Get Your Sleep Apnea Under Control With These Tips

Get Your Sleep Apnea Under Control With These Tips

Don't be scared if you have sleep apnea. Although the disorder can have dramatic, negative health consequences, if treated properly it is possible to live a normal life. You just have to concentrate on your treatment options and education, and this article focuses on just that. One thing that affects sleep apena is obesity. If this applies, it is is important to shed some excess weight. Anyone in this situation should stick to a sensible diet, in combination with a good amount of exercise. Reducing carbohydrate intake can be an effective way to take off the pounds, according to some recent studies. Losing some harmful vices to fight off sleep apnea. Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are a big problem for people who have sleep apnea. Alcohol depresses your nervous system and makes it harder to breathe, particularly when you are asleep. Smoking introduces known carcinogens into your lungs and damages them over time. Dropping both these habits entirely will help ease the symptoms of sleep apnea. Don't drink a lot of alcohol. Alcohol relaxes your muscles in a way that harms your breathing. While this is often considered a desirable effect, it can lead to sleep apnea. Alcohol relaxes throat muscles and can make it difficult to keep the air passage open. If you must drink alcohol, consume it sparingly and at least a few hours before heading to bed. Depending on the condition that is causing your sleep apnea, you may be able to find a simple tool to improve your sleep. These guards look similar to what athletes use, but are specifically made to change the position of the tongue, jaw and palate while you sleep and keep your airway open. Speak with a doctor about using a properly fitted mouth guard. Try something besides sleeping pills. Similar to alcohol, a sleeping pill will relax the muscles in your throat. Taking sleeping pills can have a negative impact on other health conditions that those with sleep apnea may experience. Ask your physician about sleeping aids that are free of harmful effects or risks to your night-time breathing. To help with your sleep apnea, you need to consult with your doctor about the best CPAP machine to use. The machine size and how loud it is are things you should think about. A machine to get you through the night is better than feeling fatigued every day. The doctor would be able to guide you to the right one to use. Sleep apnea is generally determined by looking at your family and medical history, along with a physical exam. Sleep studies may be included in the equation, and it may be necessary to involve a sleep specialist. If you're a smoker or a drinker (or both) who's also dealing with sleep apnea, you may find that giving up your vices will solve your sleep disorder. Snoring and apnea are common occurrences for those with these habits because they relax the muscles in the airway. Instead of costly surgery or some other medical procedure, losing these bad habits is the best way to save yourself money and address this condition. To help you figure out if you suffer from sleep apnea, you may be asked by your doctor to keep a log of your sleeping. All hours slept or spent awake should be recorded. Ask your partner for more specific information on how loud your snoring is, the quality of your breathing and even how restful you were. This log will assist your doctor in diagnosing your condition.

Mouth Guard

Stick to a schedule when it comes to your sleep. Your sleep apnea is already affecting your sleep. Whatever you are able to do to keep a regular sleep pattern will help you to be in better health and less exhausted during the day. Go to sleep and wake up each day on a regular schedule and this schedule should be used on the weekends, too. Talk to your doctor about getting a fitted sleep mouth guard. It may just be that your breathing passage is naturally narrow or your jaw is small. You can get better rest if you wear a custom mouth guard that aligns your jaw properly. If you are going to be traveling and you have sleep apnea, you need to remember to take your CPAP with you. When you are dealing with sleep apnea, the CPAP machine should be used every single night. Conveniently, your CPAP machine should have a bag included with it for easy travel. You can use this bag to allow you to transport your CPAP machine with ease when you're not home. Bring your medical ID every you travel with your CPAP device. Upon need for help and medical attention, your condition must be known. Medical cards are available to describe your condition, the treatment you use and the level of treatment required to control your sleep apnea. Lose a bit of weight to get rid of your sleep apnea. A number of patients have found that shedding excess pounds is enough to resolve sleep apnea all by itself. Even a nominal amount of weight loss will go a long way in improving your breathing at night. Treat your allergies or other sinus problems when dealing with sleep apnea. It will help you breath better in general, especially during your sleep. The last thing you need is something else causing you difficulty breathing during your sleep. Making sure your airway isn't obstructed is your best bet to getting good sleep. Use nasal spray if you suffer from sleep apnea. This should clear your airways, at least temporarily. Don't use the product over a long period of time, though; that could cause damage to your nose. Check out all the different options while at your pharmacy. A great way to reduce the possibility of having sleep apnea is to lose weight. Many people find that they can completely correct sleep apnea by losing excess 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. If you are experiencing sleep apnea, stop smoking. Smoking can cause swelling in the airways, exacerbating sleep apnea. Try out nicotine patches or gum to get rid of your sleep apnea. The hardest period for the majority of smokers is the initial 30 days upon quitting. Following that time, the nicotine will start leaving your body, and you'll have decreased cravings. Choose only one, flatter pillow to sleep on each night instead of fluffy pillows. Your sleeping position can be affected negatively by multiple pillows or an over-sized one. This may put you in a position that can adversely affect your breathing. Use a single pillow for maximum relief from your sleep apnea. Take up a wind instrument. This will not only be fun and relaxing, it will also help you excercise the muscles responsible for your breathing control. Working these muscles make them stronger, and help you control them, especially when you sleep; this will reduce your sleep apnea. Untreated sleep apnea is hazardous to your health and quality of life. You'll be happy to know, however, that you can find many treatments available to you. Use the information from this piece and consult with your physician about it. Then you can put these tips into action and improve your quality of life. Getting a CPAP machine is no cause for concern or embarrassment. Inform those that need to know about it, and don't feel uncomfortable using your CPAP around those close to you. They want you healthy. Remember that the CPAP machine is necessary for your health, and those who love you will not think any differently of you because you need it.