Although sleep apnea is often a dangerous condition, there are many treatments available. Understanding sleep apnea is essential to treating the condition. It can be fatal, but it is also very treatable. The following article contains the best sleep apnea advice, so read on.
If a person is severely overweight, they are much more likely to develop sleep apnea. If this applies, it is is important to shed some excess weight. Try changing your diet and ramp up your activity level. Some studies have also shown that limiting your carbohydrate intake can help.
Avoid unhealthy activities to control your sleep apnea. Smoking and drinking are some of the biggest offenders. You can have severe breathing problems if you are a heavy drinker as it depresses your respiratory system. Smoking can create carcinogens inside of your lungs, which can damage them later on. Your sleep apnea symptoms will improve if you give up both of these unhealthy habits completely.
A CPAP machine may turn out to be vital in combating your sleep apnea, and you should get your doctor’s advice about what model is right for you. You need to be aware of the machine’s size, as well as how loud it is. A machine to get you through the night is better than feeling fatigued every day. Your doctor can help you pick a manufacturer for a good quality machine.
A physician is the best person to ask about which CPAP machine is the right one to use for your specific situation. Factors such as the machine’s noise level and its size are important to consider. Some are as small as a loaf of bread and quiet as a whisper. Your physician will be able to guide you to good CPAP manufacturers.
Are you a drinker or a smoker? Eliminate these unhealthy habits. Both have a negative influence on your air passages. When you smoke you can harm your lungs, and it can be hard for you to breathe at night. Alcohol has a similarly negative effect. If you are unable to walk away from these habits forever, at least avoid them prior to sleeping.
Sleep Apnea
Your kids may have sleep apnea. You can usually notice a child with sleep apnea when they are hyperactive, inattentive, hostile, irritable and see them continuously breathing through their mouth. Sometimes, sleep apnea is confused with ADHD, and you should consult your doctor for the proper diagnosis.
Ask your doctor about a corrective mouth piece for your sleep apnea symptoms. Sleep apnea can be caused by a genetically small jaw, recessed chin or a breathing passage that is too small. Special mouthpieces can help to maintain proper alignment while you sleep, allowing you to rest much better.
Take back a good night of rest by side sleeping. By sleeping on your back, you’ll notice that your throat and nasal passages may become obstructed. Be sure you try sleeping on your side to get rid of a few of your problems caused by sleep apnea at night.
Try not to drink alcohol as much. Alcohol has a relaxing effect on all your muscles. While this may be something you desire, it tends to create the problem of 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. If you absolutely have to have a drink, don’t do as much as you used to. And avoid having one close to bedtime.
If you are having trouble getting to sleep, do not turn to sleeping pills for assistance when you have sleep apnea. Sleeping pills can interfere with your throats muscles, just like alcohol. They also lead to other issues that can cause many problems, especially for someone suffering with sleep apnea. Think about asking your physician about ways you can get to sleep that will not affect your apnea.
Sleeping Pills
Sleep in a prone position. Many sufferers of sleep apnea sleep on their backs. If you sleep on your back, you are more likely to have your mouth open and block your airways. Making an effort to stay off your back will help to give you a better night of sleep. Put a pillow on your side if you always find yourself moving around during sleep.
Try something else besides sleeping pills. Sleeping pills can make your throat muscles relax in an undesirable way. There can also cause other problems if you are dealing with sleep apnea. Consult with your practitioner to see what you can do to get to sleep without putting your breathing patterns at risk.
Bring your CPAP on all the trips you go on during your travels. Once you have your CPAP machine, do not skip using it at any time. You should have a travel bag for your machine. You should be able to use this to carry your CPAP machine with you no matter where you go.
It’s best to lay on your side to sleep when you have sleep apnea. Many folks afflicted with sleep apnea rest on their backs. If you sleep on your back, your airway may become blocked when mouth tissues slide back. Avoid sleeping on your back and go on your side to make breathing easier. A large body pillow can help keep you from rolling to your back in the middle of the night.
Only sleep with a single pillow of standard size. When you use multiple pillows or an over-sized pillow, it can interfere with your position as you breathe. This causes you to lie in a way where breathing is more difficult. One standard pillow is all you need to avoid having this happen.
There are several components to a sleep apnea diagnosis including a physical examination, a complete review of your medical history and a review of your family history. You can do sleep studies and the things the doctor finds will guide him on making a decision on what can be done.
Stop snoring devices are often helpful in treating sleep apnea. While apnea involves complete blockage of the airways, snoring is similar in that partial airway obstruction is what causes it. One of these devices, therefore, targets both of these situations. Your sleep apnea may benefit from the use of a stop snoring device.
You can wear a chin strap with your CPAP if you have problems with your mouth falling open as you sleep. It’s simply fabric that keeps your chin up and mouth closed. Try out CPAP therapy for your mouth.
Although professional medical advice is always warranted in treating sleep apnea, you can try out a few treatments on your own, too. Anyone can enjoy better health from quitting smoking and dropping some unwanted pounds, but anyone afflicted with sleep apnea can really benefit from these lifestyle changes. Also, stay away from large meals, caffeine and alcohol a few hours before going to sleep.
Be sure to use just one, normal-sized pillow when you sleep. Your sleeping position can be affected negatively by multiple pillows or an over-sized one. Pillows that lift your head can cramp the airways that you need to be open to be able to breathe properly as you sleep. One standard pillow is all you need to avoid having this happen.
If you have to use a CPAP machine, you should not have to hide it from others because you are embarrassed. 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. Always know that the CPAP machine is something that you need which can help you, and if someone looks down upon you for using it, then they weren’t your friends anyway.
Having your sleep apnea diagnosed by your physician is important; however, some options for self-help may be beneficial to you. Losing weight and stopping smoking are always good, but are especially so for those who suffer from sleep apnea. Coffee, caffeine and alcohol should also be avoided before bed.
Be aware that sleep apnea is not something you will always know is occurring at night. General daytime sleepiness may be a sign of sleep apnea, so let your doctor know if you are experiencing this. Although you are not likely to realize that you are fighting for air every night as you sleep, you may very well have developed sleep apnea.
Stop smoking if you have sleep apnea. Smoking causes your throat to swell and that will make your condition even more difficult to deal with. Common ways to quit smoking include smoking cessation programs and nicotine replacement products, such as gums. The first month is often the hardest for most smokers. Following that time, the nicotine will start leaving your body, and you’ll have decreased cravings.
After your diagnosis, be sure to communicate with your doctor regularly. He or she will be able to give you solid information on living with your condition. When you try a new treatment, plan on meeting with your doctor after a month or so to talk about how efficient the treatment is.
Many people with snoring issues or minor sleep apnea can find relief by learning to play a wind instrument. According to a study from Germany, not only does this offer mental benefits, but it can also can reduce symptoms of sleep apnea. This will help clear your airways.
If you have sleep apnea, try to take a nap during the day in order to make up for the sleep deficit caused by your condition. Sleep deprivation can have serious consequences for your health, and it impairs your ability to think and function. If you can, get a quick nap during the afternoon hours to boost your cumulative number of hours of sleep per day.
Use meditation, warm baths and massages to help you relieve stress and reduce anxiety-induced sleep apnea. The warm water will relax and soothe your muscles. This makes it easier to get to sleep and stay asleep. It also reduces the number of sleep apnea episodes that occur.
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, it should never be taken lightly, and all doctor’s instructions for treatment should be followed, including the use of a CPAP device. This condition can leave you drowsy and unable to sleep, which can lead to more problems.
If you believe you’ve got sleep apnea, try seeing your doctor and getting a sleep test. A sleep test will let you know if you have the disorder, and if so, how severe your sleep apnea is. Then, you can find the right treatment for your situation based off of the facts.
Meet with a specialist. While your normal doctor can start you on basic treatments for apnea, a sleep specialist only works with sleep disorders such as apnea. They will be the best source of needed information about your apnea. They are also capable of giving you a lot more options for living with apnea.
Since sleep apnea is actually a throat problem and not a nose problem, strengthening the muscles in the throat can be a great way to reduce apnea issues. If you want to know how to make your throat stronger, you can do a lot of exercises for that.
Sleep on the side in order to facilitate good rest, if you have apnea. If you sleep on your back, your throat muscles can block your throat, which interferes with breathing. Use pillows to prop yourself up so you will not roll on your back to sleep.
Drinking alcohol in the hours right before bedtime can exacerbate sleep apnea. Alcohol relaxes your throat muscles which makes it hard for air to get through. This doesn’t mean that you’re going to have to stop completely, you’re just not going to want to drink before sleeping.
A mouth guard sometimes helps people with sleep apnea get better sleep. The mouth guard is designed to keep the jaw aligned and promote proper breathing. If your jaw is small or you have an overbite, your airway may be narrow. Correcting these problems may help your sleep apnea.
The technical definition of sleep apnea is not having enough oxygen while you are sleeping. An extended lack of oxygen can lead to a fatal event. This is because oxygen levels drop the higher the elevation is, which can impact your sleeping. If it is possible to avoid sleeping at an elevated height, it would be prudent to do so.
Socialize with others who suffer from sleep apnea and share concerns and tips with them. Talk to your doctor about local group therapy sessions or clubs. You can also look online to locate sleep apnea communities. You’ll find discussing sleep apnea with others who understand it will be very beneficial to your overall mental health.
Learning that you have sleep apnea is frightening. What’s great is that there is a lot you can do to deal with the disorder. Take the information you learned here to help you deal with your sleep apnea disorder. With proper treatment, you can live a healthy and full life despite your sleep apnea condition.
Don’t let yourself get discouraged if you haven’t found the right treatment yet. Symptoms and severity can vary by person, so while a treatment may work for one person, it may not for another. Keep testing new choices and possibilities, so that you can discover the ones that are best suited for you.
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