Everything You Need To Know About Sleep Apnea

Many people, the old and young alike, suffer from sleep apnea which is a life-threatening condition. Sadly, many of those afflicted by this chronic condition are at a loss for remedies and simply put up with the horrible symptoms. In the remainder of this article, you are going to find ideas and tips that you can use to manage your condition and rest well at night.

In order to improve sleep apnea, eliminate some bad habits from your life. Drinking and smoking are the biggest offenders. Drinking relaxes your airway to prevent proper breathing. Cigarettes can hurt your lungs, possibly even causing lung cancer. Your sleep apnea symptoms will improve if you give up both of these unhealthy habits completely.

In order to assist you with sleep apnea, you must talk to your doctor about what CPAP machines to use. Not all machines are alike, and you may need one that has a humidifier or a certain type of pressure. Some machines can be quite small and be very quiet. Your doctor will be familiar with them, so be sure to tap his knowledge.

One thing that affects sleep apena is obesity. If this is true for you, try getting a little thinner. The simplest way to take off the weight is to eat fewer calories and engage in daily exercise. It may be worth it to look into diet plans that reduce the amount of carbohydrates that you eat.

Do you smoke and drink alcohol? Break these unhealthy habits right away. Smoking and drinking have negative effects on your airways. Alcohol relaxes some throat muscles to the point that sleep apnea becomes worse. Cigarettes also cause you to have difficulty breathing. If it is not possible for you to quit cold turkey, then try not to smoke or drink immediately before bedtime.

If your sleep apnea is the result of having narrow breathing passages, a mouth guard can help you out. These guards look similar to what athletes use, but are specifically made to change the position of the tongue, jaw and palate while you sleep and keep your airway open. Mouth guards and sleep masks must be properly fitted in order to help improve apnea.

If you are fat, become thinner. Studies show that sleep apnea symptoms are more common in people who are overweight. It also stands to reason that losing just a little weight can dramatically improve your condition and your health.

Do you have a smoking or drinking habit? Get rid of behaviors that are not good for you. Both of these substances have a negative effect on your ability to breathe while sleeping. Smoking will cause your throat to swell, and alcohol will relax it too much. Eliminate drinking or smoking before bedtime if you can’t avoid them entirely.

If your doctor has prescribed a CPAP machine for you, make sure you use it every night, for at least 4 hours. Many people find it very difficult to feel comfortable using a CPAP to go to sleep. If this is the case with you, try a different mask. That is often the source of the discomfort. Starting at just four hours per session can help you ease into adjusting to your CPAP.

Don’t drink alcohol to excess. Alcohol relaxes the muscles too much. That may be something people like when they drink, but it also can cause sleep apnea. Because alcohol relaxes your throat muscles, your airway is harder to control. If you have to have a drink, do it well before bedtime.

Sleep Apnea

If you sleep alone, it may be hard for you to get a good idea of the exact nature of your sleep apnea symptoms. One way to check out your sleeping habits is to train a video camera on yourself. Make sure that the microphone on your recording device picks up any snoring or other noises you make while sleeping, because your physician needs to hear them.

Sleep apnea can benefit from a good diet that results in your losing weight. A lot of sleep apnea sufferers are shocked by the role that a bad diet has in their affliction. It’s been proven that poor diets can contribute to the severity of sleep apnea.

Make sure you have something with you at all times that explains that you suffer from sleep apnea and you use a CPAP. If you are ever in need of emergency treatments, this ID will let the medical team know that you suffer from sleep apnea and are following CPAP therapy. The ID needs to include all of the medical information pertaining to your CPAP use.

Give sleeping on your sides a try. Sleeping on your back is more likely to cause snoring and apnea. When you sleep on your back it can cause your throat and mouth tissues to impede your airways. It is best to sleep on your side when you can. You may want to prop yourself up with pillows so you stay on your side.

If you suffer from sleep apnea, make sure you treat your allergy and sinus problems. Sleep apnea makes breathing during sleep hard. Additional swelling in the airways and extra mucus will make sleep apnea worse. Keeping your airway free and clear by treating your nasal problems gives you a much better chance of sleeping through the night without problems.

If you sleep alone, figuring out if you suffer from sleep apnea may be difficult. Try setting up a video camcorder to record yourself while you are sleeping at night. Whatever video system you set up also need an audio component, since your physicians are going to need to hear the sounds you make.

You can try nasal sprays if your sleep apnea is caused by your nasal passages. This product will clear excess mucus and from your airways, and some formulas reduce inflammation. It’s important to follow the instructions for usage, as these sprays should be used temporarily, not permanently Your pharmacy can offer a variety of solutions or options to clear your air passages as you sleep.

Stop snoring devices are often helpful in treating sleep apnea. While apnea involves complete blockage of the airways, snoring is similar in that partial airway obstruction is what causes it. It is understandable that something can help this. These tools may be able to lessen the symptoms of sleep apnea.

Losing weight can definitely help reduce sleep apnea’s effects. People who are overweight usually suffer from sleep apnea more. Your breathing will be improved once you lose weight because the pressure will be reduced on the airway and your airflow will be increased.

Consulting a doctor is important, but there are several options you can try at home. Dropping weight or dropping cigarettes are good ideas; more so for victims of sleep apnea. Also, stay away from large meals, caffeine and alcohol a few hours before going to sleep.

If you currently are using a CPAP machine for sleeping, ask your general practitioner to prescribe a humidifier that is heated as well. Using a CPAP can initially be hard to get used to, but the moist, comfortable air from a humidifier will make the therapy more soothing. Many CPAP machines come with built-in humidifiers now, so see if your doctor can prescribe one of those for you.

Strengthening the muscles of your throat can be an effective way to reduce the risk of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is often caused by the tissues in the throat, which can relax and collapse while you sleep. When your muscles are strenghthened they will not block your air passages.

Sleep apnea sufferers may need to look for a simple solution in order to get a better night’s rest. Always sleep at the same time every night. Lights in your bedroom can keep you awake, so turn off all electronic devices and any lamps or overhead lights, too. If it is uncomfortable, you might not be able to fall asleep.

There are many people that suffer from sleep apnea. The possibly worst part of suffering from this is not knowing enough about it. You’ll have much better results dealing with the condition if you make use of some wise advice, such as that you’ve just reviewed.

Don’t sleep on your back if you are a sleep apnea sufferer. It can restrict your airway and make it hard to breathe. Sleeping on your side is best. If this is unnatural or difficult for you, prop yourself up with extra pillows to help make side sleeping easier.