Sleep apnea is something that people do not know they have a lot of the time. The disorder renders an individual’s airway useless during sleep and causes breathing to become abnormal or stalled. Sleep apnea is scary and can even be fatal. To learn more, read on.
Extra weight is a primary cause of sleep apnea. If this applies, it is is important to shed some excess weight. Following a reasonable weight loss plan and exercising is essential. Cutting out white carbs such as white rice, pasta and sugar is one step that many people use to lose weight.
Shedding some excess pounds is a good idea if you’re overweight. The link between sleep apnea and obesity in its sufferers has been well-proven. Losing a little weight can have a big affect on your sleep apnea. Try a calorie restriction diet and exercise.
Try quitting smoking and drinking alcohol if you have sleep apnea. Both habits cause the muscles of the airway to relax, which increases both snoring and sleep apnea. Some people resort to invasive surgeries to correct their sleep apnea without realizing that discontinuing these bad habits could have been a more simple and much cheaper route!
Are you using a CPAP for your sleep apnea? If so, then you should try to utilize it a minimum of four hours per night. Some people find the machine difficult to get accustomed to. However, it won’t be effective if you don’t use it every day. Just use it as much as possible and you’ll get used to using it after a couple of weeks.
Some cases of sleep apnea are quite severe. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, see your doctor right away. When you are officially diagnosed, you are going to be referred to a sleep specialist. You may even have to take a sleep test at home with a monitor to fully discover the depth of your symptoms.
Sleep Apnea
Attempt sleeping on the side. Many folks afflicted with sleep apnea rest on their backs. When you lay on your back during sleep, the tongue and soft palate shift to the back, which obstructs your airway. Avoid sleeping on your back and go on your side to make breathing easier. If you roll on your back when you sleep, try using pillows to stay on your side.
To keep your sleep apnea in check, eat a healthy diet to lose weight. Not everyone equates bad and good food with sleep apnea, but many people have found out that it does play a role. It has been shown in studies that those who eat unhealthier foods face more severe sleep apnea than their overweight, yet healthy-eating, counterparts.
To help diagnose your sleep apnea, your doctor may ask you to keep a sleep log. 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 spouse can inform you of any excessive snoring, jerking, or momentary lapses in your breathing. This helps the doctor discern whether you have sleep apnea or not.
Sleep apnea can be a serious disorder. If you notice some of the warning signs, you need to talk to your doctor as soon as possible. In the process of fully diagnosing your condition, you may be able to consult with a sleep specialist. Home sleep tests with portable monitors are also often used to pinpoint sleep apnea.
Be sure to take your CPAP with you if you have sleep apnea and have to visit the hospital. Your CPAP is set to your specifications so it will be easier for medical staff to help you out because you already have your own device. It will already be at your personal settings and pressure, and be the mask you know you can sleep in. Your whole hospitalization process will go much smoother because of this.
When you have sleep apnea you can find out about it from tests your doctor will run. Also, there may be a sleep study performed and even a sleep specialist recommended if the doctor treating you feels that your condition is severe enough to get it looked at further.
Try using devices that help with snoring. Excessive snoring occurs whenever your airways are only partially opened where a minimum amount of air can pass through. On the other hand, sleep apnea occurs whenever your airways are closed up completely with no passing through. A device that can help with snoring may also work to help with apnea. Using a device that reduces your snoring will help you sleep better.
It’s vital that you don’t use any type of sleeping pill when you suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep medicines often contain relaxants which only make your airway more likely to collapse. These can cause more harm than good, even if you just want to get to bed sooner.
Sleep apnea never just disappears of its own free will; you have to do something about it. Different people find relief through different forms of treatment. Getting to a lower weight can cut back on symptoms in a lot of sufferers, but even slender folks can be afflicted. The CPAP machine has been a very successful option for millions, and it does not involve any invasive procedures. Still others prefer the surgical route where modifications can be made to overcome airway restrictions. However you go about it, get help and your quality of life will improve.
Treat your allergies or other sinus problems when dealing with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes enough difficulty breathing on its own. There’s no reason to compound your troubles by suffering through other problems that make it harder to breathe. Eliminating your nasal problems maintains a clear airway, which will increase the chances that you will sleep better.
Getting your throat muscles stronger is a great way to have less of a problem with sleep apnea. The cause of sleep apnea is a blockage in the airways which results in a lack of an ability to breathe. Stronger muscles have more integrity and will not be as likely to block your airways.
Treatment Options
The CPAP machine is a common medical device, used by millions of people. Do not be self-conscious about it. Millions of people around the world use them, and you should ignore anyone who teases you about it. Your health is the most important thing you should be focusing on, not wasting time on what others think of your machine. It’s quite possible they may find themselves with sleep apnea at some point in their own lives.
If your current treatment options are not cutting it, speak to a doctor about additional techniques that may be suitable. Some people do not respond to conventional sleep apnea treatment options and consequently, as a last resort, they have to undergo a surgical treatment option, such as removing of the tonsils or adenoids, or enlarging of the airway.
If you’re taking a long trip, talk to the airline about using your CPAP. As long as you let them know ahead of time, many airlines will make an effort to seat you in an area where you can use your machine. If the airline you’re flying on is foreign, ensure you carry a power adapter.
Stick with a single ordinary pillow when you go to sleep. The position of your body can become awkward and harmful to your breathing when you use too many pillows. As a result, you may find it more difficult to breathe normally. Because of this you should only use one pillow for easier sleeping.
Many people with snoring issues or minor sleep apnea can find relief by learning to play a wind instrument. A study in Germany proved that playing a Didgeridoo can reduce sleep apnea symptoms and induce other soothing effects. Your new talents can help control your airways.
Although you should speak with your doctor about sleep apnea, you can try certain things yourself. Quitting smoking and losing weight are great for anyone, but are even better for sleep apnea patients. It’s also a good idea to refrain from eating heavy meals and drinking alcoholic or caffeinated beverages close to bed-time.
Anyone afflicted with sleep apnea might need solutions to get good rest. Give yourself a regular bedtime, and sleep about the same time every night. Make sure your environment is suitable for your sleeping arrangement. If you do not, insomnia may occur.
Use tongue and throat exercises as a way to combat sleep apnea. Place your tongue on your mouth’s roof and keep it there for at least three minutes. This will strengthen your throat and tongue muscles and reduce the chances of them relaxing while you sleep and blocking your airways.
Do not procrastinate in searching for a treatment. Start now! If you don’t get help for this condition, the symptoms most likely will end up getting much worse over time. Don’t let time slip past you; take action now and you should find a solution to all of your sleep apnea problems.
Do your research to find out how this sleeping condition is affecting your life. Contact your doctor for more information on the condition and to discuss treatments that will work for you.
If sleep apnea is something that you are afflicted with, you might want to try the throat exercises known to improve the condition. When you strengthen the muscles around the airway, you are helping make them much less likely to collapse. There are many exercises that are helpful, but one of them is to push your tongue very firmly up against the back of your front teeth. Then slide your tongue to the back of your mouth, and repeat this cycle for at least three minutes. You should practice this exercise once daily.