Sleep apnea is often undiagnosed and can have severe consequences. This is a condition that occurs whenever a person’s airway slightly collapses while sleeping, which interferes with his or her ability in breathing. See the advice in the article below for basic information on dealing with this frightening and possibly life threatening condition.
If your airway is naturally narrow, a mouth guard for sleep may help with your sleep apnea. These devices correct your airways and they help you breathe properly. If you think a mouth guard might help you out, consult a physician and ask her to fit you with one.
A CPAP machine may turn out to be vital in combating your sleep apnea, and you should get your doctor’s advice about what model is right for you. You must consider both the size of your machine and its loudness. Certain CPAPs are tinier than bread boxes and are barely heard. You can consult with your doctor to see who you should talk to in order to get a good machine.
If you want real assistance with sleep apnea at night, talk to a physician about the optimal CPAP machine for you. You must consider both the size of your machine and its loudness. Some CPAP machines are small and are quiet. Your physician probably knows which machines are best.
Upper Airway
Talk to your doctor to find out if a sleep mouth guard will work for your apnea. You could have an overbite, small jaw, or narrow breathing passage that worsens your sleep apnea symptoms. You will get better rest if you use specialty devices to position yourself and align your jaw properly while sleeping.
Some people believe that you can strengthen you upper airway muscles by playing a musical instrument belonging to the woodwind family. Research done by specialists in Germany indicates you can train your muscles in the upper airway by playing the didgeridoo. These muscles are responsible for opening and closing your airway, as well as controlling the stiffness of the airway. Because of this, playing it regularly can help you breathe better when you sleep.
Learning how to play a wind instrument is something which can help ease the symptoms of your sleep apnea. Playing this kind of instrument strengthens your muscles in the upper airways. These are the muscles that control airway dilatation and airway wall rigidity. Due to this, regular play can translate into good sleep at night.
It can be a very serious issue when you have sleep apnea. If you experience symptoms of sleep apnea, don’t delay the conversation with your doctor. Once you have been diagnosed, your next step will be a sleep specialist, who may administer a sleeping test using a small monitor to determine the extent of your condition.
You must use your CPAP at least 4 hours nightly after receiving your unit. Some people have a really hard time sleeping with the device. A minimum of four hours per night is needed, if your CPAP machine is going to help you. Starting at just four hours per session can help you ease into adjusting to your CPAP.
Attempt sleeping on the side. Many sufferers of sleep apnea sleep on their backs. When you sleep on your back, you are warping the shape of your airways. However, breathing is much easier if you sleep on your side instead. Prop pillows on one side to prevent you from rolling on your back while sleeping.
Sleep apnea afflicts children too. If you child exhibits certain symptoms, he or she might have sleep apnea. A lot of sleep apnea symptoms are associated with ADHD, so work with your doctor to investigate all possibilities.
To actually diagnose your disorder, a doctor may require you to take notes in a sleep log. You will record when you sleep and when you awaken and anything else that happens during your sleeping hours. If you have a partner, you can find out about snoring issues, breathing issues or flailing limb issues. This type of data can help your doctor diagnose the issue.
When you have sleep apnea you can find out about it from tests your doctor will run. You can do sleep studies and the things the doctor finds will guide him on making a decision on what can be done.
When you are using a CPAP, if your mouth always drops open while you sleep, you should wear a strap for your chin. This strap is a small strip of material that holds up your chin while you sleep, thus keeping your mouth closed. If your mouth falls open when you sleep, your CPAP therapy won’t be effective. Use this device to try and solve the problem.
If you have sleep apnea and your mouth keeps falling open while you sleep with your CPAP every night, try wearing a chin strap. A chin strap is a fabric strip that prevents your chin from falling during the night, which in turn keeps your mouth closed. If you keep your mouth open your CPAP will not work.
If you have tried everything to no avail, be sure to see your doctor about professional treatment. Conventional treatments may not work for you, and other options do exist, including surgery that results in enlargement of the air passage.
If your sleep apnea requires the use of a CPAP machine, make certain that a medical ID is always with you. It may be a vital piece of information if you need emergency medical care and unable to give that information. The information on the card should mention your sleep anea and include the full details of the treatment you regularly use.
If you have sleep apnea, consider dropping some weight. A lot of people find that when they lose weight, they no longer have apnea. Even a loss of a few pounds has been beneficial in opening the airway.
Nasal sprays can help you sleep when your nose is being a nuisance to you. Using nasal spray a couple of nights in a row should help you sleep. However, they are not suitable for long term use. Check out all the different options while at your pharmacy.
Sleep Apnea
Take what steps you can to reduce the risk factors of sleep apnea you’re subject to. 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. On the other hand, you can influence risk factors like your weight, smoking and drinking.
Minimize the risk factors associated with sleep apnea. While some people suffer from sleep apnea due to genetic factors, others have it because of their lifestyle. If you are an alcoholic, a smoker or are overweight, changing these factors may eliminate your sleep apnea.
Laying on your back while sleeping can worsen your sleep apnea symptoms. Instead, try laying on your side. You can use something like pillows or blankets so that you will not want to sleep on your back. Doing this will make sleeping on your back very uncomfortable.
Try and lose weight because it will help you deal with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is linked to people who are overweight. If you lose weight, it will improve air flow by reducing pressure on your airways.
If you are dealing with effects of sleep apnea, one solution is to perform throat exercises, which can help lessen the symptoms. By building up the muscles that surround the airway, such exercises can reduce the likelihood of muscular relaxation and airway constriction during sleep. One such exercise is to use your tongue and press on the top of your mouth. Maintain this pressure for around three minutes before releasing. Try this once every day.
Don’t sleep facing upwards if you are a sleep apnea sufferer. Most people with sleep apnea tend to snooze lying face-up, and this can cause the airways to be more susceptible to interference. Use cushions or pillows to prop yourself up on your side while you sleep.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, consider being fitted for a corrective oral device. The reason for this is that some people have abnormally shaped jaws, which naturally narrows the airways. Corrective devices change the way the the jaw is aligned as you sleep, meaning more air is able to come in.
Sleep apnea should not be ignored; it needs to be treated. Some treatments work better for different people. Losing weight will help minimize symptoms in many patients, but sleep apnea can occur in very thin individuals as well as those who are overweight. Although surgery may be required to relieve your sleep apnea, many non-surgical options are available. Others prefer surgery so that they can treat airway restrictions. More importantly than what treatment you decide to get is that you actually get some form of treatment.
If you suspect you are suffering from sleep apnea, schedule a sleep test with your doctor. This test can determine if you’ve got sleep apnea and how severe it is. Following the evaluation you can begin to look at treatment options, no matter how mild your case may be.
Don’t drink too much if you have sleep apnea. Alcohol relaxes the muscles in the throat and causes your airway to become constricted. It’s best to put down the bottle entirely, but if you don’t want to do that, you should drink only minimal amounts, and do so early in the day. You need to do this to ensure that drinking has no effect on your sleeping patterns.
If you suspect sleep apnea afflicts you, make sure to have a formal diagnosis made by a doctor. There is no room for guessing when it comes to getting a restful night’s sleep. Talk to your physician, and establish a medical treatment plan.
Now, after learning about the different ways that sleep apnea can be harmful, you have a better understanding on the different methods to treat this condition. It is important to contact your physician if you need more information on this subject or if you feel that you may personally be affected by it.
Sleep apnea happens when you do not get enough oxygen when you are sleeping. An extended lack of oxygen can lead to a fatal event. Since there is less oxygen higher up, it can really have an impact of those afflicted. Avoid sleeping at higher elevations as much as possible.