Sleep Apnea - The Importance Of Getting Treatment

Sleep Apnea - The Importance Of Getting Treatment

Of course, it isn't enough to simply read up on sleep apnea. If you have this condition, you must do something about it. Learning about effective sleep apnea treatments is a great way to get started. The article you're reading will provide some ideas that may help you find relief. Think about changing a few of your habits to help with your sleep apnea. Smoking and drinking can inflame your airways and make them swell. Drinking suppresses your breathing and causes a lot of harm to your respiratory system. Smoking damages all parts of your airways. Quit both these habits, and you'll soon notice an improvement in your sleeping patterns. Do you sometimes drink or smoke? Address your bad habits if you have sleep apnea problems. These substances influence your airways. 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 can't quit, at least don't drink or smoke right before going to bed. Being overweight can be a cause of sleep apnea. If this is the case, a sleep apnea sufferer should try to lose weight. Look for a sensible plan that includes both caloric restriction as well as exercise. Many people have success following a low carb diet. If your weight is higher than it should be, reverse that. Studies show that sleep apnea symptoms are more common in people who are overweight. As a result, the loss of just twenty or twenty five pounds can make a significant difference in reducing your symptoms of sleep apnea. If sleep apnea is an issue for you, and you are a smoker or drinker of alcohol, consider quitting to help with your symptoms. These habits can cause your throat muscles to relax or swell, increasing sleep apnea. If you avoid these things, it may help your sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea

Look into corrective mouth pieces to help with your sleep apnea. There may be genetic reasons you suffer from sleep apnea. Your airway may be naturally thin or your jaw may interfere with breathing during sleep. 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. Be sure to eat well and maintain a proper weight to help control your sleep apnea. One of the main factors contributing to sleep apnea is being overweight, caused by poor eating habits. It's been proven that poor diets can contribute to the severity of sleep apnea. Sleep with your body perpendicular to the bed. Don't sleep on your back. The tissue in your throat and mouth can wind up obstructing your air passage when you sleep on your back. However, breathing is much easier if you sleep on your side instead. If you have trouble staying off of your back, sew a tennis ball into the back of your sleeping clothes. This will help you stay on your side while you're sleeping. Remember to bring the CPAP machine with you if you should happen to require a stay at the hospital. Whether the hospital stay is a planned one or it's just an emergency room visit, always bring along the CPAP machines just in case you need to stay for awhile. While they may have a machine for you to use, your machine is already preset for your specific settings and has the mask you are already accustomed to wearing. Having your own familiar equipment eases the strangeness of being in the hospital, and helps you sleep more restfully. Family history is one thing that doctors use to diagnosis sleep apnea. In addition, sleep studies could be performed. Afterwards, depending on the results, your doctor could refer a sleep specialist to you. A sleep specialist is a doctor who treats those with sleep problems. If you have tried everything to no avail, be sure to see your doctor about professional treatment. If less invasive treatments do not work, it is sometimes necessary to perform surgical procedures such as adenoid and tonsil removal and/or airway enlargement. It is hard to know whether or not you are having difficulty breathing at night if you sleep alone. Setting up a camera to record your sleeping habits might be the answer. Make sure the video has sound as well, so that your doctor can hear your breathing. Now that you are aware of different options you have concerning sleep apnea, use them! Find the ones that are right for you, and you will start to experience more peaceful sleep. Sleeping peacefully will allow you to get the rest you need and regain control of your energy levels. Consult with your doctor about surgery if you find that none of the less invasive options are helping with your symptoms of sleep apnea. A small percentage of patients don't react to the common treatments, and as a result, surgery may be their only option, which includes enlarging the airway or removing the tonsils.