Tips On How To Reduce The Effects Of Sleep Apnea

Tips On How To Reduce The Effects Of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is more than disruptive of your sleep and life, it can in fact be deadly. Anyone who suspects they have sleep apnea needs to get it diagnosed, and those that have it need to consistently learn about it and follow up with all treatments for the sake of their health. Keep reading for some helpful tips on getting started. Drop some of your vices to fight against sleep apnea. Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are a big problem for people who have sleep apnea. Drinking affects the respiratory system. Smoking, of course, causes both long and short term damage to your lungs and airways, as well as putting you at risk for cancer. Doing away with both of these bad habits will help do away with your sleep apnea symptoms.

Sleep Apnea

Shed a bit of weight if you can. Research has shown a clear link between sleep apnea and obesity. Consequently, it is therefore possible that losing just twenty-five pounds could result in a dramatic improvement of your sleep apnea symptoms if you are currently suffering from obesity. Think about changing a few of your habits to help with your sleep apnea. If you drink and smoke, you need to quit now. When you drink, your respiratory system is depressed and breathing becomes difficult. Smoking damages your lungs over time. Getting rid of these bad habits can help to lessen the frustration that sleep apnea brings. Sleep apnea can benefit from a good diet that results in your losing weight. Some people are surprised to learn how much a bad diet effects sleep apnea. People who don't eat healthy food have the worst sleep apnea conditions. Ask your doctor for advice about what CPAP machine you should get. Not all machines are alike, and you may need one that has a humidifier or a certain type of pressure. A machine to get you through the night is better than feeling fatigued every day. Your physician probably knows which machines are best. You really should cut down on your alcohol consumption. Alcohol relaxes your muscles in a way that harms your breathing. Although many people desire this side-effect of alcohol, it is not beneficial to people with sleep apnea. Your throat muscles become relaxed, making it harder for your airway to stay open. If drinking is an important part of your life, restrict the amount of alcohol you consume and drink it earlier in the day. Excess weight also causes sleep apnea, so losing weight is a very good idea. Studies have found a correlation between sleep apnea and obesity. As a result, the loss of just twenty or twenty five pounds can make a significant difference in reducing your symptoms of sleep apnea. It's best to lay on your side to sleep when you have sleep apnea. Often, sleep apnea sufferers rest while on their backs. Your airways become blocked when you sleep on your back. It's easier to breathe when looking to the side. If you have a hard time sleeping on your back all night, you can try to prop pillows around yourself to prevent you from sleeping on your back.

Throat Muscles

A diagnosis of sleep apnea usually involves your personal and family medical histories, as well as a comprehensive physical examination. Sleep studies may be suggested and your doctor might refer you over to a type of sleep specialist that can diagnose and treat your symptoms. Avoid drinking much alcohol. Alcohol causes your muscles to relax. If the throat muscles are too relaxed, they can collapse and block your airway. Your throat muscles become relaxed and cause your airways to become blocked. If you absolutely must drink, then do it in moderation and certainly not right when you're about to go to sleep. It's vital that you don't use any type of sleeping pill when you suffer from sleep apnea. Sleeping pills can interfere with your throat muscles and with your airway. If your sleep apnea is bad, these can prove a real risk. No matter how bad you want a good night's sleep, these are not the answer. 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. A sleep study can also shed some light on your sleep problems. Your primary physician may find that the best course of action is to send you to see a sleep specialist. These doctors have the specialized expertise necessary to diagnose and treat many sleep disorders including sleep apnea. If you're dealing with sleep apnea, it's important to set a regular sleep schedule for yourself. Remember, your sleep is already being disrupted by your condition. Any steps you take to improve your overall sleep habits will help deal with the symptoms of your condition and minimize the impact it has. Go to sleep and wake up each day on a regular schedule and this schedule should be used on the weekends, too. Remember to keep your medical ID upon your person if you make use of a CPAP for your sleep apnea. Upon need for help and medical attention, your condition must be known. Your ID should include your use of CPAP and the pressure level at which your CPAP must be set. You need to make sure you have a medical ID on you if you use a CPAP and have sleep apnea. If you are ever in need of emergency treatments, this ID will let the medical team know that you suffer from sleep apnea and are following CPAP therapy. This ID needs to specify you suffer from sleep apnea and have a CPAP that needs to be set on a certain pressure level.

Sleep Apnea

Get treatment for your allergies or sinus problems if you have sleep apnea. During the night, you are already dealing with breathing problems. You do not need anything else reducing your ability to get air while you sleep. You'll experience a better night of sleep and reduce the odds of running into serious breathing difficulties if you take care of nasal and sinus issues without delay. If you suffer from sleep apnea and must go to the hospital, make sure your CPAP is with you. Be it an intended or emergency room stay, you must always have access to your CPAP and the mask when you suffer from sleep apnea. It already has your pressure settings dialed in, and your mask is something your used to wearing at night. Having your own machine will make using a CPAP while in the hospital much easier. If nothing you are trying is improving your sleep apnea symptoms, you should talk to your doctor about some of the more drastic treatment options that are available. Some people have poor luck with typical sleep apnea treatments, and resort to a surgical treatment that entails the removal of the adenoids and tonsils, or the enlargement of the airway. If you are not getting relief from your sleep apnea treatment methods, consult your physician for more serious options. Not everyone responds to the standard treatment for sleep apnea, and some may need to do something a little more drastic, including surgical techniques. Use a single, average-sized pillow for your head at night. The position of your body can become awkward and harmful to your breathing when you use too many pillows. You'll be resting in such a way that makes breathing difficult. This means that one pillow is most appropriate to help alleviate your sleeping concerns. Try using devices that help with snoring. Excessive snoring occurs whenever your airways are only partially opened where a minimum amount of air can pass through. On the other hand, sleep apnea occurs whenever your airways are closed up completely with no passing through. As you can guess, devices that help one will help with the other. Talk to your doctor to find out if one of these devices will truly help you or if you need some other type of treatment instead. Shedding weight oftentimes is a big help to anyone who is dealing with sleep apnea. People who are overweight usually suffer from sleep apnea more. Losing weight can reduce pressure on the airways and cause better airflow when breathing at night.

Sleep Apnea

Exercise your tongue and minimize sleep apnea symptoms. One exercise you can try involves putting your tongue on the roof of your mouth, then keeping it there for at least 180 seconds. You will make your muscles stronger, and you will have better results with your other treatments. Everybody knows sleep apnea can take a toll on the body. The lack of quality sleep, the discomfort, and the life threatening danger all work to make life miserable for those who deal with sleep apnea. Use this article to create a plan that works for your sleep apnea. Your sleep apnea can worsen from back sleeping, so try to sleep on your side. Some people sew a tennis ball or other lumpy object into their pajamas to keep from rolling on their back. You will not want to lay on your back on these objects.