There are millions of sufferers of sleep apnea. It can interfere with your life. One of the best things you can do for this unpleasant condition is to find out more about it. Utilize the terrific advice that follows below, and you stand a great chance of effectively managing the impact sleep apnea has on your life.
Drop some of your vices to fight against sleep apnea. Alcohol and cigarettes are two of the primary culprits. Drinking helps depress your respiratory system, causing breathing issues. Smoking adds harmful chemicals which damage your lungs over time. Doing away with both of these bad habits will help do away with your sleep apnea symptoms.
If your sleep apnea is the result of narrow airways, try using a mouth guard when you sleep. Devices like these can align your airways properly to allow you better sleep. If you think this will help, you should ask your physician to fit you with a mouth guard.
Get a mouth guard if your airways are the cause of your sleep apnea. These devices correct your airways and they help you breathe properly. Ask your doctor about sleep mouth guards, and get fitted for one if you believe this could be the right solution for you.
You can really cut back on your sleep apnea by giving up alcohol and smoking. Both of these habits have a negative effect on the muscles in your airway. Unlike costly surgeries or other medical interventions, dropping these habits will actually save you money.
If you want relief from sleep apnea symptoms, one way to get it is to start playing a woodwind instrument. A German study has shown that playing wind instruments such as the digeridoo will help your sleep apnea. The upper air passage muscles control the size of your airway. So try and play the didgeridoo regularly to help you get through the night with sleep apnea.
Some people believe that you can strengthen you upper airway muscles by playing a musical instrument belonging to the woodwind family. Some studies have shown that an instrument like the didgeridoo can help you improve the muscles in your throat. These muscles control your airway. These are great reasons to take up playing this instrument and easing the symptoms of sleep disorders.
To keep your sleep apnea in check, eat a healthy diet to lose weight. It’s surprising how much an unhealthy diet can affect sleep apnea. Studies have shown that people that eat poor quality food have worse apnea than those who are overweight but eat healthier.
Sleep Apnea
The two main pieces of information used to diagnose sleep apnea are personal medical histories and a physical work-up. You might also undergo a sleep study. Dependent upon what your personal physician discovers, they might give you a referral to see a sleep specialist.
You should know that aside from helping you to lose weight, healthy food can also help to lessen sleep apnea symptoms, too. 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.
You can wear a chin strap with your CPAP if you have problems with your mouth falling open as you sleep. This little piece of fabric holds your chin upright when sleeping so that your mouth remains closed. The CPAP only works if the mouth is closed, so try using the strap.
Reduce your consumption of alcohol. Alcohol is a natural muscle relaxant. Drinking alcohol will make it hard for you to get through the night if you have sleep apnea. When your throat muscles relax, your airway narrows and causes sleep apnea. If you feel you must drink, try not to do it as often or before you go to sleep.
If you use a CPAP, then ensure a medical ID is carried with you at all times. You don’t need people questioning you and your device all the time, so it makes it easier when you bring your medical ID. The information on the card should mention your sleep anea and include the full details of the treatment you regularly use.
If you are lacking someone to sleep next to you it might be hard to tell if you suffer from sleep apnea. You can consider recording your sleep patterns with a camcorder. Make sure you have audio on your video so you and your doctor can hear the noises you make in your sleep.
Take your CPAP anywhere you go, even if you make a trip to the hospital. While a hospital will have CPAP machines, you may be much more comfortable with a machine that already fits you well. The settings will be prepared and you won’t have to adjust the pressure. You’ll be able to resume your CPAP therapy much easier by having these things in the hospital with you.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, have a regular bedtime. Sleep apnea causes regular interruptions in your ordinary nightly sleep cycle. This is why it is important to maintain a consistent sleep pattern, which will eliminate sleepiness in the day. Setting regular times for both going to sleep and waking up is the most important thing to do.
Sleep apnea sufferers should treat their allergies promptly. Your condition already causes you to have trouble breathing while you sleep. One issue is enough when battling for air when you are asleep. It is important to keep your airways open and free from mucous and debris.
Get treatment for your allergies or sinus problems if you have sleep apnea. During the night, you are already dealing with breathing problems. There’s no reason to compound your troubles by suffering through other problems that make it harder to breathe. You will sleep better and have a more open airway if you treat nasal problems.
Lose a bit of weight to get rid of your sleep apnea. A number of patients have found that shedding excess pounds is enough to resolve sleep apnea all by itself. Even a loss of a few pounds has been beneficial in opening the airway.
You must get treatment if you have sleep apnea. It will not resolve itself. A variety of underlying medical conditions can contribute to sleep apnea. Dropping some pounds might help your sleep apnea, but that might not be the cause. CPAP machines are considered non-invasive, and many people use them successfully. Still others prefer the surgical route where modifications can be made to overcome airway restrictions. Many non-invasive treatments are available to decrease the symptoms of sleep apnea and improve your quality of life.
Avoid alcohol when you have sleep apnea. Drinking can relax the throat muscles too much, and that can cause airways to be blocked as well as snoring. It’s best to put down the bottle entirely, but if you don’t want to do that, you should drink only minimal amounts, and do so early in the day. This will ensure alcohol doesn’t affect your sleep.
The effects of sleep apnea can be avoided with stronger throat muscles. The origin of sleep apnea is obstructed air flow in breathing, which is a consequence of soft tissue collapse in the rear of your throat. As your muscles strengthen, they will be more likely to keep your airways open.
Learn to play one of the wind instruments. Not only will you enjoy the music and exercise your mind, but you will also exercise the muscles that help you control your breathing. If you consistently make an effort to strengthen your throat muscles, you’ll have a better time sleeping with sleep apnea.
Those with sleep apnea generally agree that the condition can be debilitating because of the problems it causes. The disorder can be managed efficiently, though. Learn what you can do about sleep apnea and what steps you need to take to get a sound, restful night of sleep. Use the tips above to help combat sleep apnea and get a good night’s sleep.
If you’re using a CPAP machine, see if you doctor can also prescribe a humidifier with heat. A humidifier will help keep the air moist for better breathing and to avoid chafing from the mask. There are many different CPAP machines that are equipped with built-in humidifiers, so check with your doctor to see if one can be prescribed.