There are people of every age group that suffer from the potentially-debilitating effects of sleep apnea. Sadly, a lot of people don’t know how to treat it and simply just suffer with it. In the remainder of this article, you are going to find ideas and tips that you can use to manage your condition and rest well at night.
Speak with a doctor about using corrective mouth pieces to control your symptoms of sleep apnea. The natural configuration of your jaw and airway passages may be conducive to the conditions associated with sleep apnea. 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.
Do you partake in a drink or smoke? Try to rid yourself of these horrible habits. These types of substances restrict your airways. Smoking causes swelling in the airway. On the other hand, alcohol causes the airway to relax, much like sleeping pills. If it is not possible for you to quit cold turkey, then try not to smoke or drink immediately before bedtime.
You need to lose some weight if you find that you are too heavy for your frame. There are many studies that link sleep apnea to obesity. If you are obese, lose at least 20 pounds to see if it makes a change for the better with your sleep apnea. It will also help ward off other medical conditions, too.
Sleep Apnea
Normally sleep apnea is diagnosed after getting a physical exam, but it also helps to study your family’s medical history to see if it’s prevalent among your relatives. Your PCP may ask for a sleep study to be done by a sleep specialist.
You can really cut back on your sleep apnea by giving up alcohol and smoking. Both of these habits are bad for the muscles in your air passage and can worsen apnea. Quitting these addictions may be the easiest way to address your sleep apnea.
Consider purchasing a device that assists in reducing your snoring. Snoring is caused by your airways being blocked with minor airflow, and apnea involves them being shut completely with no airflow. As you can guess, devices that help one will help with the other. Your sleep apnea may benefit from the use of a stop snoring device.
If you have sleep apnea and you’re overweight, try shedding those pounds. Sleep apnea is directly associated with excess weight. It also stands to reason that losing just a little weight can dramatically improve your condition and your health.
Although you should speak with your doctor about sleep apnea, you can try certain things yourself. Quitting smoking and losing weight are beneficial to anyone, particularly those that have sleep apnea. You should also refrain from consuming alcohol, heavy meals, and caffeine for a few hours before bed.
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 people would be surprised to learn that eating badly makes sleep apnea worse. Studies have shown that people that eat poor quality food have worse apnea than those who are overweight but eat healthier.
Please do not waste time believing that a CPAP maching is something to be ashamed of. Make people aware that your life would be much worse with the machine. Also, don’t be afraid to use the machine in front of others, including friends and your spouse. Keep in mind that using your CPAP machine is in your best interest, and if anyone makes fun of you, you should probably find better friends.
You really should cut down on your alcohol consumption. Consuming alcohol causes your muscles to relax too much. That may be something people like when they drink, but it also can cause sleep apnea. If you must drink, keep it to just a few, and stop drinking well before bedtime. This will keep your throat muscles from relaxing excessively. Reduce the frequency of your alcohol if you do continue to use it, and never drink close to bedtime.
The way you sleep can play a big role in the amount of sleep apnea episodes you suffer from. This is the reason why it’s vital to sleep in a proper position each night. Put a foam wedge under yourself to lift up your body. Or, if you can, raise the top of your bed by at least four inches.
Sleep on your side if you want to avoid sleep apnea. Sleeping on your back can block your airway. Give sleeping on your side a try, and see if your symptoms improve.
If you sleep on your back you will worsen your sleep apnea. Sew something lumpy onto your pajamas to make sure you do not roll onto your back. This will keep you from rolling onto your back.
Sleeping Pills
People who snore or even those who have sleep apnea may benefit if they learn to play a musical instrument. This is good for your soul, and playing a wood instrument will reduce sleep apnea issues. Any instrument that strengthens your airway muscles can improve your breathing at night.
If you are having trouble getting to sleep, do not turn to sleeping pills for assistance when you have sleep apnea. Similar to alcohol, sleeping pills will relax your throat and airways to an undesirable extent. Natural sleep aids, such as melatonin, are much safer. Speak with your health professional about something that can help you sleep without harming your breathing patterns.
If you suffer from sleep apnea this is a good way to get better sleep. Sleep at a regular time every night. Keeping your bedroom environment as conducive to healthy, undisturbed sleep as possible is very important. Insomnia can occur if the conditions are poor.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, avoid using sleeping pills. Sleeping pills can make it so your airways don’t function correctly. This can be deadly when combined with sleep apnea. Sleeping pills are a bad idea.
This will help you deal with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is often a progressive condition so it is best to get treatment immediately. Don’t hesitate. Your symptoms will only get worse. See your doctor right away.
Many doctors ask patients to keep sleep logs to help diagnose sleep apnea. Write out how many times you wake up in the middle of the night, or how ofter you get tired throughout the day. If you sleep with another person, they’ll be able to help you keep track of snoring, interruptions in breathing, or jerking of your limbs. This can help your doctor figure out if you’ve got sleep apnea or if you don’t.
Make sure you don’t back sleep if you suffer from sleep apnea. If you sleep on your back, the likelihood that your airways will constrict during the night increases dramatically. If you suffer from sleep apnea, the best sleeping position would be on your side.
Snoring Devices
Sleep apnea becomes an even bigger problem if you are chronically fatigued. To reduce your sleep apnea symptoms, be sure to follow a regular sleep routine. Set yourself some guidelines as far as sleeping. Taking control of your apnea immediately will keep it from becoming uncontrollable.
Devices intended to prevent snoring may be of some use. Sleep apnea occurs when air passages are totally obstructed, but snoring is the result of majority closure where air still gets through what is left. For less severe forms of sleep apnea, consider finding some simple anti-snoring devices. You could find yourself reducing your apnea with anti-snoring devices.
Sleep apnea sufferers should not drink alcohol prior to sleeping. Alcohol will make the muscles in your throat relax far too much, which in turn causes a reduced amount of air getting through and that makes the sleep apnea much worse. You should not have to completely quit drinking, but avoid consuming it before going to bed.
Lower risk factors for sleep apnea. Some things you can’t help, of course. On the other hand, you can influence risk factors like your weight, smoking and drinking.
Sleep apnea can be a big deal when left untreated, so see a doctor if suspect that you may have it. Sleep apnea is an extremely complicated condition. You shouldn’t compromise your sleep by just guessing whether or not you have it. Talk to your physician, and establish a medical treatment plan.
Sleep Apnea
The precise effect that causes sleep apnea is a shortage of oxygen during night-time breathing. As is the case, it would behoove the sufferer of sleep apnea to avoid sleeping at an elevation. Since there is less oxygen higher up, it can really have an impact of those afflicted. Avoid higher elevations at all costs.
If you can’t see a doctor about your sleep apnea, you can still do some things to help yourself. Giving up tobacco use and losing excess weight are good health choices in general, and they’re particularly effective in reducing the symptoms of sleep apnea. Curtail alcohol, heavy foods and caffeine before bedtime also.
You may need to have surgery to remove excessive throat tissue that can cause sleep apnea. The procedure is called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). This procedure removes excess tissue from around the airway and makes it larger. In most cases, it curse sleep apnea. Keep in mind that this procedure often involves a tonsillectomy as well.
Clearly, a great number of people suffer with sleep apnea. Being uneducated, you may not fare well against it. However, with proper tips, like what you have read in this article, you will find the condition to be controllable.
Try out all treatment options that are presented to you. Though you may feel inclined, don’t skip even a single one. Be assured that your symptoms will come back quickly and affect your life again without continuous treatment.