really alleviate your symptoms.
While people who are thin can have sleep apnea for various reasons, one common reason many people have it is being overweight. If this is the case, a sleep apnea sufferer should try to lose weight. Follow a strict diet and exercise regimen for awhile to see if this makes a difference. Carbohydrate restriction has been shown to help people lose weight in recent studies as well.
Your doctor or a sleep specialist can help you find the CPAP machine that is best suited for your needs and comfort. Among other considerations, inquire about how big the machine is and how noisy it is when it is operating. Some machines can be quite small and be very quiet. The doctor will know which manufacturers offer the best machines.
Consult with your doctor about getting a mouth piece. Your symptoms could very well be exacerbated by congenital conditions like a small jaw, an over- or under-bite, or a naturally constricted airway. By aligning the position of your jaw and throat, you will find that you can sleep with fewer symptoms of sleep apnea.
Mouth Guard
If you are overweight, lose some weight. Studies have found a correlation between sleep apnea and obesity. Therefore, just losing twenty pounds or so could help provide significant relief from your sleep apnea.
Have a mouth guard made for you. They make these mouth guards specifically for people that suffer from sleep apnea. A mouth guard is more comfortable than wearing a CPAP and is better to sleep with. The guard assists in opening up your airways and stabilizing the soft tissues.
It’s necessary to use a CPAP machine for four hours each night if your doctor has prescribed one for your sleep apnea. Unfortunately, adjusting to this device while sleeping can be hard for some people. Four hours of use daily is recommended with a CPAP machine to see the medical benefits. Just use it as much as possible and you’ll get used to using it after a couple of weeks.
If your doctor has prescribed a CPAP machine for you, make sure you use it every night, for at least 4 hours. Many people find it very difficult to feel comfortable using a CPAP to go to sleep. For the CPAP therapy to work, it must be used a minimum of four hours per day. Keep trying to use your machine, and work up to a full night slowly if you need to.
Sleep on your side in order to get some better sleep. When people sleep on their back, their tongue and soft palate rest to the back of the throat, which blocks the airway. Try sleeping on your side at night and determine if that helps you breathe a bit easier.
Sleep Apnea
Avoid sleeping pills if you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Sleeping pills can interfere with your throat muscles and with your airway. Having a bad sleep apnea case could make these pills a dangerous option. It may be tempting to use these pills to sleep better, but it’s not worth the risk.
Losing weight through a good diet can fight sleep apnea. You’d be surprised at how much a healthy diet can help you with sleep apnea. In past studies,it has been shown that those that eat improper foods have worse sleep apnea than those that eat healthy, but are overweight.
No matter where you travel, you must bring your CPAP if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Using a CPAP is essential every night for those of you living with sleep apnea. A convenience travel pouch is usually included with purchase. This is perfect for taking your CPAP along with you anytime you are away.
Try not to drink alcohol as much. When drinking alcoholic beverages, it will relax your muscles. Drinking alcohol will make it hard for you to get through the night if you have sleep apnea. Your throat muscles become relaxed and cause your airways to become blocked. Try your best to limit your drinking if you do decide to have alcohol, and try to not have any right before bed.
Be sure to treat allergies and sinus issues right away if you suffer from sleep apnea. It will help you breath better in general, especially during your sleep. The last thing you need is something else interfering with your airways while sleeping. It is important to keep your airways open and free from mucous and debris.
Look for alternatives to sleeping pills. Sleeping pills cause your throat muscles to relax, just like alcohol. Sleeping pills also worsen many other effects dangerous to sleep apnea sufferers. Ask your doctor about sleeping aids that won’t have a negative impact on your breathing.
If you have tried everything to no avail, be sure to see your doctor about professional treatment. The removal of loose tissue at the back of the throat is one surgical technique that is a last resort treatment for severe sleep apnea that can’t be controlled with other less invasive treatments.
You may not even realize you have sleep apnea. If you have no wife or husband to tell you, you be unaware you stop breathing at night. Using a simple camcorder while you sleep can give you the information you need. Make sure to record any sounds you make so the doctor can hear them.
If your nose seems stuffy, apply a nasal spray. Nasal spray can temporarily reduce swelling in your nasal passages. Don’t overuse nasal spray though, it can cause your nose damage and irritate it. Ask your pharmacist what other options you can try to keep your nasal passages clear.
Sleeping Pills
Look for devices that help to alleviate snoring. Snoring occurs if breathing passages become partially closed, and sleep apnea when they are closed entirely. So, it makes sense that a device that helps with the former can help with the latter. If you have mild sleep apnea, an anti-snoring device may be enough to help with your condition.
Sleeping pills are bad to take for people with sleep apnea. Sleeping pills can make your throat relax which prevents your airways from functioning properly. These pills can lead to a very dangerous situation if your case is bad, especially when tempted to try and get a good night’s sleep.
Sleeping face-up can worsen sleep apnea symptoms, so make an effort to face sideways when sleeping. One way to keep yourself off your back while you sleep is to sew a pocket into the back of your pajamas and tuck something lumpy into it (a tennis ball is ideal). This forces you to lay on your side since it makes it tough to lay on your back.
It is very important to get enough sleep, do what you can to make sure you get it. Print this article out and keep it with you so that you can ask your doctor questions about what you have learned here. Talk to him or her about different types of treatments that will help move you toward a well-rested life again.
If you’re taking a long trip, talk to the airline about using your CPAP. Most airlines will be willing to make arrangements to have you seated where you will have enough room to use your machine. You should always tote a power adapter when you are visiting a foreign country.