If your life is being disrupted by sleep apnea, whether it is you or your partner, you should take steps to address it and correct it so that you both can get a better night’s rest. You should never ignore sleep apnea; make your partner aware of this. Read through this article to learn more.
One of the reasons many people suffer from sleep apnea is because they are carrying excessive weight. If this happens to be the problem then anyone dealing with sleep apnea should immediately shed this weight. A logical weight loss program that includes a restrictive, yet healthy diet together with a sensible exercise routine is necessary. Restriction of carbohydrates is shown to help those wanting to shed pounds.
If you suffer from sleep apnea and you smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol, quitting could improve your symptoms. Alcohol relaxes the tongue and throat muscles, which can cause them to block your airway; smoking inflames the airway, causing it to narrow. Both of these habits can cause snoring and apnea. Instead of costly surgery or some other medical procedure, losing these bad habits is the best way to save yourself money and address this condition.
If your sleep apnea is the result of narrow airways, try using a mouth guard when you sleep. A sleep mouth guard will correct the airway and let you breathe correctly all night. Speak with a doctor about using a properly fitted mouth guard.
Talk to your doctor about fitting you with a mouth piece you can wear at night. You might have a narrow breathing passage, recessed chin, or small jaw naturally that can worsen sleep apnea. You can get a mouthpiece to help you when you are sleeping to get better night’s sleep.
Your doctor or a sleep specialist can help you find the CPAP machine that is best suited for your needs and comfort. The noise level of a CPAP machine and its overall size are both points to take into consideration. Some machines are smaller than a bread box and can be whisper quiet. The doctor will know which manufacturers offer the best machines.
Sleep Apnea
Look for other sleeping aids besides sleeping pills. Just like alcohol, taking sleeping pills will make your throat muscles relax. They can also make other problems associated with sleep apnea worse. Consult with your doctor about what you should take besides sleeping pills.
If you want to find relief from sleep apnea, pick up a wind instrument. There have been studies that show playing the didgeridoo, a wind instrument, helps relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea. Upper airway muscles manage dilation and stiffening of airway walls. So try and play the didgeridoo regularly to help you get through the night with sleep apnea.
Attempt side sleeping. Sleeping on your back is more likely to cause snoring and apnea. Your airway can get blocked if you sleep on your back. It is best to sleep on one of your sides or your stomach. A large body pillow can help keep you from rolling to your back in the middle of the night.
Do not neglect your CPAP machine if it has been prescribed to you. Using a CPAP while sleeping is a tough adjustment for many patients to make. Keep in mind your CPAP device should be used at least four hours per night for it to help you. If you’re struggling to adjust, ensure you’re using the CPAP for four hours every single time you go to sleep.
Should you suffer from sleep apnea, keep a regular sleep schedule. Remember, your sleep is already being disrupted by your condition. If you can get on a better scheducle you will help your symptoms. Go to sleep and wake up at set times each day, even the weekends, for the best results.
Get a chin strap to keep your mouth closed when you are sleeping with a CPAP or BIPAP machine. This little piece of fabric can work wonders to hold your chin that your breathing is not interrupted. CPAP therapy will not work if your mouth is open, so try this simple device to see if it fixes the problem.
If you’re admitted to the hospital, take your sleep apnea machine with you. While a hospital will have CPAP machines, you may be much more comfortable with a machine that already fits you well. It is already set to your pressure, and you will have the exact mask you are used to using every night. You’ll be able to resume your CPAP therapy much easier by having these things in the hospital with you.
People with sleep apnea who need a CPAP should have a medical ID that identifies the problem. Upon need for help and medical attention, your condition must be known. The information on the card should mention your sleep anea and include the full details of the treatment you regularly use.
If nothing is working to better your sleep apnea, try talking to a doctor about more aggressive treatments. Not everyone responds to the standard treatment for sleep apnea, and some may need to do something a little more drastic, including surgical techniques.
If you’re not finding that anything is helping with your sleep apnea condition, talking to a doctor about various treatment options is recommended. There are some people who cannot tolerate traditional methods of alleviating sleep apnea symptoms, leading to the need for surgical intervention to enhance their airway.
Choose only one, flatter pillow to sleep on each night instead of fluffy pillows. When you sleep on a pile of pillows, or one extremely thick pillow, your chin is pushed down toward your neck and restricts your air flow. Your breathing will become more difficult for you to complete during sleep. This means that one pillow is most appropriate to help alleviate your sleeping concerns.
Weight loss is an effective tactic in combating sleep apnea in many cases. Many people find that they can completely correct sleep apnea by losing excess weight. In fact, you don’t have to lose a lot of weight to open up the airways and the throat.
Curb drinking heavily if you have sleep apnea. Alcohol consumption relaxes throat muscles beyond normality and can block an airway. You should either quit drinking, or make sure you only have a single drink a long time before you sleep. You don’t need alcohol to compound your issues with sleep apnea, and following this advice will help alleviate that.
Get rid of as many sleep apnea factors as possible. Some sleep apnea risk factors cannot be changed, like genetic or hereditary reasons. However, things like quitting smoking and drinking are within your control, and there’s no excuse for continuing these detrimental behaviors.
Take up a wind instrument. It is a great hobby, and it will help you exercise weak muscles to help you breathe at night. Strengthening and training your throat muscles will help you gain control of them and help them stay in place as you sleep. This will have a positive effect on your sleep apnea.
Losing weight can definitely help reduce sleep apnea’s effects. If your sleep condition is caused by obesity, weight loss may solve your problem completely. If you lose that weight, the pressure on your air passage will be lessened, which will improve the quality of your breathing.
Speak with your doctor about adding a heated humidifier to your routine use of a CPAP machine for treatment of sleep apnea. It is much easier to get better sleep and to sleep with your CPAP machine if there is warm and humid air to breathe. A lot of CPAP machines have humidification standard now, so ask your doctor for a model like that.
It is better to sleep on your side if you have sleep apnea. Most sleep apnea patients spend the night on their backs and that can interfere with the airways. Try your best to avoid sleeping on your back, and use pillows or something else to keep you on your side.
Sleeping on your back can make your sleep apnea worse. You must figure out which position is best for you. Take a foam wedge to lift the top of your body up. If you have an adjustable bed, raise the head by several inches for the best position.
Working out your tongue can help treat your sleep apnea symptoms. One exercise includes pressing your tongue on the roof of the mouth and keeping it for several minutes. You will have less chance of your throat muscles relaxing and blocking your airway if you strengthen the muscles of your tongue and throat.
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. 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. Make sure you bring a power adapter if you fly on a foreign airline.
If you suffer from snoring or sleep apnea, learn to play an instrument. It is not only soothing, but in a German trial study, it was proven that playing the Didgeridoo or any wind instrument can drastically calm sleep apnea symptoms. This new craft will help you keep control of your airways.
Some people find that learning to play the wind instrument they’ve always been interested in is an effective treatment for their sleep apnea. It is soothing, and a German study showed that using these instruments can strengthen your throat muscles. Any instrument that strengthens your airway muscles can improve your breathing at night.
There are a few simple solutions sleep apnea sufferers can look into. Sleeping at random times can disrupt your sleep, so go to bed each night at the same time. Lights in your bedroom can keep you awake, so turn off all electronic devices and any lamps or overhead lights, too. If you’re not comfortable, you may experience insomnia.
Some sleep apnea sufferers can find relief with a mouth guard, nasal strips or weight loss. Oral devices can help when sleep apnea is caused by narrow airways. Using corrective devices to ensure the jaw is properly aligned while sleeping can help increase air intake.
Remember that you may not always notice sleep apnea in the evening. If you have unexplained exhaustion, sleepiness, or you’re falling asleep when you drive, try talking to a doctor about it. Even if you don’t find yourself bolting breathlessly awake at night, you may have sleep apnea.
Stay in touch with your doctor after you are diagnosed with sleep apnea. Your physician should provide you with ongoing support and treatment. If you plan on attempting a new treatment, meet with your doctor a month after trying it to discuss its effectiveness.
The preceding paragraphs were full of useful information, both for yourself and to share with others. No matter how hard you try, you can’t ignore sleep apnea. Keep the information you read here close by, and let others know about this condition so they too can be knowledgeable about sleep apnea.
Find a mouth piece that will work for you or get fitted for one. There are mouth guards you can use to help you when you sleep. If you have an overbite or a jaw that isn’t set properly, that can also be a cause of sleep apnea.