A very serious condition, sleep apnea, is often left untreated. This condition stems from the airways collapsing as one sleeps, making breathing difficult. Keep reading for more information about this scary and possibly life-threatening affliction.
Do you smoke and/or drink? Eliminate these unhealthy habits. They can do bad things to your airways. Alcohol can relax airways while smoking can cause them to swell, both of which can cause you to have sleep apnea. Try to at least smoke less, because it will help you deal with sleep apnea.
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. Take into consideration both the noise and size of the CPAP machine. Some machines are very quiet and no bigger than a simple bread box. Your doctor will likely have a preferred brand or type of CPAP to recommend to you.
If sleep apnea is an issue for you, and you are a smoker or drinker of alcohol, consider quitting to help with your symptoms. Both of these habits are bad for the muscles in your air passage and can worsen apnea. Quitting these addictions may be the easiest way to address your sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea
Purchase yourself a mouth guard that is made specifically for your mouth. These are made especially for those suffering from sleep apnea. It is a great alternative to CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) and is much more comfortable to wear at night. These mouth guards help you by making sure your airways remain open by giving your soft tissues a stabilizing hand.
Lose weight if you need to. Obesity has clearly been linked with sleep apnea in multiple studies. A loss of 10 or more pounds can significantly reduce our sleep apnea symptoms.
Fighting back against sleep apnea often involves eating healthier and losing weight. Most people would find it surprising to know that your diet can be a factor in managing sleep apnea. People who eat unhealthily tend to have sleep apnea more often than those who eat healthier.
Have a mouth guard fitted for your needs. Specially made mouth guards are particularly focused for individuals suffering from sleep apnea. This is something that works well instead of using a CPAP, and it’s more comfortable. The mouth guard keeps your jaw in the proper position and keeps your airway more open.
You really should cut down on your alcohol consumption. Your muscles are relaxed by drinking alcohol. This might be something you want to do but it can also exacerbate your sleep apnea. Because alcohol relaxes your throat muscles, your airway is harder to control. If you do drink alcohol, avoid drinking it 3 hours before bedtime.
Eating healthy can help you manage sleep apnea and lose 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.
Children can have sleep apnea. You can usually notice a child with sleep apnea when they are hyperactive, inattentive, hostile, irritable and see them continuously breathing through their mouth. A lot of sleep apnea symptoms are associated with ADHD, so work with your doctor to investigate all possibilities.
Try something else besides sleeping pills. Just like alcohol, these medications relax your throat when you sleep. Pills also can affect sleep apnea sufferers in several different ways. Consult your doctor to find a sleep aid that won’t impact your breathing.
Many doctors ask patients to keep sleep logs to help diagnose sleep apnea. Sleep logs are records where patients write down the length and quality of their sleep. If you have a partner, you can find out about snoring issues, breathing issues or flailing limb issues. That helps the physician determine whether your symptoms are, in fact, sleep apnea.
Your doctor might ask you to write down when you sleep and wake. The intent is for you to record both the overall amount of sleep you get and any unusual symptoms or incidents that occur. Your partner can often say if you jerk limbs around, stop breathing for a second, or snore loudly. Your doctor can use this information to determine whether or not you’re suffering from sleep apnea.
Keep a regular sleeping schedule to lessen the symptoms of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can disrupt your sleep every night. Getting treatment from a doctor is just one part of the solution. Making sure that you don’t disrupt your sleep on your own with a lax sleeping schedule is another part of the solution. Go to sleep and wake up at set times each day, even the weekends, for the best results.
Get to bed at a regular time every night if you suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can disrupt your sleep every night. Using simple sleep hygiene techniques like this one will help you avoid health problems and falling asleep during the day. For most people, the most important thing is to get up and sleep at the exact same time each day.
Sleep with just one pillow at night. An over-sized pillow or multiple pillows can actually skew your position. This may result in breathing difficulties, because you end up in odd positions. That’s why using one pillow may be the answer to your sleep apnea problem.
If you use a CPAP machine and have sleep apnea, make certain to always have medical ID on your person. It may be a vital piece of information if you need emergency medical care and unable to give that information. Your ID should clearly inform medical personnel of your sleep apnea condition. Include the fact that you’re using a CPAP machine and indicate the proper pressure level it operates at.
Stop putting yourself at risk for sleep apnea. 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. So make sure you try to avoid doing things like this so you don’t get sleep apnea.
If you suffer from sleep apnea and must go to the hospital, make sure your CPAP is with you. Whether the stay is for a planned surgery or sudden emergency, make sure you have access to your CPAP for the duration of your stay. It will already be at your personal settings and pressure, and be the mask you know you can sleep in. Having your own machine will make using a CPAP while in the hospital much easier.
Although you should visit your doctor to become diagnosed, you can still figure out if you have sleep apnea on your own. Dropping weight or dropping cigarettes are good ideas; more so for victims of sleep apnea. Overeating, consuming an excessive amount of alcohol and too much caffeine before bed can all exacerbate sleep apnea.
You need to have patience when you realize you have sleep apnea. Cases differ from patient to patient, and the same treatment will not be effective in every case. Very often, losing weight has a profound effect on sleep apnea symptoms; however, some very thin people have sleep apnea. You can use options like CPAP machines to help you sleep at night. Still others prefer the surgical route where modifications can be made to overcome airway restrictions. Whatever you and your doctor thinks is the best for you, treatment is important in improving your sleep quality.
If you have sleep apnea, you shouldn’t smoke. Your sleep apnea will worsen because smoking causes swelling in the upper respiratory system. Try different things to help you quit smoking. The hardest period for the majority of smokers is the initial 30 days upon quitting. Over time, you’ll find you need and/or want nicotine less.
Some people find that learning to play the wind instrument they’ve always been interested in is an effective treatment for their sleep apnea. They can be enjoyable and calming, and it has also been been shown that constantly using them strengthens throat muscles and helps people to breathe more easily when sleeping. Mastering this music form means you can retain control of your respiratory system.
The effects of sleep apnea can be avoided with stronger throat muscles. Difficulty in breathing causes sleep apnea, which is a result of your soft tissue collapsing in your throat. The muscles will slowly become stronger, which means that they won’t collapse as often when you sleep, which in turn improves airflow.
If you suspect that you are afflicted with sleep apnea, then you need to schedule a visit to your physician to know for sure. The sleep test can determine whether you actually have sleep apnea or not. After that, you need to look for a treatment to manage it, even if it’s not that severe.
Remember that you must bring your CPAP machine with you on long air flights, and the airline must know about this in advance. You’ll find that most airlines are quite accommodating to this kind of medical necessity; they’ll seat you in a place where you have all the room you need. Don’t forget your power adapter!
Having read the facts that have been provided to you here you should now have a much better understanding of this condition and how it can affect a person’s life. Get in touch with your doctor to learn more about sleep apnea. That way you can do everything possible to live well with sleep apnea.
If you have a history of anxiety, try getting in a hot bath before bed. This can relieve symptoms of anxiety induced sleep apnea. A good soak in the bathtub can relax tight muscles and eliminate tension throughout your body. This helps sleep come easier. You will also sleep more soundly, and hopefully prevent sleep apnea episodes. If you still have sleep apnea, check with your doctor for other treatments.