Sleep Apnea: Know What The Symptoms Are

Sleep Apnea: Know What The Symptoms Are

If a member of your family or you yourself have recently received a sleep apnea diagnosis, you may be suffering from a lack of information on potential treatments for the condition. Are you aware of which option will actually fit your situation best? Learning what you need to know is as simple as continuing to read this article for great advice. If you want to ease your sleep apnea, it's crucial that you speak with your physician regarding CPAP machines and which is best for you. These machines might be loud, but they can help you get through the night. Certain machines are actually smaller than your average bread box, and they whisper quietly. Your doctor will be familiar with them, so be sure to tap his knowledge. Get a mouth guard to help you sleep at night. These can help you breathe better and clear your airways. Speak with your doctor to learn more, and get yourself fitted for a mouth guard if you think it will help. Do you smoke and drink alcohol? Eliminate bad habits. These substances influence your airways. Smoking can actually swell your airways while alcohol can overly relax them; each causes sleep apnea. If you find that you just can't give these bad habits up, do what you can to not do either of them within four hours of your bedtime. Try cutting out cigarettes and alcohol if you have sleep apnea. Both habits cause the muscles of the airway to relax, which increases both snoring and sleep apnea. Unlike those medical interventions or pricey surgeries, eliminating these habits can save you money. Shed a bit of weight if you can. Sleep apnea and obesity are often tied together. Losing a little weight can have a big affect on your sleep apnea. Try a calorie restriction diet and exercise. If you have been prescribed a CPAP for sleep apnea, make an honest effort to use it at least four hours a night. Some find that it can be uncomfortable to use at first, but the point is to use it and ward off trouble. Use your CPAP as often as prescribed by your doctor, and make sure it fits properly. If you have a tough time with it, be sure you have the right size mask, and that the pressure is working right. If your doctor prescribes a mouth guard, make sure it is properly fitted. For those who have sleep apnea, this guard is a wonderful thing to have. It is a great alternative to CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) and is much more comfortable to wear at night. These mouth guards help you by making sure your airways remain open by giving your soft tissues a stabilizing hand.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep while on your side. Sleeping on your back is more likely to cause snoring and apnea. Sleeping one one's back can cause constriction of the throat muscles. Sleeping on your side makes breathing significantly easier. If you tend to roll onto your back in your sleep, try propping yourself on one side with pillows. Sleep Apnea also affects children. 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. This swath of symptoms is not unlike ADHD, but you should have your doctor check out the possibility of sleep apnea to know for sure. If you're a sleep apnea sufferer undergoing CPAP treatment, don't forget to take your machine along if you're going to the hospital. Your CPAP and your mask should be with you for both planned stays and trips to an emergency room. It already has your pressure settings dialed in, and your mask is something your used to wearing at night. All of this will mean much better sleep for you with your CPAP, if you need hospitalization for any length of time. Many people don't realize that sleep apnea is not something to ignore and can be potentially dangerous if left untreated. If you find you have some of the symptoms, talk to a physician as soon as you can. Once you have been diagnosed, your next step will be a sleep specialist, who may administer a sleeping test using a small monitor to determine the extent of your condition. If you're not finding that anything is helping with your sleep apnea condition, talking to a doctor about various treatment options is recommended. Standard treatment vectors of sleep apnea do not work for certain individuals, and they wind up going in for surgical options. These can include tonsil removal and airway enlargements.

Sleep Apnea

Weight loss can be a big help for those that suffer from sleep apnea. Sometimes, sleep apnea is due to the excess weight around the neck area. Your breathing will be improved once you lose weight because the pressure will be reduced on the airway and your airflow will be increased. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, avoid sleeping pills. You will relax your throat muscles this way and you will not get as much from your sleep. This can be deadly when combined with sleep apnea. Sleeping pills are a bad idea. Don't go to sleep on your back if you have sleep apnea. A common sleeping position for most people suffering from sleep apnea is on their backs. As a result, it's easy for airways to get blocked. If you keep turning on your back, position several pillows behind your back to help keep you on your side. A medical ID is a must for those being assisted by a CPAP machine. It may be a vital piece of information if you need emergency medical care and unable to give that information. This ID should state that you've got sleep apnea, that you're using CPAP therapy, and that your machine has a specific pressure level that it must be set to. If you are a sleep apnea sufferer, it is best to avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol makes the throat muscles over-relax, resulting in blocked airways and snoring. You should either quit drinking, or try and limit it to an occasional drink before going to bed. You'll be less likely to suffer from alcohol-related sleep disturbances this way. Having the right information is the first step to a successful treatment. The more you know about sleep apnea, the more able you will be to find the proper course of action. The advice in the article below can give you a place to begin to learn more. Remember that you need not feel embarrassed by your CPAP machine and your treatments. You need not be self-conscious about your need to use a CPAP machine; be upfront about its medical necessity with friends, relatives, and room-mates. If you have to use a CPAP machine your family and friends should not make fun of it.