Tips You Need To Know If You Have Sleep Apnea

Tips You Need To Know If You Have Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can be a very harmful medical problem that affects people of any age. Some people don't realize they have sleep apnea and simply blame their symptoms on growing older or other things that aren't to blame. This article will give you important advice about sleep apnea so that you no longer need to suffer needlessly. Children are susceptible to sleep apnea. If he or she is cranky, active, inattentive and tends to breathe through their nose, they may have sleep apnea. These symptoms can be similar to those of ADHD, so consult a doctor and consider both conditions.

Sleep Apnea

If you are having trouble getting to sleep, do not turn to sleeping pills for assistance when you have sleep apnea. Sleeping pills cause your throat muscles to relax, just like alcohol. There are also a myriad of other problems that can arise with the use of sleeping pills. Stress relief through meditation or exercise can also help you fall asleep safely. Eating healthily can help you shed weight and relieve sleep apnea. A lot of sleep apnea sufferers are shocked by the role that a bad diet has in their affliction. People that eat unhealthy are more likely to have worse sleep apnea. When you suffer from sleep apnea, you should do your best to stick to the same sleep schedule each day. Your sleeping pattern is already thrown off by this sleep disorder. So, anything that you can find that will help rebuild healthy sleep patterns is a must to help you live a healthier lifestyle. The adjustment that is most important is your sleep schedule. Children can also suffer from sleep apnea. If your child exhibits any of the symptoms associated with sleep deprivation, such as chronic irritability, hostility and a drop in their grades, you might be looking at a case of sleep apnea. The symptoms often resemble those of ADHD, but you must consult with your doctor to know for sure. If when using a CPAP machine your mouth still falls open, use a chin strap. This strap is a small strip of material that holds up your chin while you sleep, thus keeping your mouth closed. If you have your mouth open CPAP therapy isn't going to work, so give this device a try to find out if it works. The most common way for a physician to diagnose you with sleep apnea is to conduct a physical examination and investigate the medical histories of you and your relatives. Your doctor might also choose to study you while you sleep. After studying this information, your doctor may send you to a specialist if necessary. If you have sleep apnea and use a CPAP, be sure to carry a medical ID with you. If you need attention from paramedics or have to go to a hospital, your caregivers need to know that you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and require a CPAP. Medical cards are available to describe your condition, the treatment you use and the level of treatment required to control your sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea

A great way to reduce the possibility of having sleep apnea is to lose weight. It's possible to get rid of this condition just by losing weight. Just losing a little bit of weight can go a long way in improving the symptoms of sleep apnea and opening up breathing passage ways. 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. Find other ways to solve your troubles with staying asleep, because sleep apnea mixed with sleeping pills can be a potentially life-threatening mix. You can get some relief from your sleep apnea symptoms by doing tongue exercises. Press your tongue against your mouth's bony palate and keep it there for at least three minutes. This increases the strength of the muscles in your tongue and throat, which means they won't relax as much during the night. You should consult with a medical professional about the more intensive sleep apnea treatments available to you if your symptoms don't respond to the basic steps you take. Some people do not respond to conventional sleep apnea treatment options and consequently, as a last resort, they have to undergo a surgical treatment option, such as removing of the tonsils or adenoids, or enlarging of the airway. Take lessons on a woodwind instrument. This will provide you with considerable enjoyment of the relaxing music, as well as exercising the specific muscles involved with sleep apnea problems. Working these muscles can reduce sleep apnea symptoms, by strengthening them and enabling you greater control over them. Sleep with just a single, average-sized pillow each night. The use of multiple cushions, or very large pillows, can throw off your sleeping posture and inhibit your breathing. You'll be resting in such a way that makes breathing difficult. Because of this, you should really just have one good pillow to help with symptoms of sleep apnea. Speak with your doctor about adding a heated humidifier to your routine use of a CPAP machine for treatment of sleep apnea. If your CPAP air is moist and humid, you will breathe and sleep easier. Lots of CPAP machines have humidifiers built in. Check with your doctor to see if he or she can prescribe a humidifier for you. Patients who suffer from sleep apnea might want to consider losing weight as a means to relieve the symptoms. Those who are overweight usually suffer from sleep apnea due to the circumference of their neck. If you lose that weight, the pressure on your air passage will be lessened, which will improve the quality of your breathing. The manner in which you sleep can have a hand in your sleep apnea. Because of this, your sleeping position should be the best possible one. Try using foam wedges to prop up your body. If you have an adjustable bed, raise the head by several inches for the best position. You should ask your doctor what you can do about sleep apnea; however, there are areas that you can investigate for yourself. Stopping smoking and shedding weight is a great start, especially for anyone dealing with sleep apnea. Other vices to avoid are caffeine, alcohol and large meals right before bedtime. Some people find that learning to play the wind instrument they've always been interested in is an effective treatment for their sleep apnea. Not only is this habit soothing, but a European research project showed that learning wind instruments like the Didgeridoo significantly cuts back on the problems of sleep apnea. Mastering this music form means you can retain control of your respiratory system.

Sleep Apnea

If you suffer from sleep apnea, you probably have anxiety. As a result, try taking a relaxing bath right before you go to bed. Your muscles relax and the tension leaves your body when you sit back in a soothing hot bath. As a result, sleep is likely to come easier, and you are more likely to get a solid night of rest instead of one interrupted constantly by apnea flare-ups. Sleep apnea will not go away by itself; you need to treat it. Depending on the person, some treatment options will work well, while others will not. Treatment options vary depending on the cause. One person will find relief by stopping the habit of smoking and drinking. Another person may find that losing weight is their solution. If you use a CPAP it can help your sleep apnea leaps and bounds. For others, surgical techniques to remove airway obstructions may provide the most effective relief. 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. Try not to sleep on your back if you have obstructive sleep apnea. It can restrict your airway and make it hard to breathe. Do what's necessary to sleep sideways, even if you have to use pillows or other items to force the issue. It bears stating once again that sleep apnea is an extremely common condition with millions of sufferers. The biggest impediment in managing sleep apnea is lack of knowledge. If you know a lot about it, sleep apnea is very controllable. Throat exercises can decrease the severity of sleep apnea. If you perform these exercises each day, your throat muscles will grow stronger over time, which means they will collapse less often while you are sleeping. Hold your tongue to the top of your mouth, and keep it there for three minutes before releasing. Perform this activity once every 24 hours.