A truly awful condition that some people must live with every single day is sleep apnea. Thankfully, there are many treatment options available to alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea and lead to a better night’s sleep. Take heed of the tips in this article, and improve your quality of sleep.
Sleep mouth guards can benefit you if you suffer from sleep apnea. A sleep mouth guard will correct the airway and let you breathe correctly all night. Speak with your doctor concerning mouth guards, and have yourself fitted for one, provided your doctor agrees.
Mouth Guard
You may be able to improve or eliminate your symptoms by quitting smoking and/or drinking. These habits can cause your throat muscles to relax or swell, increasing sleep apnea. Unlike costly surgeries or other medical interventions, dropping these habits will actually save you money.
A corrective mouth guard for sleeping hours can do wonders if your condition is due to airways that are naturally narrow. These gadgets correct your alignment, letting you breathe easily and normally throughout your sleeping hours. Consult with a doctor or get a mouth guard made if you are suffering.
If you are carrying a few extra pounds, it may be time to lose them. Multiple research projects demonstrate the connection between sleep apnea and being overweight. Losing a little weight can have a big affect on your sleep apnea. Try a calorie restriction diet and exercise.
Speak with your doctor about getting a mouth guard that will help alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be caused by a genetically small jaw, recessed chin or a breathing passage that is too small. Special mouthpieces can help to maintain proper alignment while you sleep, allowing you to rest much better.
Try using a mouth guard to help you sleep. Mouth guards help keep your jaw in a proper position. If you don’t have CPAP, then this guard is an excellent alternative. Also, it’s a lot more comfortable wearing this mouth guard while sleeping. The device assists you by keeping your airways open while offering stability for soft tissue.
Don’t drink alcohol to excess. Alcohol naturally relaxes your muscles. Although you may think this improves your sleep, it actually just worsens it. Your throat muscles become relaxed, making it harder for your airway to stay open. If you are a person who needs a drink sometimes, then aim to not drink it very frequently. Definitely do not drink any immediately before hitting the sheets at night.
You must use your CPAP at least 4 hours nightly after receiving your unit. Going to bed with a CPAP machine humming away is certainly an adjustment that can be a challenge for some. Use your CPAP as often as prescribed by your doctor, and make sure it fits properly. If you’re struggling to adjust, ensure you’re using the CPAP for four hours every single time you go to sleep.
Sleep Apnea
Consider any alternative you can find to using sleeping pills. Sleeping pills can cause just as many problems with your throat as alcohol consumption. There are also a myriad of other problems that can arise with the use of sleeping pills. Ask your physician about sleep aids that won’t also affect your breathing.
It can be a very serious issue when you have sleep apnea. If you have symptoms of sleep apnea, make an appointment with your doctor. In the process of fully diagnosing your condition, you may be able to consult with a sleep specialist. Home sleep tests with portable monitors are also often used to pinpoint sleep apnea.
A diagnosis of sleep apnea usually involves your personal and family medical histories, as well as a comprehensive physical examination. Your doctor may recommend a sleep study as well. When your doctor has this information, he passes it on to a specialist who can help you even more.
Try and get someone you know to tell you how you sleep through the night. One way to see for yourself is to train a camcorder on yourself as you sleep. Ensure that you record audio also, which will allow the doctors to evaluate noises you are making during sleep.
If you are using a CPAP and experience an issue with your mouth opening during sleep, a chin strap can help. This is a small piece of fabric that holds your chin up while you sleep and keeps you mouth closed. CPAP therapy will not work if your mouth is open, so try this simple device to see if it fixes the problem.
Sleep apnea sufferers should treat their allergies promptly. It’s already hard for you to breathe when you sleep due to your condition. You don’t need anything else adding to that. Eliminating your nasal problems maintains a clear airway, which will increase the chances that you will sleep better.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, make sure to get sinus and allergy problems treated. During the night, you are already dealing with breathing problems. You don’t want any other complications. Keep your airway clear by clearing your nostrils before you go to sleep.
Choose only one, flatter pillow to sleep on each night instead of fluffy pillows. An over-sized pillow or multiple pillows can actually skew your position. This may put you in a position that can adversely affect your breathing. This means that one pillow is most appropriate to help alleviate your sleeping concerns.
Losing weight is an excellent way to alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea. Getting rid of those extra pounds can help you with your sleep apnea. In fact, you don’t have to lose a lot of weight to open up the airways and the throat.
Nasal Spray
If you suffer from sleep apnea, do not underestimate the power of losing a few pounds. People who are overweight usually suffer from sleep apnea more. Getting thinner will lower the amount of pressure on your trachea, which means more air will get to your lungs while you sleep.
Use nasal spray if you suffer from sleep apnea. This should clear your airways, at least temporarily. Don’t overuse nasal spray though, it can cause your nose damage and irritate it. You should go to your pharmacy and explore different options to keep your nose open while you sleep.
Exercise your tongue and minimize sleep apnea symptoms. Place your tongue on your mouth’s roof and keep it there for at least three minutes. This will make your throat stronger and prevent the muscles from relaxing too much during sleep and causing apnea.
Consider a snoring device. When the airway is closed but still allows a little air through, that’s when snoring is most probable; in sleep apnea, the airways are almost fully closed. It is understandable that something can help this. This device can reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea during the times you are in bed.
If you are going to be on a plane a long time, then get in touch with the airline company to inform them that you need your CPAP machine for sleeping. Many airlines are accommodating and will seat you in an area that has enough space where you can properly use the machine. Be sure to bring along a power adapter when using a foreign airline.
Of course, for a solid diagnosis of sleep apnea, you must see a doctor. Nonetheless, healthy, self-help techniques may help and won’t hurt. Try losing weight and eating healthier to get rid of your sleep apnea. You will also want to avoid alcohol, caffeine or heavy meals within a couple hours of going to bed.
Learning to play a wind instrument can be an effective control strategy for those who snore or have sleep apnea symptoms. Learning to play a wind instrument can strengthen the muscles in your airway so you can breathe easier. This will help your airways.
Throat Muscles
Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about sleep apnea. This is a very complicated condition, one that requires the help of a medical professional. Inform your physician of all that is happening. Help them find the specific issue and treat it quickly.
Learn to play one of the wind instruments. You are going to have a good time with the music, and you get to give your mind a workout. However, you are also working out your throat muscles that regulate breathing. Strong throat muscles are less likely to contribute to the ill-effects of sleep apnea.
Regularly exercise the muscles in your throat and jaw. Sleep apnea can be exacerbated by weak muscles in your throat, so taking the time to strengthen them can help you manage your apnea. There is a very real chance that you can help yourself with just a few exercises.
Remember that you must bring your CPAP machine with you on long air flights, and the airline must know about this in advance. The majority of carriers will make the necessary accommodations, so that you can bring along and use your device. Remind them that you will need to plug your machine in, or you can use a machine that uses batteries as a backup measure.
Stay away from alcoholic beverages close to bedtime. Alcohol can make a sleep disorder much worse than it already is. This is because alcohol is a sedative and it suppresses your central nervous system. This makes it harder for your body to wake up and start breathing again when you have an apnea episode. Potentially, that could be fatal.
There is a simple fix you can use to help improve the quality of your sleep if you have sleep apnea. Choose a time to go to bed every night and stick to that schedule. Also make sure that you have bedroom atmosphere that is ideal for you to sleep in. Insomnia can occur if the conditions are poor.
If the sleep apnea problem you are dealing with is due to excess tissue blocking your airways and throat, then surgery may be necessary to remedy this situation. A surgeon can use a surgery known as UPPP to help you get rid of your extra tissue. This will make it easier for your airways to stay open. It is often necessary to take out the tonsils as well.
Be sure to see your doctor to participate in a sleep test if you suspect you may have sleep apnea. A sleep study is a test that can determine not only if you have apnea but also how severe it is. Less severe cases of sleep apnea can be relatively easy to treat.
It’s helpful to become a member of a support group. Sleep apnea doesn’t affect lots of people. Although your loved ones and friends may try to help, they often can’t understand what you are feeling. Try to locate a support group of other apnea sufferers. If you are a bit shy, look online for forums on sleep apnea.
People with sleep apnea should avoid sleeping on their back. Sleeping on your back makes it far more likely for your airway to collapse as you sleep, causing apnea. Sleeping on your side can help you prevent sleep apnea; gravity won’t work against you.
Toning your throat muscles can be helpful if you’re suffering from sleep apnea. Any kind of exercise that you’re able to do to strengthen your throat muscles can help your airways stay open during sleep. You can make soft noises, put your tongue in and out of your mouth, make faces, or even take up a wind instrument. Whichever one that you choose can make a huge difference, as you must find the right thing for you.
If you have sleep apnea, it is important for you to do all you can to improve the quality of your sleep. One way to mitigate this effect is to sleep on a regular schedule. Give yourself a set schedule to follow every night. Doing this will prevent your sleep apnea from turning into a worse condition, such as insomnia.
If your previous night did not have enough sleep, set an intention to catch up with a nap while the sun is up. Good naps can help provide your body with the energy it needs to make it through the day whenever you aren’t getting enough at night. If you ask your boss about this, he may understand.
Everyone could use extra energy in these trying times. Use the tips presented here to make sleep apnea a thing of the past and face each day with plenty of energy.
Sleep apnea may be caused by a number of lifestyle factors. In many cases, sufferers are able to improve the condition just by making some changes to their lifestyle. Being careless and unhealthy in your lifestyle can bring about sleep apnea.