What You Need To Know If You Have Sleep Apnea

What You Need To Know If You Have Sleep Apnea

Listening to your doctor tell you that you may have sleep apnea can be a frightening experience. It is vital that you know about sleep apnea and what you can do to help it. This article is teeming with advice for dealing with your recent diagnosis. Get through sleep apnea by consulting with your practitioner about getting a CPAP machine. Think about the machine's size and noise levels. A machine to get you through the night is better than feeling fatigued every day. Your physician can recommend the best manufacturers in the industry.

Sleep Apnea

Consult with your physician about corrective devices to address your sleep apnea. If you have a recessed chin or a small jaw, these conditions can greatly increase your sleep apnea symptoms. There are special devices which will align your jaw properly while also putting you in the best position while asleep, this results in you getting more rest. Do you light up or knock some back every day? Quit these vices. Both of these things affect your airway negatively and compound your sleep apnea problem. Smoking can actually swell your airways while alcohol can overly relax them; each causes sleep apnea. If it's too challenging to give up these habits entirely, you should at least avoid indulging in them as you approach your bedtime. Sleep apnea is generally determined by looking at your family and medical history, along with a physical exam. Your doctor may recommend a sleep study as well. When your doctor has this information, he passes it on to a specialist who can help you even more. Make yourself wear your CPAP for four hours while you sleep, at the least. Some find that it can be uncomfortable to use at first, but the point is to use it and ward off trouble. 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. If you are lacking someone to sleep next to you it might be hard to tell if you suffer from sleep apnea. You can remedy this problem by setting up a recorder that can film you while you're sleeping at night. Make sure any video you make includes an audio stream, since certain noises are clues that you may suffer from sleep apnea. Avoid alcohol before bed as much as possible. Consuming alcohol causes your muscles to relax too much. You may want to feel more relaxed, but it can exacerbate your apnea. Your throat muscles become relaxed and cause your airways to become blocked. If you have to have a drink, do it well before bedtime. If your mouth opens a lot during the night when you use your CPAP machine, consider adding a chin strap. This device keeps your jaw up as you sleep. Try out CPAP therapy for your mouth.

Sleep Apnea

If you suffer from sleep apnea and require a CPAP machine, make sure you have a medical ID bracelet. If you are in need of medical attention, it is important that the people helping you realize you have sleep apnea and use CPAP therapy. Your ID should include your use of CPAP and the pressure level at which your CPAP must be set. Try sleeping on your side to prevent sleep apnea from robbing you of a good night's sleep. When sleeping on the back, throat and tongue muscles are more likely to block your airway. Try to fall asleep in a side position, and discover if that relieves your sleep apnea tonight. Stick with a single ordinary pillow when you go to sleep. Puffy pillows, or using too many pillows, can put you in a position that interferes with your breathing. These mean you sleep in positions where it is hard to breathe. Because of this, you should only sleep with a single pillow to combat sleep apnea. Sleep apnea generally is diagnosed by studying your medical and family history and having a thorough physical exam. 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. Nasal sprays can help you sleep when your nose is being a nuisance to you. This will help clear your nasal passages before you go to bed. Don't use the product over a long period of time, though; that could cause damage to your nose. Talk to your pharmacist about your options. Make sure your CPAP comes with you when you need to go to the hospital. It's important to have your familiar mask and machine available in the hospital, whether you're there for a planned visit or an unplanned emergency. The machine is pre-set to your specifications and you have the benefit of wearing the mask you are already familiar with. Having your equipment close by will make it easy to continue your treatment and improve your prognosis. Sleep apnea does not go away on its own; patients need treatment. There are various sleep apnea treatments for various people because no two cases are exactly alike. One good way to lessen sleep apnea episodes is by losing weight, but there are thin people who suffer from sleep apnea as well. CPAP machines and other non-invasive therapies have worked for millions of apnea sufferers. Others prefer surgery so that they can treat airway restrictions. It doesn't matter which treatment you get, as long as it is effective for you and helps you find the quality of life you are missing.

Sleep Apnea

Exercise your tongue and minimize sleep apnea symptoms. Try pressing your tongue to the top of your mouth and holding it there for a minimum of three minutes. This should strengthen both your tongue and throat muscles, which helps them to not relax while you're asleep. Learning that you have sleep apnea is frightening. Fortunately, it can be treated simply and effectively. You can't go wrong by taking the sleep apnea advice provided by this article and applying it in your own situation. Even with sleep apnea, you can get good rest and live well. It just takes proper treatment. A CPAP machine is a common treatment tool for sleep apnea; if you use one, you should also ask your physician about getting a heated humidifier. Using a CPAP can initially be hard to get used to, but the moist, comfortable air from a humidifier will make the therapy more soothing. There are many different CPAP machines that are equipped with built-in humidifiers, so check with your doctor to see if one can be prescribed.