Sleep apnea may well be your problem if you’re finding it difficult to get a good night’s rest. There are many people with this condition, and it is a difficult one to live with. Fortunately, there are effective methods for dealing with it. The following paragraphs has ideas you can use to deal with this affliction.
If you are suffering with sleep apnea due to having narrow airways, you should get yourself a mouth guard to use when sleeping. A sleep mouth guard will correct the airway and let you breathe correctly all night. Talk to your physician about these, and get a fitting if you two think it might work.
Do you smoke or sometimes drink? Quit these vices. Your airways are affected by using both of these substances. Alcohol relaxes your airways, and tobacco causes it to swell. If you are having trouble quitting either of these habits, at least try to abstain in the few hours before bedtime.
Ask your doctor about a corrective mouth piece for your sleep apnea symptoms. It may just be that your breathing passage is naturally narrow or your jaw is small. Special mouthpieces can help to maintain proper alignment while you sleep, allowing you to rest much better.
Sleep Apnea
Shedding some excess pounds is a good idea if you’re overweight. Studies show that sleep apnea symptoms are more common in people who are overweight. If you are obese, even just losing twenty pounds can significantly improve sleep apnea symptoms.
If you’re a smoker or a drinker (or both) who’s also dealing with sleep apnea, you may find that giving up your vices will solve your sleep disorder. Both of these bad habits can cause the airway muscles to relax, which makes you snore and adds to the symptoms of sleep apnea. Giving up these habits can save you a lot of money as compared to expensive surgical procedures that might be needed later if you continue.
Try something else besides sleeping pills. Just like alcohol, taking sleeping pills will make your throat muscles relax. In addition, sleeping pills can contribute to many problems associated with sleep apnea. Discuss alternative methods for getting to sleep without altering your breathing with your physician.
Moderate your alcohol intake. Alcohol has a relaxing effect on all your muscles. Drinking alcohol will make it hard for you to get through the night if you have sleep apnea. Alcohol has an effect on throat muscles and it can hurt your body. If drinking is an important part of your life, restrict the amount of alcohol you consume and drink it earlier in the day.
Test out sleeping on the side. Some sleep apnea patients lay on their backs. If you sleep flat on your back you are only exasperating your breathing problem by allowing your throat muscles to relax and move down. Sleeping on one’s side is a better option. You may want to prop yourself up with pillows so you stay on your side.
Some cases of sleep apnea are quite severe. If you think you may have it, talk to a doctor immediately. If you are diagnosed with the condition, your doctor may send you to a sleep specialist, as well as recommend a sleep test to monitor your condition.
Keep a regular sleeping schedule to lessen the symptoms of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes regular interruptions in your ordinary nightly sleep cycle. Anything you can do to restore a natural sleep pattern will assist you in regaining your health and avoiding daytime sleepiness. Begin by setting a specific time to lie down and rise every day. Then stick to it.
Take back a good night of rest by side sleeping. Sleeping on your back does not allow enough air to get into your airways. Make it a habit of falling asleep on your side, which hopefully does alleviate some of these sleep apnea symptoms.
If you are using a CPAP and experience an issue with your mouth opening during sleep, a chin strap can help. This minor fabric piece and make sure that your chin stays up and your mouth closed. Your CPAP machine cannot function properly if your mouth hangs open. Using a chin strap may help.
You may have to maintain a sleep log for your doctor to diagnose your condition. You simply log the amount of hours you’re sleeping each night, and mentioning other symptoms too. Ask your partner to note anything unusual noticed during the night while you were sleeping. All these will assist your physician in making a formal diagnosis.
An excellent method of reducing your sleep apnea symptoms is simply losing some weight. Weight loss alone can be an effective treatment for those with mild sleep apnea. You can have relief from sleep apnea symptoms by losing as little as 10 pounds.
A great way to reduce the possibility of having sleep apnea is to lose weight. Many sufferers of sleep apnea have found that shedding their unwanted pounds makes their sleep apnea go away entirely. Losing even just five pounds can make your sleep apnea symptoms go away.
You need only one regular pillow to sleep with at night. Using multiple or oversized pillows makes it more likely that you will end up in a position that encourages sleep apnea. These mean you sleep in positions where it is hard to breathe. So, you should stick to one pillow to help lessen any sleep apnea symptoms.
You must get treatment if you have sleep apnea. It will not resolve itself. Cases differ from patient to patient, and the same treatment will not be effective in every case. Some sleep apnea sufferers can deal with their symptoms by getting rid of excess weight, but there are also people with the condition who aren’t overweight. Other options, including the use of a CPAP machine, have helped a great number of people curb their symptoms. Others prefer surgery to relieve their sleep apnea. Regardless of the method you use, obtaining some type of treatment is essential to living a higher quality of life with this condition.
Try using a device made to eliminate snoring. Snoring occurs if breathing passages become partially closed, and sleep apnea when they are closed entirely. One device can help with both. Use an anti-snoring device when you sleep.
Sleeping on your back can make your sleep apnea worse. You must figure out which position is best for you. Lift your body up on a foam wedge. Or, if possible, elevate the top part of the bed around four inches.
Find ways to decrease the risk factors of our sleep apnea. Some of the risk factors associated with sleep apnea cannot be changed such as being born a male or having it run it the family. However, many other risk factors can be cut out, like being overweight, a smoker or a heavy drinker.
If you ever have the occasion to fly for travel and you have sleep apnea, be sure to inform the airline that you will be bringing along your CPAP machine. Most carriers will make sure they seat you with plenty of room to accommodate your machine. If you are flying a foreign airline, remember to bring a universal power adapter.
If you are going to be on a plane a long time, then get in touch with the airline company to inform them that you need your CPAP machine for sleeping. They will usually accommodate you by giving you a seat where you can easily get to your machine. If you happen to be flying overseas on a foreign airline, make sure you have the right power adapter.
As this article went over, there are lots of ways you can deal with sleep apnea. First, try the treatment that best addresses the underlying causes of your apnea. Using the information is the first step towards getting a peaceful night’s sleep. You do not need to be a victim of sleep apnea any longer.
Try learning how to play a musical instrument. The music is soothing, and a recent German study has revealed that playing any wind instrument drastically calms sleep apnea symptoms. This can help you control your problem.