How You Can Deal With Your Sleep Apnea

How You Can Deal With Your Sleep Apnea

Many people don't realize that sleep apnea can be potentially fatal over time if not diagnosed and treated by a doctor. This is why sleep apnea sufferers need to try their best to prevent all types of symptoms from occurring. By reading the article that follows, it is possible to get a good start on doing just that. Do you regularly smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol? Lose all your bad habits. Both of these things affect your airway negatively and compound your sleep apnea problem. Smoking can cause your airways to swell up while alcohol will make your airway more relaxed, which can cause sleep apnea. If you're not able to stop smoking and drinking, at least don't do them before you fall asleep.

Mouth Guard

To fight sleep apnea, try to eat a healthy diet. Normally people are quite surprised to learn that unhealthy eating is a major source of their sleep apnea. Research has proven that those who consume low quality food demonstrate more severe sleep apnea than even overweight folks who eat healthy. If your sleep apnea is the result of narrow airways, try using a mouth guard when you sleep. These gadgets correct your alignment, letting you breathe easily and normally throughout your sleeping hours. Speak with your doctor to learn more, and get yourself fitted for a mouth guard if you think it will help. Avoid drinking alcohol very often. Alcohol causes your muscles to relax. Although many people desire this side-effect of alcohol, it is not beneficial to people with 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 feel you must drink, try not to do it as often or before you go to sleep. Are nicotine and alcohol a part of your life? Drop these unhealthy habits. Both of these substances have a negative effect on your ability to breathe while sleeping. Smoking can actually swell your airways while alcohol can overly relax them; each causes sleep apnea. If it's too challenging to give up these habits entirely, you should at least avoid indulging in them as you approach your bedtime. Try something besides sleeping pills. Sleeping pills can cause just as many problems with your throat as alcohol consumption. They can also cause a significant number of additional complications for sleep apnea patients. Ask your physician about sleeping aids that are free of harmful effects or risks to your night-time breathing. Try losing weight if you are obese. Sleep apnea is directly associated with excess weight. Therefore, if you are obese, a loss of just 25 pounds can cause a major improvement in your apnea symptoms. In an effort to better diagnose your apnea problem, your physician might want you to maintain a sleep log. Keep track of how long you are able to sleep at night, as well as anything else related to your sleeping process. If you have a partner, they may be able to help document your snoring, jerky body movements and stoppage of breathing. This can help the doctor determine if you actually have sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea

Losing weight is a simple and proven effective method of decreasing your chances of suffering from sleep apnea. Getting rid of those extra pounds can help you with your sleep apnea. Even a nominal amount of weight loss will go a long way in improving your breathing at night. Sleep apnea is not to be taken lightly. If you see any signs, go get yourself an opinion right away. If he says you have sleep apnea you should go to a sleep specialist so that you can get tested further. Minimize your risk from the conditions causing sleep apnea. Some of these are unavoidable, like gender or genetics. On the other hand, certain risk factors, such as being fat, smoking cigarettes, and drinking alcohol, are entirely under your control. Instead of sleeping on your back, sleep on your side, which can help to avoid the symptoms of sleep apnea getting in the way of a peaceful night's sleep. The airway obstructions that cause sleep apnea are far more likely to occur if you sleep on your back than in any other position. Try to fall asleep on one of your sides to see if your symptoms get better. Do not sleep on your back if you have sleep apnea. Most apnea patients are "back sleepers", making it more likely that airway obstructions can occur. Prop yourself on your side using pillows or cushions. Try something besides sleeping pills. Sleeping pills can cause just as many problems with your throat as alcohol consumption. Taking sleeping pills can have a negative impact on other health conditions that those with sleep apnea may experience. If you have chronic insomnia, consult with your doctor about safe alternatives to sleeping pills. Some useful tongue exercises can help alleviate many sleep apnea symptoms. For three minutes, press your tongue up to the roof of your mouth. This strengthens the muscles throughout the airway passage and minimizes the likelihood of them interfering with breathing and sleep. Try using a chin strap if your mouth falls open when you sleep while using a CPAP each night. The chin strap holds your chin so that you cannot sleep with your mouth open; it is a tiny piece of fabric. The CPAP only works if the mouth is closed, so try using the strap. If you are taking a flight and bringing your CPAP machine, contact the airlines ahead of time. Almost all airlines will accommodate your need for extra space in order for you to use your equipment. If you are flying a foreign airline, remember to bring a universal power adapter. If you suffer from sleep apnea and have issues with your sinuses or allergies, have them treated as soon as possible. It will help you breath better in general, especially during your sleep. You don't want to have anything else that hinders your breathing while you sleep. It is important to keep your airways open and free from mucous and debris. Sleep apnea is stressful. Baths can help. A hot bath can help sooth your muscles to help you sleep better. By doing this, it will probably be easier to fall asleep, which will lead to a better night of sleep, rather than a night filled with constant interruptions from flare-ups of your sleep apnea. Use a single, normal-sized pillow for sleeping. If you use very thick pillows or many pillows, you may end up sleeping at an odd angle that hurts the free flow of air through your airways. Pillows that lift your head can cramp the airways that you need to be open to be able to breathe properly as you sleep. Because of this, you should really just have one good pillow to help with symptoms of sleep apnea. It's important not to ignore your sleep apnea; you have to take steps to treat it. If you leave your sleep apnea untreated, your symptoms are likely to worsen over time. Don't wait around for your lack of good sleep and snoring to get even worse. If you suspect sleep apnea, schedule a doctor visit now.

Nasal Spray

If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, try not to sleep on your back. When you fall asleep on your back, your airways may be more likely to collapse during the night, causing sleep apnea symptoms. If you do have sleep apnea then it's wise to go bed on your side. Gravity won't have as much of an effect on you then. Use nasal spray if you suffer from sleep apnea. Nasal spray can help clear out your airways. Avoid using this product for more than a few days because it may irritate the delicate tissues in your nose. Try other ways of opening this passage. A majority of sleep apnea sufferers sleep on their backs. If you sleep on your back with sleep apnea the change this right away. It's been proven that sleeping on the side of your body can greatly reduce the effects of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes many people considerable aggravation. The interruption of sleep and the feeling of being uncomfortable every day is something that drives a sleep apnea sufferer crazy, and it really makes their life unbearable for themselves and for the people they love. Be mindful of all that you have read in this article, and you can start crafting your individual treatment regimen for your sleep apnea. The problem of sleep apnea is made worse when you are chronically tired. Try to keep your sleep on a certain schedule to reduce this. Set yourself some guidelines as far as sleeping. You may be able to avoid a worsening of conditions this way, for example the risk of complete insomnia.