People who have had sleep apnea a while desperately want to eliminate this terrible condition. Having the right knowledge is the key to treating sleep apnea. The following article will offer an excellent foundation for people needing to learn more about sleep apnea.
Think about changing a few of your habits to help with your sleep apnea. Drinking and smoking are a couple of the biggest concerns. When you drink, your respiratory system is depressed and breathing becomes difficult. Cigarette smoke is full of cancer-causing chemicals which are bad for your lungs. Dropping these habits can help ease your symptoms.
It is important to stay away from alcohol if you have sleep apnea because it can help you see some improvement with the condition. Snoring and apnea are common occurrences for those with these habits because they relax the muscles in the airway. Quitting these addictions may be the easiest way to address your sleep apnea.
Overweight people are prone to suffering from sleep apnea. If this is true for you, try getting a little thinner. They should follow a sensible weight loss plan, usually involving a restricted calorie diet combined with exercise. After a couple of weeks you should see a difference with how much sleep apnea effects you.
Sleep Apnea
It’s necessary to use a CPAP machine for four hours each night if your doctor has prescribed one for your sleep apnea. Some individuals have a lot of trouble getting used to CPAP masks in their sleep. If this is the case with you, try a different mask. That is often the source of the discomfort. If you have a tough time with it, be sure you have the right size mask, and that the pressure is working right.
If you want relief from sleep apnea symptoms, one way to get it is to start playing a woodwind instrument. Research done by specialists in Germany indicates you can train your muscles in the upper airway by playing the didgeridoo. You’ll have better control over your airway’s dilation and the stiffness of the surrounding tissues if you exercise these muscles. Therefore, you should regularly play these instruments due to the fact that they decrease your sleep apnea symptoms.
Sleep on your side, as it can help lessen your sleep apnea symptoms. Back sleeping promotes airway obstruction. Try to fall asleep on your side instead and use a pillow if needed. It may relieve some symptoms.
Eating healthily can help you shed weight and relieve sleep apnea. A lot of people are amazed at how a poor diet negatively affects sleep apnea. Research has proven that those who consume low quality food demonstrate more severe sleep apnea than even overweight folks who eat healthy.
Adding a chin strap to your CPAP routine can help to keep your mouth closed as you sleep. It is only a small fabric strap that keeps your chin in place so you can sleep with a closed mouth. CPAP therapy is not successful with an open mouth, so use the chin strap to help alleviate the problem.
Try not to drink alcohol as much. Drinking alcohol relaxes the muscles of your throat and airway. While this is often considered a desirable effect, it can lead to sleep apnea. If you must drink, keep it to just a few, and stop drinking well before bedtime. This will keep your throat muscles from relaxing excessively. If you have to have a drink, do it well before bedtime.
Weight loss can be a big help for those that suffer from sleep apnea. If you are overweight it is more common that you might have sleep apnea. Losing the excess weight can greatly lower the pressure it puts on your airways and helps to get air flowing freely so you can breathe much better at night.
Sleeping Pills
While a condition like this does require the professional opinion of a doctor, there are many self-help remedies that work, too. Giving up tobacco use and losing excess weight are good health choices in general, and they’re particularly effective in reducing the symptoms of sleep apnea. You should also refrain from consuming alcohol, heavy meals, and caffeine for a few hours before bed.
If you are having trouble getting to sleep, do not turn to sleeping pills for assistance when you have sleep apnea. The muscles in your throat relax too much when you use a sedative like sleeping pills, (or alcohol) and your airway is much more likely to collapse during sleep. They can also contribute to a large variety of things that are problematic to those who suffer from sleep apnea. Consult with your practitioner to see what you can do to get to sleep without putting your breathing patterns at risk.
Sleep apnea does not go away on its own; patients need treatment. Various treatment regimens and choices are effective for certain individuals, but not necessarily all. Although losing weight is known to reduce sleep apnea symptoms, people who are thin suffer also. There are many options available to help treat this condition, one of which is a CPAP machine. Other people might just want to opt for surgery. Whichever route you choose should provide treatment that makes you happy.
Sleep in a prone position. Sleeping on your back is more likely to cause snoring and apnea. When you sleep on your back, you are warping the shape of your airways. Sleeping on your side makes breathing significantly easier. If you tend to roll onto your back in your sleep, try propping yourself on one side with pillows.
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, it is imperative that you stop smoking. Upper airways have a tendency to swell in smokers and increases the likelihood of sleep apnea. Try going cold turkey. Many people find the first month to be the hardest. Following that time, the nicotine will start leaving your body, and you’ll have decreased cravings.
A diagnosis of sleep apnea is performed by analyzing your medical history as well as your family history, followed by a physical exam. 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.
One helpful strategy to control sleep apnea is to begin playing a wind instrument. You will like the music and help exercise muscles that can better your breathing. Working these muscles can reduce sleep apnea symptoms, by strengthening them and enabling you greater control over them.
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. Try taping yourself at night to see if you do. Your video needs to have audio as well because the doctors will want to hear any noises you make.
If you’re using a CPAP machine, see if you doctor can also prescribe a humidifier with heat. Moist, warm air will help you get a better night’s sleep and make it easier to keep up with the CPAP therapy. Lots of CPAP machines have humidifiers built in. Check with your doctor to see if he or she can prescribe a humidifier for you.
Sleeping pills are not the answer if sleep apnea is your problem. Sleep medicines often contain relaxants which only make your airway more likely to collapse. 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.
Some people become anxious due to their sleep apnea and make the mistake of taking sedatives before bed, which can be dangerous for apnea sufferers. Take a warm bath instead. Taking a hot bath can relieve the tension in your muscles. This will help you get to sleep and stay asleep rather than having constant sleep apnea interruptions.
If you are going to be traveling and you have sleep apnea, you need to remember to take your CPAP with you. When sleep apnea affects you, do not attempt even a single night without your CPAP machine. The machine you are using should have a travel bag that is padded. This is perfect for taking your CPAP along with you anytime you are away.
You may not even notice that you have apnea. If you are having problems with excessive tiredness or falling asleep during the day with no known cause, talk to your doctor right away. Common symptoms of sleep apnea include unexplained exhaustion and falling asleep during the day.
People suffering from sleep apnea are on a never ending quest for solutions to this impossible symptoms. Information and understanding is critical for anyone hoping to curtail the symptoms of sleep apnea. When you have access to the information this article contains, you can begin to solve the problem this condition has created.
Take hold of your sleep apnea and seek out a cure for it. Without proper medical treatment, your symptoms can only worsen. Don’t allow your lack of sleep and snoring problems to become unbearable. Consult your physician immediately if you experience symptoms associated with sleep apnea.