Understanding What The Causes Of Sleep Apnea Are

Understanding What The Causes Of Sleep Apnea Are

Many people don't realize that sleep apnea can be potentially fatal over time if not diagnosed and treated by a doctor. If you are one of the many people who suffer from this condition, it is crucial to educate yourself on not only treatments, but also the root causes. With the information contained in this article, you will have a great start. Being overweight can be a cause of sleep apnea. If this is the case, a sleep apnea sufferer should try to lose weight. There should be a weight loss plan in place that restricts calories. Exercising should be a part of this plan as well. After a couple of weeks you should see a difference with how much sleep apnea effects you.

Mouth Guard

To help with your sleep apnea, you need to consult with your doctor about the best CPAP machine to use. You should consider the size and volume of the device before you decide to get one. There are some very small and quiet machines available. The doctor will know which manufacturers offer the best machines. Using a mouth guard specifically made for sleep apnea sufferers may help you sleep better. These mouth guards correct airways and facilitate breathing. If you think a mouth guard might help you out, consult a physician and ask her to fit you with one. Do you smoke and drink? If the answer is yes and you have sleep apnea, you need to stop both habits. Both of these substances have a negative effect on your ability to breathe while sleeping. Smoking and alcohol combined can definitely cause sleep apnea. If you can't completely eliminate these habits, try avoiding them prior to bed. Ask your doctor about a corrective mouth piece for your sleep apnea symptoms. There may be genetic reasons you suffer from sleep apnea. Your airway may be naturally thin or your jaw may interfere with breathing during sleep. You will get better rest if you use specialty devices to position yourself and align your jaw properly while sleeping. Try quitting smoking and drinking alcohol if you have sleep apnea. Both of these bad habits make the airways relax too much, making sleep apnea worse. While quitting these habits may not stop your sleep apnea episodes entirely, you will be healthier overall and save money at the same time. If you have sleep apnea, consider learning how to play a wind instrument. A German study has shown that playing wind instruments such as the digeridoo will help your sleep apnea. These muscles are responsible for opening and closing your airway, as well as controlling the stiffness of the airway. Because weaknesses in these muscles can cause apnea, playing regularly may actually help you sleep better at night. Taking up a musical instrument (especially a wind instrument) can have a positive effect on your sleep apnea. A German study found that didgeridoo playing gives you better motor control over your airways. It helps to strengthen the muscles in the throat, which collapse during sleep apnea episodes. For this reason, playing regularly helps you get a good night of rest by limiting the symptoms of sleep apnea and snoring. Get fitted for a specialty made mouth guard. Sleep apnea patients can have mouth guards that are custom made specifically to treat their condition. It provides a more comfortable option to using a CPAP machine. Your airway will stay open wider and the guard will provide added stability for your throat. Get fitted for a specialty made mouth guard. These are made especially for those suffering from sleep apnea. It is a more comfortable alternative to using a CPAP machine. The mouth guard keeps your jaw in the proper position and keeps your airway more open. If your doctor has prescribed a CPAP machine for you, make sure you use it every night, for at least 4 hours. It can be extremely difficult for some patients to get used to sleeping with a CPAP. However, in order to be effective, the CPAP has to be used for four hour every night. You'll be comfortable using it on a regular basis in no time. It's best to lay on your side to sleep when you have sleep apnea. Many sufferers of sleep apnea sleep on their backs. When you lay on your back during sleep, the tongue and soft palate shift to the back, which obstructs your airway. It is best to sleep on your side when you can. If you have trouble staying off of your back, sew a tennis ball into the back of your sleeping clothes. This will help you stay on your side while you're sleeping.

Sleep Apnea

You can wear a chin strap with your CPAP if you have problems with your mouth falling open as you sleep. It's simply fabric that keeps your chin up and mouth closed. Your CPAP machine cannot function properly if your mouth hangs open. Using a chin strap may help. Fighting back against sleep apnea often involves eating healthier and losing weight. Not everyone is aware of just how significantly bad dietary choices can affect a sleep apnea condition. People who don't eat healthy food have the worst sleep apnea conditions. Use only one, regular-sized pillow to sleep at night. Your head position can be altered from the optimal sleeping position when you use oversized or multiple pillows. This may put you in a position that can adversely affect your breathing. So pick out a single pillow you feel comfortable with to sleep on at night. If you wear a CPAP for your sleep apnea symptoms, but are still bothered by your mouth opening when you try to sleep, get a chin strap. A chin strap is a fabric strip that prevents your chin from falling during the night, which in turn keeps your mouth closed. CPAP therapy will not work if your mouth is open, so try this simple device to see if it fixes the problem. Weight loss can have a major impact on those with sleep apnea. Being overweight and large around the neck are often indications of sleep apnea. If you shed some pounds you will see that your airways will not be as constricted. If you are using a CPAP to treat sleep apnea, be sure to take it when you're going to the hospital. Whether the stay is for a planned surgery or sudden emergency, make sure you have access to your CPAP for the duration of your stay. It already has your pressure settings dialed in, and your mask is something your used to wearing at night. Even if you are hospitalized, you can seamlessly continue using your CPAP in this manner. Having your sleep apnea diagnosed by your physician is important; however, some options for self-help may be beneficial to you. If you lose weight and quit smoking you will be able to combat sleep apnea. Also, stay away from large meals, caffeine and alcohol a few hours before going to sleep. If you have tried many treatment options and nothing works, then it is time to contact your doctor for more serious treatment alternatives. If less invasive treatments do not work, it is sometimes necessary to perform surgical procedures such as adenoid and tonsil removal and/or airway enlargement. Spending time exercising your throat muscles may significantly increase the complications of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when the tissues in your throat collapse into the airways, which ends up obstructing your breathing. If your muscles are stronger, their chances of collapsing and blocking your airways are minimized.

Sleep Apnea

If you are a sleep apnea sufferer, it is best to avoid drinking alcohol. Snoring and airway blockages are made worse by over-relaxed throat muscles, and this is something that heavy drinking can cause. If you can, avoid all alcohol or make sure not to drink at all at least 4 hours before bedtime. You don't need alcohol to compound your issues with sleep apnea, and following this advice will help alleviate that. There is no debate about the frustration that is often brought on by sleep apnea. The symptoms that characterize this condition often make people very unhappy. Take the guidance in this article to heart, and begin drafting your personal plan of attack in the battle against sleep apnea. Sleeping face-up can worsen sleep apnea symptoms, so make an effort to face sideways when sleeping. One trick to prevent yourself from accidentally rolling onto your back in the night is to attach a lumpy object to the back of your pajamas. The discomfort of the ball will keep you from staying on your back as you sleep.