People who deal with sleep apnea every day understand how troublesome it can be each day. Having the right information can go a long way in making symptoms easier to deal with. Take into your heart the awesome advice that comes in the following paragraphs if you want to control your condition.
Overweight people are prone to suffering from sleep apnea. The obvious solution is to lose the excess weight. Follow a strict diet and exercise regimen for awhile to see if this makes a difference. Cutting out white carbs such as white rice, pasta and sugar is one step that many people use to lose weight.
Consult with your doctor about getting a mouth piece. You may have a naturally narrow breathing passage, small jaw or recessed chin that can amplify the effects of sleep apnea. You can get better rest if you wear a custom mouth guard that aligns your jaw properly.
If you have sleep apnea, yet you drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes, quitting could alleviate your symptoms. 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!
Mouth Guards
In order to make a proper diagnosis, your doctor may have you maintain a sleep journal. All hours slept or spent awake should be recorded. If you sleep with another person, they’ll be able to help you keep track of snoring, interruptions in breathing, or jerking of your limbs. This log will assist your doctor in diagnosing your condition.
Use a fitted sleep apnea mouth guard. Mouth guards help keep your jaw in a proper position. These mouth guards are more comfortable than a CPAP. You will find that this mouth guard stabilizes the soft tissues and allows the airways to be more open.
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 little piece of fabric can work wonders to hold your chin that your breathing is not interrupted. The CPAP only works if the mouth is closed, so try using the strap.
If your doctor has prescribed a CPAP machine for you, make sure you use it every night, for at least 4 hours. It is hard for many patients to become accustomed to using the CPAP. Use your CPAP as often as prescribed by your doctor, and make sure it fits properly. Using it for the minimum of four hours a day will allow yourself to slowly transition to full time use.
Are you not having any success at improving your symptoms of sleep apnea? If so, then visit your doctor and ask him or her about other options you can utilize. Standard treatment vectors of sleep apnea do not work for certain individuals, and they wind up going in for surgical options. These can include tonsil removal and airway enlargements.
Sleep Apnea
You can reduce sleep apnea with exercises to strengthen throat muscles. When the soft tissue of the throat collapses, the airway becomes blocked and sleep apnea occurs. The muscles will slowly become stronger, which means that they won’t collapse as often when you sleep, which in turn improves airflow.
You can both shed unwanted pounds and reduce the effects of sleep apnea with a nutritious and healthy diet. Most people would find it surprising to know that your diet can be a factor in managing sleep apnea. Research has proven that those who consume low quality food demonstrate more severe sleep apnea than even overweight folks who eat healthy.
Speak with your doctor about adding a heated humidifier to your routine use of a CPAP machine for treatment of sleep apnea. Warm, moist air will help keep you asleep comfortably. A lot of CPAP machines come with built-in humidifiers, so ask your doctor to prescribe that type for you.
Sleep apnea is no joke. If you have symptoms of sleep apnea, make an appointment with your doctor. Then, if you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, you can talk with a specialist and even use a sleep monitor to understand the severity.
It is fine to get a CPAP machine, it’s natural for sleep apnea sufferers. Be forthright about your need for it, and don’t worry about having to use it around other people. If you have to use a CPAP machine your family and friends should not make fun of it.
Sleeping by yourself can keep you from knowing if you have the symptoms of sleep apnea. To gather evidence a physician can evaluate, record yourself sleeping through the night. Ensure that you record audio also, which will allow the doctors to evaluate noises you are making during sleep.
Snoring and sleep apnea can be soothed by playing a musical instrument. Learning to play a wind instrument can strengthen the muscles in your airway so you can breathe easier. This will help your airways.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, have a regular bedtime. Sleep apnea can disrupt your sleep every night. Any steps you take to improve your overall sleep habits will help deal with the symptoms of your condition and minimize the impact it has. Try retiring and waking at consistent times.
Anxiety is a common result of sleep apnea, so think about relaxing baths prior to bed. A good hot bath is an excellent way to reduce tension and soothe away your aches and pains. This will help you sleep better and you will get more quality sleep instead of worrying about sleep apnea.
You can wear a chin strap with your CPAP if you have problems with your mouth falling open as you sleep. This minor fabric piece and make sure that your chin stays up and your mouth closed. Your mouth needs to remain closed for CPAP therapy to be effective.
Sleep apnea sufferers may need to look for a simple solution in order to get a better night’s rest. Target a specific time for bed and be consistent with it nightly. Also see to it that your bedroom is ideal for good sleep. Insomnia is a real danger if your sleeping arrangements are sub-par.
When sleep apnea causes you to get too little rest, your entire life is affected. Luckily, but spending the time necessary to gain a thorough understanding of the condition, it is indeed possible to skillfully manage its impact. You can begin to enjoy a good night’s sleep again by applying the information you learned in this article.
If you are wondering whether you are experiencing sleep apnea, set a date with your doctor asap and request a sleep test. This study will rule sleep apnea in or out, and if you have it, will determine its severity. Even if you’re experiencing relatively mild sleep apnea, having a firm diagnosis of the condition enables you to take steps towards treating it.