Sleep apnea is a condition that is not just a nuisance. It can also be life threatening for some people. This is why people with sleep apnea are wise to educate themselves regarding the causes of sleep apnea and its treatments. The article below has information that can help you do that.
If you have sleep apnea, yet you drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes, quitting could alleviate your symptoms. These habits can affect your airway, which makes sleep apnea and snoring more likely. If you avoid these things, it may help your sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea
Try using a mouth guard to help you sleep. Some guards are made to treat sleep apnea. This can be an alternative to a CPAP machine, and can be more comfortable, to boot. Invest into a mouth guard instead of having a loud machine keep others up at night.
A reason that a lot of people have problems with sleep apnea is due to excessive weight. If this is the case, a sleep apnea sufferer should try to lose weight. There should be a weight loss plan in place that restricts calories. Exercising should be a part of this plan as well. Taking carbohydrates out of a diet is something that studies show helps people lose weight.
Sleep on your side. It’s not uncommon for many with sleep apnea to sleep while laying on their back. When you sleep, your throat muscles relax, and back sleeping causes gravity to pull the relaxed muscles downward, restricting airflow. Sleeping on one’s side is a better option. If you think you might roll over anyway, try a wedge pillow.
You may be able to improve or eliminate your symptoms by quitting smoking and/or drinking. Both of these cause muscles in your airway to relax, which can increase snoring and worsen sleep apnea. If you avoid these things, it may help your sleep apnea.
It is hard to know whether or not you are having difficulty breathing at night if you sleep alone. Using a simple camcorder while you sleep can give you the information you need. Make sure you include the audio, so your doctor can hear what sounds you make.
Your phsyician can help you get a mouth piece to help with your sleep apnea. If your breathing passage is naturally narrow, you have a small jaw, or you have a recessed chin, your sleep apnea may be amplified. 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.
Sleeping pills are not the answer if sleep apnea is your problem. They can relax your throat muscles, making it hard to get enough air when you sleep. Though they may help you sleep, you need the ability to wake should your airway colse too much.
Dealing with sleep apnea is normally something that is very serious. Be aware of the symptoms of sleep apnea and consult your doctor if you are concerned. An official diagnosis might mean consultation with a sleep specialist, a sleep test and monitoring to get a whole grasp on your situation.
If when using a CPAP machine your mouth still falls open, use a chin strap. The chin strap is a fabric strap that supports your chin to keep your mouth shut. Try out CPAP therapy for your mouth.
Sleeping Pills
A good way to help your sleep apnea might be to shed some extra weight. Sleep apnea symptoms can be reduced or eliminated by taking off those extra pounds. Even if you lose just a few pounds, you will notice a difference. This helps to open the airways.
Look for other sleeping aids besides sleeping pills. In the same way that alcohol does, sleeping pills over-relax throat muscles. Natural sleep aids, such as melatonin, are much safer. Stress relief through meditation or exercise can also help you fall asleep safely.
Try a good nasal spray to take care of nighttime nasal congestion. Using nasal spray a couple of nights in a row should help you sleep. Do not use nasal spray over long periods of time: this could damage your nose and cause irritation. Ask your pharmacist what other options you can try to keep your nasal passages clear.
Remember to bring the CPAP machine with you if you should happen to require a stay at the hospital. It’s important to have your familiar mask and machine available in the hospital, whether you’re there for a planned visit or an unplanned emergency. This is preset to your breathing pressure. In addition, you’ll be using the same mask you’ve been accustomed to using each night. Doing so will make your hospitalization easier because you can continue to do your CPAP therapy.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, do not underestimate the power of losing a few pounds. Being overweight and large around the neck are often indications of sleep apnea. Losing weight can reduce pressure on the airways and cause better airflow when breathing at night.
An excellent method of reducing your sleep apnea symptoms is simply losing some weight. A lot of people find that if they shed weight they will help the apnea. You can have relief from sleep apnea symptoms by losing as little as 10 pounds.
Playing a wind instrument can be helpful for sleep apnea. It is a great hobby, and it will help you exercise weak muscles to help you breathe at night. Strengthening these muscles can help you better control them when sleeping, which can lessen apnea symptoms.
You need only one regular pillow to sleep with at night. An over-sized pillow, or a pile of multiple pillows, can alter your sleep position with negative impacts on your ability to breathe freely. This makes you sleep in a way that makes it hard to breathe. One standard pillow is all you need to avoid having this happen.
Your sleeping position can actually be important when dealing with sleep apnea. This is why it’s crucial to sleep properly. Try taking a foam wedge and using it to raise the top half of your body. Talk to your doctor about other ways of sleeping that will be beneficial to you.
Losing weight can help sleep apnea sufferers. Being overweight and large around the neck are often indications of sleep apnea. If you shed some pounds you will see that your airways will not be as constricted.
If you ever have the occasion to fly for travel and you have sleep apnea, be sure to inform the airline that you will be bringing along your CPAP machine. As long as you let them know ahead of time, many airlines will make an effort to seat you in an area where you can use your machine. If you’re flying with a non-domestic carrier, make sure you have the appropriate power adapters for your machine.
Consulting a doctor is important, but there are several options you can try at home. Losing weight and stopping smoking are always good, but are especially so for those who suffer from sleep apnea. Other vices to avoid are caffeine, alcohol and large meals right before bedtime.
Sleep apnea can be a problem for your throat and not your nose, so if you work on strengthening throat muscles then it is a good idea for fixing your apnea. If you want to know how to make your throat stronger, you can do a lot of exercises for that.
Some useful tongue exercises can help alleviate many sleep apnea symptoms. The process is to simply press the tongue against the roof of the mouth and maintain this for at least three minutes. This will help strengthen weak tongue and throat muscles so that they don’t slip back and block your airway while you sleep so easily.
Sleep apnea sufferers should not drink alcohol prior to sleeping. Alcohol relaxes the muscles in your throat making sleep apnea’s symptoms more severe. You should not have to completely quit drinking, but avoid consuming it before going to bed.
Cpap Machine
If you believe you may have sleep apnea, then make sure you visit your doctor to obtain an official diagnosis on the matter. Sleep apnea is a very serious condition that is very hard to deal with, and it’s important that you handle it with care. Inform your physician of all that is happening. Help them find the specific issue and treat it quickly.
Do not be embarrassed about your treatment and your CPAP machine. Make it clear that it is necessary and don’t allow those in your life to make you feel embarrassed when using it. 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.
Do not have an alcoholic drink close to your bedtime. Drinking alcohol can increase the severity of sleep disorders like sleep apnea. It suppresses your nervous system and that can worsen the apnea, it also makes it difficult for you to wake up when you stop breathing. This makes for a potentially deadly combination.
There is no debate about the frustration that is often brought on by sleep apnea. The sleep interruptions, physical discomfort and danger that so often characterize this condition can make life quite miserable for sufferers as well as those they love. Use the tips in the article above to create your treatment plan.
There is a surgery that can help to alleviate the snoring associated with sleep apnea. You may be able to eliminate your sleep apnea symptoms by letting a surgeon perform an uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) treatment on you to clear away the extra tissue and expand your airways. You should know that this involves removal of your tonsils as well.
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