Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Getting Treatment Is Key

Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Getting Treatment Is Key

Far too many people find themselves not getting enough sleep at night, but they often do not realize that their fatigue may be caused by a sleep disorder. One such disorder is sleep apnea, which results from obstructed airways during sleep. If you think you might have sleep apnea, keep reading to find out more. If you have narrow air passages, consider a mouth guard. These can help you breathe better and clear your airways. Speak with your doctor to see if you should get a specially fitted mouth guard. Consult with your doctor about getting a mouth piece. The natural configuration of your jaw and airway passages may be conducive to the conditions associated with sleep apnea. You can get better rest if you wear a custom mouth guard that aligns your jaw properly. To help deal with sleep apnea effectively, you should speak with your doctor to help him show you what CPAP machine works best. Among other considerations, inquire about how big the machine is and how noisy it is when it is operating. There are some very small and quiet machines available. Your doctor will help you find one that is well made.

Sleep Apnea

Do you smoke and drink alcohol? Drop these unhealthy habits. Both have a negative influence on your air passages. Smoking can actually swell your airways while alcohol can overly relax them; each causes sleep apnea. If you can't quit, at least don't drink or smoke right before going to bed. Shed a bit of weight if you can. Studies have shown sleep apnea and obesity can be related. Alternatively, if you shed twenty five pounds you can see a tremendous improvement in the symptoms of sleep apnea, especially if you are dealing with obesity. Limit your alcohol consumption. Your muscles get relaxed too much. While this may be something you desire, it tends to create the problem of sleep apnea. Your muscles will relax and collapse, which will make you snore and possibly cough through the night. If you absolutely must drink, then do it in moderation and certainly not right when you're about to go to sleep. Don't drink a lot of alcohol. Alcohol is a natural muscle relaxant. This might be something you want to do but it can also exacerbate your 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. Sleeping on one of your sides when you have sleep apnea can help you sleep better. By sleeping on your back, you'll notice that your throat and nasal passages may become obstructed. Try to fall asleep on one of your sides to see if your symptoms get better. Avoid relying on sleeping pills. The muscles in your throat relax too much when you use a sedative like sleeping pills, (or alcohol) and your airway is much more likely to collapse during sleep. They also can cause other harmful issues to make your sleep apnea worse. Speak with your health professional about something that can help you sleep without harming your breathing patterns. Sleep while on your side. A lot of people who suffer from sleep apnea are back sleepers. Sleeping one one's back can cause constriction of the throat muscles. Making an effort to stay off your back will help to give you a better night of sleep. If you tend to lay on your back while sleeping, prop yourself on your side using pillows. If when using a CPAP machine your mouth still falls open, use a chin strap. Invest a little money into a CPAP machine to assist you during sleep. CPAP machines do not function with open mouths, so a chin strap can really save you. Are you not having any success at improving your symptoms of sleep apnea? If so, then visit your doctor and ask him or her about other options you can utilize. A lot of people do not do well on some of the treatments, requiring complicated surgeries to enhance their airway.

Sized Pillow

Weight loss is an effective tactic in combating sleep apnea in many cases. Many sufferers of sleep apnea have found that shedding their unwanted pounds makes their sleep apnea go away entirely. Even losing a little weight can improve sleep apnea by opening the throat and airway, because there is less pressure on the neck. Use a single, normal-sized pillow for sleeping. An over-sized pillow or multiple pillows can actually skew your position. 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. Stop smoking as soon as you find out you have sleep apnea. Your sleep apnea will worsen because smoking causes swelling in the upper respiratory system. If you are struggling to quit, join a program, or try using nicotine-replacement therapy, such as patches. The majority of smokers say that the first month is the hardest. The physical cravings should leave your body after four days, and then you should only need to deal with the simple act of finding replacement things to do. Once you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you need to pursue an effective treatment plan so that you can find relief. Adequate nightly sleep is essential to health and happiness. Apply all that you have learned in this article so that you really can both sleep soundly at night and live fully during the day. You can cut down on the sleep apnea symptoms you experience by making your throat muscles stronger. Sleep apnea occurs when the tissues in your throat collapse into the airways, which ends up obstructing your breathing. When the muscles have strengthened, collapsing is less likely to occur, thus keeping your airways free.