A lot of people assume that it is only natural to feel exhausted day after day and there is nothing they can do to improve the situation. Fortunately, this isn’t true. Dealing with sleep apnea is an issue many people suffer with, and it is best to be educated about this condition.
Do you regularly smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol? If the answer is yes and you have sleep apnea, you need to stop both habits. Smoking and drinking have negative effects on your airways. Alcohol can relax airways while smoking can cause them to swell, both of which can cause you to have sleep apnea. If it’s too challenging to give up these habits entirely, you should at least avoid indulging in them as you approach your bedtime.
In order to assist you with sleep apnea, you must talk to your doctor about what CPAP machines to use. The loudness and size of any machine should be considered. Some CPAP machines are small and are quiet. The physician should know which companies have the best machines.
Have a mouth guard fitted for your needs. Guards such as these were designed for someone who suffers with sleep apnea. It provides a more comfortable option to using a CPAP machine. The guard assists in opening up your airways and stabilizing the soft tissues.
It may be possible to reduce the problems you are having with sleep apnea by getting involved with a wind instrument. Playing this kind of instrument strengthens your muscles in the upper airways. Muscles in this area stiffen the airway walls and control the dilation. Due to this, regular play can translate into good sleep at night.
Do not neglect your CPAP machine if it has been prescribed to you. Many folks have difficulty adjusting to the CPAP in the beginning. If this is the case with you, try a different mask. That is often the source of the discomfort. Using it for the minimum of four hours a day will allow yourself to slowly transition to full time use.
Sleep Apnea
Many people don’t realize that sleep apnea is not something to ignore and can be potentially dangerous if left untreated. If you feel some of the symptoms, then you need to consult a physician as quickly as you can. A specialist in sleep disorders can order the tests necessary to diagnose the condition.
Eating well can help you become thinner, which can often reduce sleep apnea symptoms. A lot of people are surprised that a bad diet can affect sleep apnea. People who do not eat well, or are overweight, may suffer from sleep apnea.
If you are not sleeping with a partner, then it’s almost impossible to determine if you’re suffering from sleep apnea on your own. Therefore, record yourself sleeping at night by putting a video camcorder in your room. Whatever video system you set up also need an audio component, since your physicians are going to need to hear the sounds you make.
Children are susceptible to sleep apnea. IF you have a child with sleep apnea you can tell through poor grades, irritability, or hostility. Sometimes parents mistakenly think these symptoms have to do with something like ADHD, and it is best that you talk to your child’s doctor to find the true culprit.
One sure-fire way to combat the problems posed by sleep apnea is proper weight management. Many people find that they can completely correct sleep apnea by losing excess weight. Even small amounts of weight loss have been shown to improve sleep apnea symptoms and open up the throat and airways.
Try to sleep on your side instead of your back to breathe easier when you sleep. Our airways can get obstructed if we sleep while on our backs. Try to fall asleep in a side position, and discover if that relieves your sleep apnea tonight.
If a person has sleep apnea and is overweight, they can often reduce their symptoms by losing some weight. For people who are overweight, sleep apnea is much more prevalent especially people with a larger neck circumference. If you lose that weight, the pressure on your air passage will be lessened, which will improve the quality of your breathing.
Sleeping Pills
Your doctor should make a certain diagnosis of your sleep apnea, but there are ways you can help yourself too. A couple of good examples are controlling your weight and quitting smoking. It’s also a good idea to refrain from eating heavy meals and drinking alcoholic or caffeinated beverages close to bed-time.
Sleeping pills and other drugs are not good solutions if you are having trouble falling asleep. Just like alcohol, taking sleeping pills will make your throat muscles relax. They may also have other negative effects as well. Ask your physician about sleeping aids that are free of harmful effects or risks to your night-time breathing.
You can actually reduce your sleep apnea symptoms by practicing a few simple tongue exercises. Press your entire tongue up inside your mouth, and hold it there for at least a few minutes. You will have less chance of your throat muscles relaxing and blocking your airway if you strengthen the muscles of your tongue and throat.
When you have sleep apnea you can find out about it from tests your doctor will run. After taking all this information, your family doctor may send you to see a sleep specialist. This doctor specializes in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders, and he will quite likely order a sleep study.
Remember that you must bring your CPAP machine with you on long air flights, and the airline must know about this in advance. Many will make arrangements so that you have a seat with plenty of room to use it. If you are flying a foreign airline, remember to bring a universal power adapter.
It is hard to know whether or not you are having difficulty breathing at night if you sleep alone. Using a simple camcorder while you sleep can give you the information you need. Make sure you have audio on your video so you and your doctor can hear the noises you make in your sleep.
There are many simple remedies available to anyone who is dealing with sleep apnea. Sleeping at random times can disrupt your sleep, so go to bed each night at the same time. Lights in your bedroom can keep you awake, so turn off all electronic devices and any lamps or overhead lights, too. Unless you follow your rules, you may lead yourself to more severe apnea attacks or even insomnia.
In order to make a proper diagnosis, your doctor may have you maintain a sleep journal. Sleep logs are records where patients write down the length and quality of their sleep. If your sleeping partner is telling you that you snore or jerk in your sleep, you may have sleep apnea. This can help the doctor determine if you actually have sleep apnea.
Take immediate steps to seek relief from your sleep apnea. Putting off a doctor’s visit could lead to a worsening of conditions over a period of time. When you wait and go without treatment, you cause harm to your overall health. It will not go away on its own, so seek help from a doctor.
If you suffer from sleep apnea and have a problem with your mouth opening while sleeping with your CPAP, a chin strap may be able to help. This is a small piece of fabric that holds your chin up while you sleep and keeps you mouth closed. CPAP therapy will not work if your mouth is open, so try this simple device to see if it fixes the problem.
If sleep apnea is something that you are afflicted with, you might want to try the throat exercises known to improve the condition. By building up the muscles that surround the airway, such exercises can reduce the likelihood of muscular relaxation and airway constriction during sleep. One good exercise involves pressing your tongue against the bony palate of the mouth and holding it for three minutes before releasing. This exercise can be done 1-2 times per day, every day.
Be sure to take your CPAP with you if you have sleep apnea and have to visit the hospital. Be it an intended or emergency room stay, you must always have access to your CPAP and the mask when you suffer from sleep apnea. This is because it is already customized to the pressure you need, and the mask won’t be awkward. Staying in a hospital is tough enough, and you might as well bring your own machine along to help ease the visit as much as you can.
Back sleepers are more likely to suffer with snoring or sleep apnea. A change in your sleep position can often help your breathing at night. Sleeping on one side can provide a better night’s rest.
When sleep apnea is an issue, make sure to treat any allergies or problems with sinuses. This condition makes sleeping troublesome. You don’t need anything else adding to that. Keeping your airway free and clear by treating your nasal problems gives you a much better chance of sleeping through the night without problems.
Exhaustion can worsen the symptoms of sleep apnea. Good sleep hygiene, like adhering to a routine bedtime schedule, can help. Have a specific time you go to bed and wake up, and always try to stick to them. You can avoid further complications, such as insomnia, this way.
You can cut down on the sleep apnea symptoms you experience by making your throat muscles stronger. Sleep apnea is a direct result of a collapse of tissue that occurs towards the far throat’s back. The muscles will slowly become stronger, which means that they won’t collapse as often when you sleep, which in turn improves airflow.
Make sure you exercise your throat and jaw muscles. Sleep apnea can be caused by weak muscles in your throat and neck, so some exercises can greatly relieve the apnea. These exercises may truly help you.
You have learned much helpful information concerning sleep apnea, so be watching out for the signs. Being tired all the time is not normal, and you do not need to suffer in silence.
Pick up any type of wind instrument and learn to play it. Instruments such as the clarinet or flute will help you with your apnea. The repeated blowing through the instrument helps to strengthen muscles that restrict your breathing because they are weak and lax while you sleep. The muscles in your throat are just like any other muscles in your body. By exercising them regularly, and in this case with an instrument, you will see a significant improvement in your symptoms.