Are you or your partnered troubled by a lack of restful sleep; or are issues with snoring keeping you awake? If you’ve tried other options, you may have sleep apnea. If this is the case, the following article can give you some great advice for dealing with this condition.
To help with your sleep apnea, you need to consult with your doctor about the best CPAP machine to use. Not all machines are alike, and you may need one that has a humidifier or a certain type of pressure. Some machines are very quiet and no bigger than a simple bread box. The physician should know which companies have the best machines.
If your sleep apnea is a result of narrow airways, look at options for a mouth guard. 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. Speak with your doctor concerning mouth guards, and have yourself fitted for one, provided your doctor agrees.
Try quitting smoking and drinking alcohol if you have sleep apnea. Snoring and apnea are common occurrences for those with these habits because they relax the muscles in the airway. Quitting these addictions may be the easiest way to address your sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea
You may have success in treating your sleep apnea with a doctor-prescribed fitted mouth guard. Your symptoms could very well be exacerbated by congenital conditions like a small jaw, an over- or under-bite, or a naturally constricted airway. There are special devices which will align your jaw properly while also putting you in the best position while asleep, this results in you getting more rest.
Quit drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. Both smoking and drinking promote relaxation of the airways causing sleep apnea and excessive snoring. While quitting these habits may not stop your sleep apnea episodes entirely, you will be healthier overall and save money at the same time.
Eating well can help you become thinner, which can often reduce sleep apnea symptoms. A lot of people are surprised that a bad diet can affect sleep apnea. People who do not eat well, or are overweight, may suffer from sleep apnea.
If your physician has prescribed a CPAP machine, do try to sleep a minimum of four hours with it nightly. Unfortunately, adjusting to this device while sleeping can be hard for some people. Nonetheless, it will not be effective unless you wear it for a minimum of 4 hours nightly. If you have a tough time with it, be sure you have the right size mask, and that the pressure is working right.
Your kids may have sleep apnea. If your child is inattentive, hyperactive, has poor grades, is irritable or hostile, and/or breathes through their mouth instead of their nose, they could be suffering from sleep apnea. Often these symptoms are similar to ADHD, but you need to talk to a physician and consider sleep apnea as a cause as well.
Sleep apnea is a serious health condition. If you suspect that you or a loved one has it, it’s important to make an appointment with a physician to talk to them about it soon. An official diagnosis will help you figure out if you really do have sleep apnea or not.
If you suffer from sleep apnea and have a problem with your mouth opening while sleeping with your CPAP, a chin strap may be able to help. The chin strap will help hold you chin up during the time you are sleep which keeps your mouth closed. CPAP can’t work with an open mouth, so try using this device to fix the issue.
If you want to beat your apnea and get a healthy dose of sleep, roll onto your side the next time you go to sleep. Sleeping on your back does not allow enough air to get into your airways. Make it a habit of falling asleep on your side, which hopefully does alleviate some of these sleep apnea symptoms.
Treating allergies or sinus issues is an issue of the first order. You already are having difficulty breathing at night due to your sleep condition. You have to avoid anything else that is going to affect your ability to breathe while you are asleep. Keep your throat and airway as clear as you possibly can at all times.
Attempt side sleeping. Many people with sleep apnea are used to sleeping on their backs. When you sleep on your back, you are warping the shape of your airways. It is best to sleep on one of your sides or your stomach. Put a pillow on your side if you always find yourself moving around during sleep.
Losing weight is a good way to cut chances of developing sleep apnea. A lot of people find that when they lose weight, they no longer have apnea. Even just a small drop in your weight can contribute to a better night’s sleep, helping to clear the airways and your throat.
A doctor looks at both your medical history and family history when diagnosing sleep apnea. 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.
Although professional medical advice is always warranted in treating sleep apnea, you can try out a few treatments on your own, too. Stopping the habits of drinking and smoking can help. Anyone who is overweight may find that they benefit quite well from losing 20 pounds or more. You should stay away from alcohol, anything caffeinated and even heavier meals within the hours leading up to bed time.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, have a regular bedtime. Having this condition already is a problem for your nightly sleep cycle. Whatever you are able to do to keep a regular sleep pattern will help you to be in better health and less exhausted during the day. Begin by setting a specific time to lie down and rise every day. Then stick to it.
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, it is imperative that you stop smoking. Smoking aggravates air passages. Try to use some nicotine patches or other stop smoking programs or medications. For most individuals, the first month is the worst. Once you are past that point, your nicotine cravings lessen drastically.
If you are using a CPAP to treat sleep apnea, be sure to take it when you’re going to the hospital. It doesn’t matter whether your hospital visit is planned or an emergency, your CPAP should be there with you, along with your mask. Your own CPAP machine will be set to the pressure recommended by your sleep specialist, so you won’t have to get used to a new machine. This lessens the stress of being away from home and enables you to continue the CPAP therapy while at the hospital.
Sleeping on your back can make your sleep apnea worse, so try to fall asleep on your side. If you want to prevent rolling to your back while unconscious, prop yourself up by sewing something lumpy into your pajamas. This makes it far less likely for you to revert to a prone sleeping posture.
Sleep apnea sufferers should treat their allergies promptly. Sleep apnea makes breathing during sleep hard. You must eliminate anything that might obstruct your airway as you sleep. Keep your airway clear and free by dealing with sinus problems so you can more easily sleep at night.
Someone who suffers with snoring or sleep apnea should think about taking up a wood instrument. In studies, wind instruments have proven beneficial to reducing the symptoms associated with sleep apnea. This can help you control your problem.
If your sleep apnea doesn’t improve after anything you’ve tried, you may need to discuss more drastic options with your doctor. The removal of loose tissue at the back of the throat is one surgical technique that is a last resort treatment for severe sleep apnea that can’t be controlled with other less invasive treatments.
There are many simple solutions people suffering from sleep apnea can use to get better quality sleep. Schedule yourself to sleep at the same time every night. Be certain you create an environment in your bedroom that is conducive to sleep. Insomnia can occur if the conditions are poor.
While a condition like this does require the professional opinion of a doctor, there are many self-help remedies that work, too. Avoiding smoking and losing weight are good for anyone, but especially those with sleep apnea. You should also refrain from consuming alcohol, heavy meals, and caffeine for a few hours before bed.
Remember that you may not be aware of your sleep apnea. You need to let your doctor know if you have excessive daytime sleepiness, frequent exhaustion or episodes of falling asleep at the wheel. Even if you do not realize it while sleeping, you could have sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea does not go away on its own; patients need treatment. Different treatment options work well for some people, but not others. Very often, losing weight has a profound effect on sleep apnea symptoms; however, some very thin people have sleep apnea. Millions of sleep apnea sufferers find relief from non-surgical options like CPAP machines. Other people might just want to opt for surgery. Regardless of the method you use, obtaining some type of treatment is essential to living a higher quality of life with this condition.
If you are wondering whether you are experiencing sleep apnea, set a date with your doctor asap and request a sleep test. A sleep study will diagnose the source of the problem so that you can get the right treatment for it. After you are diagnosed you have to figure out how to treat your sleep apnea.
Now that you read the above article, do you feel assured that you can effectively deal with this condition? You should now feel much better about tomorrow’s sleep by following the tips you’ve just read. Keep in mind that you may not see the results of your efforts as quickly as you’d like. Don’t stop trying and things will get better.
Many people who sleep on their back typically experience sleep apnea. If this describes your case, it may be time to change your sleeping position. You can significantly reduce your sleep apnea symptoms by not sleeping on your back and falling asleep on your side.