Tips On Learning To Cope With Sleep Apnea

Tips On Learning To Cope With Sleep Apnea

Many people who are sleep deprived may not know that their tiredness is, in fact, being caused by a certain sleep condition. Sleep apnea is a disorder that can be the culprit, because it obstructs your airways while you sleep. If you think that you have sleep apnea, keep on reading. Avoid contact with cigarette smoke and consumption of alcohol if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Drinking and smoking are a couple of the biggest concerns. Alcohol can put you into a very deep sleep and depress your respiration. Smoking can create carcinogens inside of your lungs, which can damage them later on. Quit both these habits, and you'll soon notice an improvement in your sleeping patterns. Using a wind instrument can be a huge help in treating your sleep apnea. Some studies have shown that an instrument like the didgeridoo can help you improve the muscles in your throat. These muscles control the dilation of your airway and the stiffening of the airway walls. Therefore, getting involved with an instrument like this can help you sleep better. Using a mouth guard specifically made for sleep apnea sufferers may help you sleep better. They are designed to help you breathe properly at night by aligning your airways. Speak with your doctor concerning mouth guards, and have yourself fitted for one, provided your doctor agrees.

Sleep Apnea

Check with your doctor to see which CPAP equipment is best to treat your sleep apnea. Think about the machine's size and noise levels. There are some small machines that make little noises. Your doctor should be able to point you in the right direction of a capable machine. Sleep apnea is not a condition to take likely. If you suspect that you or a loved one has it, it's important to make an appointment with a physician to talk to them about it soon. If he says you have sleep apnea you should go to a sleep specialist so that you can get tested further. Get a personally made mouth guard just for you. Guards like these are specifically made for assisting sleep apnea patients. It is a great alternative to CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) and is much more comfortable to wear at night. A mouth guard will work by positioning the jaw and tongue in a helpful way that will allow for easier breathing while asleep. Take back a good night of rest by side sleeping. When people sleep on their back, their tongue and soft palate rest to the back of the throat, which blocks the airway. Try to fall asleep in a side position, and discover if that relieves your sleep apnea tonight. If you have a prescription for sleep apnea and you are prescribed a CPAP, you should at least use it four hours every night. Some individuals have a lot of trouble getting used to CPAP masks in their sleep. However, you must use your CPAP a minimum of four hours for it to be effective. If you are having difficulty adjusting to it at first, try to make sure you at least use your CPAP four hours each time you sleep. Attempt side sleeping. Many folks afflicted with sleep apnea rest on their backs. Sleeping one one's back can cause constriction of the throat muscles. However, breathing is much easier if you sleep on your side instead. You may want to prop yourself up with pillows so you stay on your side. Losing weight through a good diet can fight sleep apnea. Most people would find it surprising to know that your diet can be a factor in managing sleep apnea. Good nutrition can help many medical conditions, including sleep apnea. A good physical exam, and a look at your family history, can quite often easily determine sleep apnea's presence. Sleep studies may also be done, and depending on what your primary doctor finds after all these measures, he may refer you to a sleep specialist, which is a type of doctor that diagnoses and treats people exhibiting sleep problems. Don't drink alcohol to excess. Alcohol naturally relaxes your muscles. That may be something people like when they drink, but it also can cause sleep apnea. Alcohol will relax the throat muscles, which ends up making it harder for the body to control the airways. Try your best to limit your drinking if you do decide to have alcohol, and try to not have any right before bed. It is hard to know whether or not you are having difficulty breathing at night if you sleep alone. Think about recording your sleep patterns. Remember that recording audio is equally important; medical professionals can tell a great deal from the sounds you make while you sleep. Even children can suffer from sleep apnea. If he or she is cranky, active, inattentive and tends to breathe through their nose, they may have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea symptoms can mimic those of ADHD, but only a doctor can give the proper diagnosis. Your doctor might ask you to write down when you sleep and wake. In it, you'll record the number of hours you sleep, as well as any symptoms you have during the night. Ask your partner to note anything unusual noticed during the night while you were sleeping. Your doctor will then be able to tell if you suffer from sleep apnea. Try out different things besides pills to help you sleep. Sleeping pills carry the risk of throat relaxation, much the same as alcohol does. There can also cause other problems if you are dealing with sleep apnea. Consult your physician to find out about possible ways to get to sleep to faster that won't react poorly with your sleep apnea. If you have sinus problems or allergies, find yourself some treatment options. Sleep apnea is a difficult enough condition to deal with. The last thing you need is something else causing you difficulty breathing during your sleep. Eliminating your nasal problems maintains a clear airway, which will increase the chances that you will sleep better. Sleep apnea can be extremely tricky to diagnose yourself, especially if you sleep alone without a loved one to tell you about minor sleep problems you experience. A video recorder can help you discover whether you are sleeping well or struggling. The video needs audio too so that the doctors can hear the noises you make. Stick to one regular pillow for sleeping on at night. When you sleep on a pile of pillows, or one extremely thick pillow, your chin is pushed down toward your neck and restricts your air flow. This may result in breathing difficulties, because you end up in odd positions. For this reason, stick with just one pillow to alleviate your sleep apnea symptoms. Stick to using just one normal sized pillow as you sleep. When you sleep on a pile of pillows, or one extremely thick pillow, your chin is pushed down toward your neck and restricts your air flow. This can position you in a way that makes it harder to breathe. One standard pillow is all you need to avoid having this happen.

Nasal Spray

Sleep apnea never just disappears of its own free will; you have to do something about it. Some treatments may work for certain people, but not all of them. One good way to lessen sleep apnea episodes is by losing weight, but there are thin people who suffer from sleep apnea as well. Some people find that using a CPAP machine or a simple mouth guard designed for sleep apnea sufferers works for them. Some individuals prefer a surgical procedure which relieves airways restrictions. Working with your doctor to identify the best approach for your apnea issues will increase your opportunity to live a healthy and well-rested life. If you are suffering from sleep apnea and have a cold or allergies, try using a nasal spray. This should help clear any blockages in the airways for a couple of nights. If you use nasal spray alot you may damage it. Talk to a pharmacist to see which spray they recommend. Don't binge drink if you have sleep apnea. When you drink you relax your throat muscles which actually provokes them to collapse. You should either quit drinking, or try and limit it to an occasional drink before going to bed. This helps to avoid the problem of alcohol harming you from getting a good night's sleep. Try an anti-snoring device. While apnea involves complete blockage of the airways, snoring is similar in that partial airway obstruction is what causes it. A device that can eliminate snoring can also relieve sleep apnea. You could find yourself reducing your apnea with anti-snoring devices. Please do not waste time believing that a CPAP maching is something to be ashamed of. You need not be self-conscious about your need to use a CPAP machine; be upfront about its medical necessity with friends, relatives, and room-mates. You have to use your CPAP machine or else you might not get a solid night's rest, so everyone you know should understand. Reduce your sleep apnea risk factors. Some of the risk factors associated with sleep apnea cannot be changed such as being born a male or having it run it the family. But others, such as weight smoking and drinking, can be controlled. Sleeping in certain positions can also impact your sleep apnea. Having a proper sleep position is necessary. Lift up the top half of your body with a foam wedge. Try to also prevent yourself from falling off the bed in the middle of the night. Figure out all of your options once you find out you have sleep apnea, you want to figure out how to get more sleep every night. Good sleep is a foundation of overall good health. Apply what you've just learned, and begin to experience a better life. Your sleep apnea can worsen from back sleeping, so try to sleep on your side. Put blockades to either side of you to keep you from rolling onto your back if you must. This makes it far less likely for you to revert to a prone sleeping posture.