Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Getting Treatment Is Key

Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Getting Treatment Is Key

You can not live without sleep, but if you are afflicted with sleep apnea, then good sleep probably feels like a distant memory. Use this article to determine how to get rid of sleep apnea and how to live a comfortable life filled with peaceful dreams. Lose a few pounds if you happen to be overweight and suffer from sleep apnea. There is evidence that sleep apnea is correlated with obesity. So, you can actually find substantial relief from your symptoms just from shedding even twenty or thirty pounds. Do you smoke or drink? Quit these vices. Your airways are significantly affected by smoking and drinking. Inflammation is caused by smoking and alcohol use causes your airways to collapse, both of which can produce sleep apnea symptoms. Avoid second-hand smoke and do not drink immediately before going to bed. Playing with some wind instruments can help get rid of your sleep apnea. Playing this kind of instrument strengthens your muscles in the upper airways. You'll have better control over your airway's dilation and the stiffness of the surrounding tissues if you exercise these muscles. This is why if you play often you will have less sleep apnea issues.

Sleep Apnea

If you're using a CPAP, use it a minimum of four hours nightly. It can be hard, at first, to get comfortable using it. However, in order to be effective, the CPAP has to be used for four hour every night. If it is hard and become difficult to adjust to in the beginning, then ensure you are using it at least four hours a night. Lose a few pounds if you happen to be overweight and suffer from sleep apnea. There is evidence that sleep apnea is correlated with 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. Eating healthier foods can help you deal with sleep apnea. A lot of sleep apnea sufferers are shocked by the role that a bad diet has in their affliction. Research indicates that less nutritious food may exacerbate sleep apnea. Have your dentist fit you for a custom mouth guard. These are made for people with sleep apnea. This can be an alternative to a CPAP machine, and can be more comfortable, to boot. The mouth guard keeps your jaw in the proper position and keeps your airway more open. Avoid using sleeping pills if you have sleep apnea. Relaxed throat muscles (caused by alcohol consumption as well as sleep medication) can contribute to an increase in sleep apnea. They may also cause complications for sleep apnea patients. Ask your doctor about sleeping aids that won't have a negative impact on your breathing.

Sleep Apnea

Try sleeping in a different position (such as on the side) rather than on your back. Sleeping on your back is attributed to a lot of people who suffer with sleep apnea. If you sleep on your back, you can cause your throat and mouth tissues to block the airways. Instead, you should sleep on your side and that can help your breathe much better. If you move around at night and tend to always wind up on your back, try propping yourself up with pillows. You can both shed unwanted pounds and reduce the effects of sleep apnea with a nutritious and healthy diet. Some people are surprised to learn how much a bad diet effects sleep apnea. Good nutrition can help many medical conditions, including sleep apnea. It is hard to know whether or not you are having difficulty breathing at night if you sleep alone. A video recorder can help you discover whether you are sleeping well or struggling. Remember that recording audio is equally important; medical professionals can tell a great deal from the sounds you make while you sleep. Avoid alcohol if you have sleep apnea. 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. Like the rest of your muscles, those around your throat and airway relax under the influence of alcohol, making it harder for you to maintain a proper air passage. If eliminating it is not an option, cut back and make sure you do it well before bedtime. Try to sleep on a regular schedule if you have sleep apnea. Your regular sleeping patterns already suffer due to your condition. A routine sleep pattern will discourage the condition from getting worse. So try and get into bed around the same times every night. Your kids may have 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. Use a device that is aimed at helping you with snoring. Snoring occurs when air passages are almost closed, while sleep apnea occurs when air passages are completely closed. It is sensible to get a tool that assists with snoring, since it might help with sleep apnea too. 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. Seek out something else rather than taking sleeping pills. Similar to alcohol, a sleeping pill will relax the muscles in your throat. There are also a myriad of other problems that can arise with the use of sleeping pills. There are ways to get to sleep that won't have a negative effect on your breathing; ask your doctor for advice. The effects of sleep apnea can be avoided with stronger throat muscles. When the soft tissue of the throat collapses, the airway becomes blocked and sleep apnea occurs. When your muscles are strenghthened they will not block your air passages.

Sleeping Pills

Start playing wind instruments. You can pick up a new skill, but more than that you are able to exercise and learn to control the very muscles that have to do with breathing. Working these muscles can reduce sleep apnea symptoms, by strengthening them and enabling you greater control over them. Make sure you don't take any sleeping pills after you find out you suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep medicines often contain relaxants which only make your airway more likely to collapse. Find other ways to solve your troubles with staying asleep, because sleep apnea mixed with sleeping pills can be a potentially life-threatening mix. How you sleep can affect your condition. Sleeping on one's side or stomach will go a long way toward making for easier breathing with sleep apnea. Use a foam wedge to raise the top part of your body higher. If you have an adjustable bed, raise the head by several inches for the best position. Your physician may suggest that you start recording your sleeping habits in order to zero in on your sleep apnea symptoms. All hours slept or spent awake should be recorded. Ask your partner to keep track of your snoring, movements, and whether you stop breathing at night. Your doctor will then be able to tell if you suffer from sleep apnea. If sleep apnea is causing you anxiety, soak in a bath before bedtime each night. When you take a bath in hot water, it calms your muscles and releases tension. You'll find that it's easier to get to sleep following a bath, and the odds of getting interrupted by apnea symptoms are much lower. Poor sleep interferes with your life in every area, and might even threaten your health over time. Take the steps needed to control sleep apnea, and start getting the quality sleep you deserve every night. Long-term lack of sleep can lead to slower response time and increased stress. Some types of sleep apnea are able to be corrected using oral appliances. Sometimes, a person's jaw is genetically shaped to encourage sleep apnea. These devices realign the jaw so that more air gets into your airways during the night.