Sleep apnea is often undiagnosed and might vary in intensity. This condition is caused by a partial collapse of your airways, which hinders your breathing. Continue reading to learn some relevant information on this annoying and possibly life-threatening condition.
Avoid unhealthy activities to control your sleep apnea. Alcohol and cigarettes are two of the primary culprits. Alcohol depresses your nervous system and makes it harder to breathe, particularly when you are asleep. Smoking damages the lungs. Doing away with both of these bad habits will help do away with your sleep apnea symptoms.
Try cutting out cigarettes and 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 habits may help you avoid costly and invasive surgery in the future.
Get a mouth guard if your airways are the cause of your sleep apnea. Through the use of a mouth guard, airways will be kept open. It’s best to see a medical professional to get fitted properly for a guard that will fit your individual situation.
Eating healthy foods consistently can reduce your weight and sleep apnea symptoms. You’d be surprised at how much a healthy diet can help you with sleep apnea. Research indicates that less nutritious food may exacerbate sleep apnea.
Giving up smoking and drinking can help to improve your sleep apnea. These habits can cause airways to relax too much, which can worsen sleep apnea and snoring. Some people resort to invasive surgeries to correct their sleep apnea without realizing that discontinuing these bad habits could have been a more simple and much cheaper route!
Sleeping Pills
Your phsyician can help you get a mouth piece to help with your sleep apnea. The natural configuration of your jaw and airway passages may be conducive to the conditions associated with sleep apnea. You can overcome these difficulties and experience much more restful sleep by using a custom-fitted device to keep your jaw and airway properly aligned.
Look for alternatives to sleeping pills. Just like alcohol, taking sleeping pills will make your throat muscles relax. They can also contribute to a large variety of things that are problematic to those who suffer from sleep apnea. Ask your physician about sleeping aids that are free of harmful effects or risks to your night-time breathing.
If you are carrying a few extra pounds, it may be time to lose them. There are many studies that link sleep apnea to obesity. Losing twenty five pounds is enough for even the most obese of sleep apnea sufferers to experience some relief of their symptoms, and you may well experience positive results with more modest losses.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, do not take pills. You will relax your throat muscles this way and you will not get as much from your sleep. If your sleep apnea is bad, these can prove a real risk. No matter how bad you want a good night’s sleep, these are not the answer.
It may be possible to reduce the problems you are having with sleep apnea by getting involved with a wind instrument. A German study found that didgeridoo playing gives you better motor control over your airways. These muscles are the key to dilation of the air passage and proper breathing as we sleep. This means that if you practice regularly, you will notice a reduction in sleep apnea symptoms and snoring.
Stick to a schedule when it comes to your sleep. Your sleep disorder is already a sleep disrupter nightly. 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. Try retiring and waking at consistent times.
Sleep apnea generally is diagnosed by studying your medical and family history and having a thorough physical exam. Sleep studies may also be done, and depending on what your primary doctor finds after all these measures, he may refer you to a sleep specialist, which is a type of doctor that diagnoses and treats people exhibiting sleep problems.
If you use a CPAP, then ensure a medical ID is carried with you at all times. This is particularly important if you have an accident and require overnight hospitalization. Your ID needs to mention your sleep apnea, your CPAP use and your CPAP pressure settings.
If you sleep alone, you may have sleep apnea and not know it. One way to see for yourself is to train a camcorder on yourself as you sleep. Whatever video system you set up also need an audio component, since your physicians are going to need to hear the sounds you make.
If you’re not finding that anything is helping with your sleep apnea condition, talking to a doctor about various treatment options is recommended. For people who did not benefit from traditional treatment alternatives, they can resort to surgery to take out the tonsils or to make the airway wider.
Keeping a sleep log can help your doctor diagnose you with sleep apnea. Here, you will track your hours of successful sleep, when you awaken through the night and other problems you may encounter. Your partner can let you know if you snore too loudly, jerk your limbs, or stop breathing. This will greatly help your doctor in diagnosing your condition.
Sleep Apnea
Establish a sleep routine if you are a sleep apnea sufferer. Sleeping at weird hours of the day can worsen your sleep apnea. Anything you can do to restore a natural sleep pattern will assist you in regaining your health and avoiding daytime sleepiness. Try retiring and waking at consistent times.
One of the best ways to lessen the symptoms of sleep apnea is by losing weight. Sleep apnea symptoms can be reduced or eliminated by taking off those extra pounds. Even losing a little weight can improve sleep apnea by opening the throat and airway, because there is less pressure on the neck.
Do you travel? If so, then your CPAP should be carried along with you. You don’t want to sleep a single night without your CPAP after a sleep apnea diagnosis. You should have a travel bag to bring your CPAP with you. This is perfect for taking your CPAP along with you anytime you are away.
Do not be embarrassed about your treatment and your CPAP machine. People will feel better about knowing why you are using it, and they will be supportive. Undergoing CPAP therapy is an important step in preserving your overall health; don’t let inappropriate social pressure prevent you from getting the treatment you need.
Do not lie on your back when you sleep if you have sleep apnea. Sleeping on your back with sleep apnea can make it hard for you to sleep. Use pillows to prop you up and keep you sleeping on your side for the best results.
Sleeping flat on your back may worsen sleep apnea, so try to sleep on your side. If you need to prevent yourself from turning to your back, try sewing a tennis ball into the back of your nightwear. The discomfort of the ball will keep you from staying on your back as you sleep.
If you’re suffering from sleep apnea and have a CPAP machine that you use, see if your doctor can give you a heated humidifier as well. It is much easier to get better sleep and to sleep with your CPAP machine if there is warm and humid air to breathe. 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.
If you have a long flight coming up, tell the airline that you are going to need your CPAP on board. Many airlines are accommodating and will seat you in an area that has enough space where you can properly use the machine. If you happen to be flying overseas on a foreign airline, make sure you have the right power adapter.
The manner in which you sleep can have a hand in your sleep apnea. Having a proper sleep position is necessary. If you must sleep on your back, elevate your head and the top half of your body slightly. This will keep excess tissue and relaxed muscles from blocking your airways.
Remember that you may not always notice sleep apnea in the evening. If you find yourself falling asleep when you are driving, feel exhausted after a full night of sleep or feel strangely sleepy, talk to your doctor. It may be the daytime symptoms that you notice that lead you to find out that it is apnea that is causing them.
Sleep apnea may be occurring without your knowledge. You need to let your doctor know if you have excessive daytime sleepiness, frequent exhaustion or episodes of falling asleep at the wheel. These symptoms may show that you have sleep apnea.
Throat exercises have been shown to help with the symptoms of sleep apnea. You will have stronger muscles in your air passages that can help sleep apnea. For instance, place your tongue on the top of the inside of your mouth and keep it like that for about three minutes. Do that every day for best results.
Drink alcohol as infrequently as possible if you suffer from sleep apnea. Alcohol causes respiratory depression, which decreases airflow, thus causing more sleep apnea episodes during the night. That doesn’t mean that you can never drink again, but rather that you should not drink to excess, especially before bed.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, don’t sleep on your back. Back sleeping could result in a collapsed airway, causing your symptoms. Find another position that does not restrict your airways.
Try to work your throat by playing wind instruments. Learn the clarinet, flute, or even the didgeridoo to help relieve your sleep apnea. This can help you improve the muscles that are in your airway. Eventually, the muscle training you receive from playing the instrument will enable you to breathe better, relieving your apnea symptoms.
Now that you’ve reached the end of this article, you understand how this condition affects you. If you feel you need additional information, it is advisable you seek out a medical professional who can give you further advice on how to properly treat this condition.
Cut down or avoid alcohol completely, especially right before going to sleep. Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders are worsened by alcohol. Alcohol relaxes your muscles and makes it harder to breath while you sleep. It can also prevent you from waking up when you stop breathing. Potentially, that could be fatal.