Sleep Apnea Tips Everyone Should Know About

Sleep Apnea Tips Everyone Should Know About

Sleep apnea robs people of the essential restful night's sleep that no one can function without. You may be able to pick up some highly effective suggestions for treating your sleep apnea by checking out the advice presented below. A few simple changes could be all that stand between you and the healthy, natural sleep you deserve. Mouth guards can be custom fit. Specially made mouth guards are particularly focused for individuals suffering from sleep apnea. It's a good way to get around having to use a CPAP machine, and feels better to wear throughout the night. A mouth guard will work by positioning the jaw and tongue in a helpful way that will allow for easier breathing while asleep. Do you sometimes drink or smoke? Break these unhealthy habits right away. These items can harm your airways. Smoking swells up your airways, while drinking depresses your nervous system and muscles into excess relaxation. This can both cause and exacerbate sleep apnea. If you can't completely eliminate these habits, try avoiding them prior to bed. Reduce your consumption of alcohol. Alcohol causes your muscles to relax. While this is often considered a desirable effect, it can lead to sleep apnea. If you must drink, keep it to just a few, and stop drinking well before bedtime. This will keep your throat muscles from relaxing excessively. If you are a person who needs a drink sometimes, then aim to not drink it very frequently. Definitely do not drink any immediately before hitting the sheets at night. It is possible for children to suffer from sleep apnea. When you notice that your child wakes up tired each day, is hard to wake up in the morning, is angry or rude or their grades are suffering at school, poor sleep due to sleep apnea could be the culprit. The symptoms can be confused with those of ADHD, so it is important to speak with your doctor to see if sleep apnea is a possibility. Did you know that sleep apnea can afflict children? If your kid is acting out at school and cranky all the time, he might have sleep apnea. Sometimes parents mistakenly think these symptoms have to do with something like ADHD, and it is best that you talk to your child's doctor to find the true culprit.

Sleep Apnea

Try to sleep on your side at night. The chances of your airways being restricted are more likely when you sleep on your back. Do your best to fall asleep while on your side in an effort to reduce the symptoms of your apnea. Try something besides sleeping pills. Relaxed throat muscles (caused by alcohol consumption as well as sleep medication) can contribute to an increase in sleep apnea. There can also cause other problems if you are dealing with sleep apnea. There are ways to get to sleep that won't have a negative effect on your breathing; ask your doctor for advice. You need to have a complete physical exam and give a thorough medical history in order to get a sleep apnea diagnosis. After taking all this information, your family doctor may send you to see a sleep specialist. This doctor specializes in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders, and he will quite likely order a sleep study. There are several components to a sleep apnea diagnosis including a physical examination, a complete review of your medical history and a review of your family history. Your PCP may ask for a sleep study to be done by a sleep specialist. Take your CPAP anywhere you go, even if you make a trip to the hospital. Whether you have a planned hospitalization or you need to go to the emergency room, you should have your CPAP and mask available for use while you are there. This is because it is already customized to the pressure you need, and the mask won't be awkward. Having your own machine will make using a CPAP while in the hospital much easier. To actually diagnose your disorder, a doctor may require you to take notes in a sleep log. Write out how many times you wake up in the middle of the night, or how ofter you get tired throughout the day. Ask your partner to note anything unusual noticed during the night while you were sleeping. This will greatly help your doctor in diagnosing your condition. A good nasal spray can be helpful if you are having trouble breathing. Using nasal spray a couple of nights in a row should help you sleep. Nasal sprays with medications should not be used for many days in a row, however, because they can damage the nose. Many pharmacies have different over-the-counter options available to help keep your nasal passages open.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea never just disappears of its own free will; you have to do something about it. Every person is different, so while a particular treatment worked for someone else you know, it may not work for you. One good way to lessen sleep apnea episodes is by losing weight, but there are thin people who suffer from sleep apnea as well. The CPAP machine has been a very successful option for millions, and it does not involve any invasive procedures. Other people might just want to opt for surgery. Whatever route is best for you, getting treatment is key to living a happy, restful life. You need a regular sleep schedule if you suffer from sleep apnea. An irregular sleep pattern only aggravates the sleep apnea condition. 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. The key is to have a set time for going to bed, and rising as well. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, it is imperative that you stop smoking. Smoking causes swelling in the upper airway, which makes sleep apnea worse. To quit, try using nicotine replacement treatment or a cessation program. The first month is often the hardest for most smokers. The strength of the cravings will then decrease as the nicotine begins to leave your system. Try using a chin strap if your mouth falls open when you sleep while using a CPAP each night. This is a small piece of fabric that holds your chin up while you sleep and keeps you mouth closed. CPAP machines do not function with open mouths, so a chin strap can really save you. You can curtail the symptoms of this affliction by doing tongue exercises. Press your entire tongue up inside your mouth, and hold it there for at least a few minutes. This will make your throat stronger and prevent the muscles from relaxing too much during sleep and causing apnea. Not having enough sleep each day ends up harming all parts of your daily life, and will seriously affect your health. Start taking steps to conquer sleep apnea so you can finally get the sleep you deserve. Life can be hard; the least you can do is to get enough sleep! It's a good idea to try to sleep on your side rather than your back if you're struggling with sleep apnea. One method to prevent yourself from changing positions during sleep is to sew a spherical object like a tennis ball into your nightclothes. It does so by making it intolerable to sleep on your back.