Many people make the mistake in believing that continued tiredness for months on end is just a fact of life and nothing can be done about it. Nothing is further from the actual truth. Everyone should be educated about sleep apnea since it is such a serious and prevalent condition.
To help deal with sleep apnea effectively, you should speak with your doctor to help him show you what CPAP machine works best. Think about the machine’s size and noise levels. The newer CPAP machines are much smaller and quieter than earlier ones were. Your doctor can recommend which machines his patients have had the most success with.
Get through sleep apnea by consulting with your practitioner about getting a CPAP machine. You need to be aware of the machine’s size, as well as how loud it is. Some are as small as a loaf of bread and quiet as a whisper. Your doctor will help you find one that is well made.
Playing wind instruments can actually help you control sleep apnea. Researchers in Germany have found playing a didgeridoo can make your throat muscles stronger. These muscles control the dilation of your airway and the stiffening of the airway walls. Due to this, regular play can translate into good sleep at night.
Quit drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. Both of these habits are known to make your airway’s muscles relax. This will increase your snoring as well as other symptoms of sleep apnea. Avoiding these temptations can put more money back in your pocket, and is a lot more cost effective than expensive surgeries that may no longer be necessary.
A doctor looks at both your medical history and family history when diagnosing sleep apnea. A sleep study can also shed some light on your sleep problems. Your primary physician may find that the best course of action is to send you to see a sleep specialist. These doctors have the specialized expertise necessary to diagnose and treat many sleep disorders including sleep apnea.
To relive sleep apnea symptoms, play a wind instrument such as the flute or clarinet. Research done by specialists in Germany indicates you can train your muscles in the upper airway by playing the didgeridoo. Muscles in this area stiffen the airway walls and control the dilation. Due to this, regular play can translate into good sleep at night.
If you have sleep apnea, never take sleeping pills. Sleeping pills relax your palate and the muscles in your throat, which causes you to have even more trouble breathing while you sleep. These can cause more harm than good, even if you just want to get to bed sooner.
Sleep apnea is not a condition to take likely. If you see any signs, go get yourself an opinion right away. After diagnosis, you may be referred to a sleep specialist who may order a home study using a portable monitor. In this way, the specialist can assess your condition accurately.
You can wear a chin strap with your CPAP if you have problems with your mouth falling open as you sleep. This inconspicuous piece of cloth will keep your chin up when you are asleep and your mouth from gaping open. Your CPAP machine cannot function properly if your mouth hangs open. Using a chin strap may help.
Sleep Apnea
Remember to bring the CPAP machine with you if you should happen to require a stay at the hospital. Whether you have a planned hospitalization or you need to go to the emergency room, you should have your CPAP and mask available for use while you are there. Since the settings are already set to what you’re used to, and the mask that you use each night is there, it makes it much easier to use at the hospital. Staying in a hospital is tough enough, and you might as well bring your own machine along to help ease the visit as much as you can.
If you are dealing with sleep apnea, you never want to take any sleeping pills. The pills may relax the throat muscles so much that your airways do not function properly. Find other ways to solve your troubles with staying asleep, because sleep apnea mixed with sleeping pills can be a potentially life-threatening mix.
Try nasal spray if you notice your nose is irritating you. Nasal spray can help clear out your airways. It’s important to follow the instructions for usage, as these sprays should be used temporarily, not permanently Talk to a pharmacist to see which spray they recommend.
Don’t leave your CPAP machine behind if you’re a sleep apnea sufferer headed out on a trip. Once you have a CPAP machine, neglecting to use it for even one night can cause problems. This CPAP should have a travel bag that came with it. This can be used to transport the CPAP machine simply when not at home.
Minimize your risk from the conditions causing sleep apnea. Certain risk factors that are associated with the condition cannot be controlled, such as being a man or having a family history of it. Be this as it may, smokers, drinkers and those who are overweight can reduce their risks.
One of the best ways to lessen the symptoms of sleep apnea is by losing weight. Some people are able to almost completely eliminate their sleep apnea with weight loss. Losing even just five pounds can make your sleep apnea symptoms go away.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, do not underestimate the power of losing a few pounds. If you are overweight it is more common that you might have sleep apnea. Losing weight can significantly reduce the pressure on your airway and improve the flow of air as you breathe at night.
Nasal Sprays
If you have sleep apnea, do not sleep laying on your back. Sleeping on your back with sleep apnea can make it hard for you to sleep. Prop yourself on your side using pillows or cushions.
Nasal sprays can help you sleep when your nose is being a nuisance to you. Nasal spray can help clear out your airways. Nasal sprays with medications should not be used for many days in a row, however, because they can damage the nose. Take a trip to the drugstore and find a nasal cleaner that suits you.
Sleep apnea will not disappear all by itself, you must have it treated. Various treatment regimens and choices are effective for certain individuals, but not necessarily all. Weight loss can ease sleep apnea for many people, even though apnea can be experienced by thin people too. CPAP machines and other non-invasive therapies have worked for millions of apnea sufferers. Some prefer surgery to avoid daily contraptions. No matter what route you take, your treatment is definitely key to a happy life.
You should get a machine to stop 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. If you can reduce the snoring, it is possible you can keep your airways open. Talk to your doctor to find out if one of these devices will truly help you or if you need some other type of treatment instead.
If you have a CPAP machine, ask your physician to prescribe you a heated humidifier 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. Try and get a CPAP machine that has a humidifier built into it; your doctor should be able to point you in the right direction.
Do not lie on your back when you sleep if you have sleep apnea. Most people with sleep apnea habitually sleep through the night on their backs. This causes the throat muscles to collapse, blocking the airway. Use cushions or pillows to keep yourself lying on your side at night.
If you are one of the many who suffers from sleep apnea, avoid sleeping on your back. Sleeping on your back can block your airways and cause sleep problems. Try sleeping on your side. You may need some pillow to keep you in this position.
Sleep apnea never just disappears of its own free will; you have to do something about it. Some treatments may work for certain people, but not all of them. Shedding pounds can help people who are overweight, but not all sufferers have pounds to lose. Many patients get great results with non-surgical treatments like CPAP therapy. Some prefer surgery to avoid daily contraptions. More importantly than what treatment you decide to get is that you actually get some form of treatment.
People who suffer from sleep apnea should avoid sleeping on their backs. Sleeping on your back makes it far more likely for your airway to collapse as you sleep, causing apnea. Find another position that does not restrict your airways.
One helpful strategy to control sleep apnea is to begin playing a wind instrument. Not only will you enjoy the music and exercise your mind, but you will also exercise the muscles that help you control your breathing. Working these muscles can reduce sleep apnea symptoms, by strengthening them and enabling you greater control over them.
If you believe you might have sleep apnea, consult your doctor. This is a very complicated condition, one that requires the help of a medical professional. Consult with your doctor or a specialist to get their opinion.
Try sleeping on your side to reduce sleep apnea as back sleeping only worsens the symptoms. Sewing a pair of balled up socks or a tennis ball onto the back of your PJs will help prevent rolling over. Doing this makes back sleeping uncomfortable.
Proper fitting will insure a comfortable fit. This type of appliance has had good results in clearing the airway, relieving snoring and addressing the symptoms of sleep apnea. How your jaw sits during sleep can create some of the symptoms related to sleep apnea.
If you’re taking a long trip, talk to the airline about using your CPAP. Most airlines will be willing to make arrangements to have you seated where you will have enough room to use your machine. If you happen to be flying overseas on a foreign airline, make sure you have the right power adapter.
Always adhere to your treatment plan. It can be tempting to take a night off with some of the more demanding sleep apnea treatment regimens, but you’ll definitely notice a difference in your energy levels the next day. Follow your doctor’s treatment plan so you can sleep better and function better in the daytime.
People that snore or have sleep apnea can play a musical instrument to help. Not only will it be soothing for you, but in a trial study in Germany, it showed that a wind instrument can relax the symptoms of sleep apnea. Taking up this new endeavor will help you get a handle on controlling your airways.
Discuss your sleep apnea with your partner. You may find that they have been frustrated by your snoring, and that is important to know. See how it affects them and inform them that these things will diminish if you keep treating your apnea.
Try not to sleep on your back if you have sleep apnea. If you sleep on your back, you are sleeping in a position that can block your airways. Try to sleep on your side, but if it doesn’t come naturally, make sure you prop yourself up on pillows to force yourself on your side each night.
Always be on the hunt for an answer to better sleep, even if you do not feel like you are up to doctor visits and comparison shopping CPAP machines. If you have a support system, they can help you with doctor visits and picking out a CPAP machine.
You are more aware of what to watch for you in your life, now that you have read this information about sleep apnea. Avoid being tired all the time, and get a solid night’s worth of sleep for once so you have more energy throughout the day.
Work on maintaining a regular sleep schedule. Your body needs a routine to stay healthy, especially if you are experiencing sleep apnea. If you go to bed at the same time every night, you body will get used to it. This helps you fall asleep easier and have a very restful night.