People with sleep apnea know how difficult it is to get even a single night of uninterrupted sleep. A good way to deal with problems associated with sleep apnea is to acquire plenty of knowledge about the topic. Improve your condition by assessing your symptoms, consulting with your physician and taking all medications as prescribed.
If you have no one with you while you sleep, it would be hard to tell if sleep apnea is your problem. Record yourself to get a better picture of what is happening while you sleep. Make sure the video has sound as well, so that your doctor can hear your breathing.
A major reason why a lot of people deal with the sleep apnea condition is because of the excess weight they’re carrying. Losing weight may help to greatly reduce sleep apnea symptoms in many patients. Diet and exercise can do wonders to treat this condition. Some studies have also shown that limiting your carbohydrate intake can help.
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. It is worth trying this simple fix, because CPAP therapy is ineffective if your mouth falls open while wearing the mask.
Are you a drinker or a smoker? Try to rid yourself of these horrible habits. These types of substances restrict your airways. Smoking swells up your airways, while drinking depresses your nervous system and muscles into excess relaxation. This can both cause and exacerbate sleep apnea. If you find that you just can’t give these bad habits up, do what you can to not do either of them within four hours of your bedtime.
If you suffer from sleep apnea and intend to travel at all, make sure you bring you CPAP in the luggage. Once you have a CPAP machine, neglecting to use it for even one night can cause problems. The original packaging should have included a convenient carrying case for travel. You can use it to carry your CPAP easily and safely anytime you leave home.
Don’t leave your CPAP machine behind if you’re a sleep apnea sufferer headed out on a trip. You never should go a single night without your CPAP. Your machine should include a padded travel bag. Use this bag to carry your CPAP whenever you travel.
If you have sinus or allergy issues, this may be causing your sleep apnea. Having sleep apnea means you already struggle to breathe during the night. You don’t want any other complications. It is important to keep your airways open and free from mucous and debris.
If nothing is working to better your sleep apnea, try talking to a doctor about more aggressive treatments. If less invasive treatments do not work, it is sometimes necessary to perform surgical procedures such as adenoid and tonsil removal and/or airway enlargement.
If your nose seems stuffy, apply a nasal spray. This will dry out the passages and help clear them out temporarily. Most nasal sprays are not recommended for extended periods of time so use them sparingly. Talk to a pharmacist to see which spray they recommend.
Weight loss is an effective tactic in combating sleep apnea in many cases. 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.
Use a device that is aimed at helping you with snoring. Snoring can be a sign that a person has sleep apnea, and a doctor can tell the patient whether one of these oral devices will be of help to them. So, it makes sense that a device that helps with the former can help with the latter. These tools may be able to lessen the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Risk Factors
Your sleep apnea will not just go away by itself without treatment. Every person is different, so while a particular treatment worked for someone else you know, it may not work for you. If you lose weight you will help your sleep apnea, but this is not always the cause. You can use options like CPAP machines to help you sleep at night. Some actually choose to have surgery done, where airway restrictions are physically removed. The key is to find the treatment that fits your individual solution and then sticking with it so that you can gain control of your life again.
Minimize the risk factors associated with sleep apnea. Be aware that certain risk factors, like gender and genes, cannot be changed. But others, such as weight smoking and drinking, can be controlled.
Quit smoking if you suffer from sleep apnea. Smoking causes swelling in your upper airway, which negatively impacts sleep apnea. Second-hand smoke is just as damaging to the respiratory system as first-hand smoke. Many people find the first month to be the hardest. Once you get through this, nicotine begins to exit out of your body, which decreases your cravings.
Patients who suffer from sleep apnea might want to consider losing weight as a means to relieve the symptoms. The condition is common in overweight patients that have larger neck circumferences. Losing weight can reduce pressure on the airways and cause better airflow when breathing at night.
Stronger throat muscles may help reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea. When the muscles at the back of your throat collapse, your breathing can be reduced. As your muscles strengthen, they will be more likely to keep your airways open.
Sleep Apnea
Speak with your doctor about adding a heated humidifier to your routine use of a CPAP machine for treatment of sleep apnea. Moist, warm air will help you get a better night’s sleep and make it easier to keep up with the CPAP therapy. Many CPAP manufacturers are providing machines with integrated humidifiers, so check with your doctor to see if that is a good option for you.
Try not to sleep on your back if you are prone to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea strikes back sleepers the most. Use pillows or specially designed cushions that will make sure you go through the entire night on your side only.
Try not to feel embarrassed about getting treatment or using a CPAP machine. Millions of people around the world use them, and you should ignore anyone who teases you about it. Always know that the CPAP machine is something that you need which can help you, and if someone looks down upon you for using it, then they weren’t your friends anyway.
Do not smoke. Smoking can cause the upper airway to swell, which exacerbates sleep apnea. There are many effective ways to stop smoking. The first month is hard, but after that it becomes easier. Following that time, the nicotine will start leaving your body, and you’ll have decreased cravings.
Sleep apnea causes anxiety, so if you feel that way before bed, take a bath. A good hot bath is an excellent way to reduce tension and soothe away your aches and pains. This leaves you ready for a restful night’s sleep and decreases the risk of a sleep apnea incident.
Sleeping flat on your back may worsen sleep apnea, so try to sleep on your side. Sewing a pair of balled up socks or a tennis ball onto the back of your PJs will help prevent rolling over. The discomfort of the ball will keep you from staying on your back as you sleep.
It is possible to use a mouth guard to treat some of the symptoms of sleep apnea. The way some jaws are shaped narrow airways. You can use a mouthpiece in this instance; you will get better airflow this way
If you have sleep apnea you know that it can be hard to deal with. Thankfully, doing your research allows you to gain the knowledge you need to better handle your condition. By following the information presented here, you may soon be enjoying restful and satisfying sleep.
If you are experiencing the symptoms of sleep apnea, it may be time to visit your doctor and schedule a sleep test. This test will determine if you have sleep apnea and how severe your condition is. Less severe cases of sleep apnea can be relatively easy to treat.