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Sunday, September 22, 2013

How You Can Put Your Sleep Apnea To Rest

How You Can Put Your Sleep Apnea To Rest

It can be scary to be given a diagnosis of sleep apnea. You should be aware that it is not an unusual disorder. Though serious, it does have many treatments available. In the following article, you will find many helpful tips that can help you to better deal with the condition. Depending on the condition that is causing your sleep apnea, you may be able to find a simple tool to improve your sleep. This will help you breathe better at night. Get fitted for a mouth guard by your doctor if need be. If you want to ease your sleep apnea, it's crucial that you speak with your physician regarding CPAP machines and which is best for you. You should take the size and potential to make noise into consideration. Some CPAP machines are small and are quiet. Your doctor will help you find one that is well made. It's necessary to use a CPAP machine for four hours each night if your doctor has prescribed one for your sleep apnea. It can be extremely difficult for some patients to get used to sleeping with a CPAP. For the CPAP therapy to work, it must be used a minimum of four hours per day. If you have trouble adjusting to use it the full night, keep it on for four hours at the least. Are nicotine and alcohol a part of your life? Lose all your bad habits. Both of these things affect your airway negatively and compound your sleep apnea problem. Inflammation is caused by smoking and alcohol use causes your airways to collapse, both of which can produce sleep apnea symptoms. If it is not possible for you to quit cold turkey, then try not to smoke or drink immediately before bedtime. Do not consume as much alcohol as you used to. Alcohol will relax all of your muscles. People who are addicted to alcohol may learn that this is the cause of their apnea, and others who drink sporadically should know it affects them, too. Alcohol causes the throat and tongue muscles to relax, which can make it easier for them to block your airway. If you can't give up drinking completely, at least make an effort to moderate your intake and avoid having alcohol in the hours leading up to your bedtime. Your doctor may recommend a mouth guard to help ease the breathing problems associated with sleep apnea. Your symptoms could very well be exacerbated by congenital conditions like a small jaw, an over- or under-bite, or a naturally constricted airway. Specialty devices can rectify the minor deviations during sleep so that your jaw aligns and your breathing passage remains unobstructed, giving you a better night of uninterrupted rest. If you suffer from sleep apnea, you should treat any sinus or allergy problems you may have. This condition makes sleeping troublesome. You have to avoid anything else that is going to affect your ability to breathe while you are asleep. Try and clear your airways as much as possible, and keep your nasal problems to a minimum. Do not drink alcohol often. Alcohol relaxes the muscles too much. While this is often considered a desirable effect, it can lead to sleep apnea. Alcohol causes the throat and tongue muscles to relax, which can make it easier for them to block your airway. If you're not going to give up alcohol, then just don't do it right before bedtime. Snoring devices may serve your needs with sleep apnea. While apnea involves complete blockage of the airways, snoring is similar in that partial airway obstruction is what causes it. So, anything that helps relieve the first issue will also help with the second. Devices that reduce or eliminate snoring can lessen sleep apnea symptoms. If you sleep alone, you may have sleep apnea and not know it. Using a simple camcorder while you sleep can give you the information you need. You need to include audio in your video because the doctor needs to hear the noises you make. If you shed some weight it will likely help with apnea. Being overweight and large around the neck are often indications of sleep apnea. Losing some weight can help improve the amount of air you can take in.

Sleeping Pills

Sleep apnea will not disappear all by itself, you must have it treated. Different people find relief through different forms of treatment. Dropping some pounds might help your sleep apnea, but that might not be the cause. CPAP machines are considered non-invasive, and many people use them successfully. Still others prefer the surgical route where modifications can be made to overcome airway restrictions. More importantly than what treatment you decide to get is that you actually get some form of treatment. If you have sleep apnea, never take sleeping pills. You may find these pills are causing your muscles in your throat to relax and this obstructs your airways. If your sleep apnea is bad, these pills are even more dangerous. They may be tempting to use but you'll be better off staying away from sleeping pills. How you physically sleep each night can really affect your sleep apnea. Try sleeping on your side or your stomach to decrease the condition. Attempt to use pillows or foam wedges to help you stay in a good position to sleep in. If possible, try raising the bed by about four inches at the top. Try to sleep on a regular schedule if you have sleep apnea. Your condition is already messing with your regular sleep cycle every night. 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. It is possible to use a mouth guard to treat some of the symptoms of sleep apnea. Sometimes the way a person's face is shaped may be causing their air passage to be smaller. Proper jaw alignment for easy breathing during sleep is possible thanks to corrective mouth guards. If you're a sleep apnea sufferer undergoing CPAP treatment, don't forget to take your machine along if you're going to the hospital. If your stay is planned or an emergency, you will need your CPAP device either way. Since the settings are already set to what you're used to, and the mask that you use each night is there, it makes it much easier to use at the hospital. This will facilitate your CPAP therapy during your hospital stay. Avoid sleeping on your back if you have sleep apnea. Falling asleep right on your back will hurt you, because you won't get a clear passage for your lungs to breath. Gravity will not pull on your throat muscles and close them up as easily if you turn on your side instead. If what you are doing at home isn't working well enough to help your sleep apnea, then you should consult with a doctor to explore some additional treatment options. Some people don't have any luck with conventional treatments, and usually opt for surgeries like a tonsillectomy, adenoid removal or airway enlargement as their last resort. Regularly consult your doctor when you find out you have sleep apnea. He or she will be able to give you solid information on living with your condition. After you have tried a specific treatment, make sure you let your doctor know what worked for you and what didn't.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea happens when you do not get enough oxygen when you are sleeping. Because of this, sufferers of sleep apnea may have trouble sleeping at higher elevations. The reduced oxygen levels present at high altitude can significantly exacerbate the problems caused by sleep apnea. Avoid sleeping at higher elevations as much as possible. As stated above, learning that you have sleep apnea can be pretty scary. With your doctor's advice, you can manage your condition effectively. Use what you've learned here to better your life and effectively treat your apnea disorder. Proper treatment can preserve your health, even with sleep apnea. Pick up any type of wind instrument and learn to play it. Take up the flute or clarinet or any wind instrument to help your apnea. Playing different instruments can help you truly gain a lot of strength in your airway muscles. Once you have played these instruments, you will find that your muscles are better trained and strengthened which can bring relief from apnea.

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