Simple Solutions To Your Sleep Apnea Questions

Simple Solutions To Your Sleep Apnea Questions

If you have sleep apnea, you understand how troublesome it can be. Getting enough sleep is an essential part of a productive, happy lifestyle. Luckily, you can do something about it. Read the following tips to help you treat you sleep apnea. Try using a mouth guard that's custom-fitted for you. These special guards are designed to help people who suffer with sleep apnea. It provides a more comfortable option to using a CPAP machine. It keeps your air passageways wide open and clear by stabilizing your throat and holding it in the proper position.

Sleep Apnea

You must use your CPAP at least 4 hours nightly after receiving your unit. It can be extremely difficult for some patients to get used to sleeping with a CPAP. However, you must use your CPAP a minimum of four hours for it to be effective. If you still have trouble adjusting, get at least four hours and try to add more time each night. One of the reasons many people suffer from sleep apnea is because they are carrying excessive weight. If this happens to be the problem then anyone dealing with sleep apnea should immediately shed this weight. The best way to lose weight is to become physically active with exercise at least four times per week and eat less food calories than are burned off each day by activity. Restriction of carbohydrates is shown to help those wanting to shed pounds. Children are susceptible to sleep apnea. If your child is inattentive, hyperactive, has poor grades, is irritable or hostile, and/or breathes through their mouth instead of their nose, they could be suffering from sleep apnea. 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. Get through sleep apnea by consulting with your practitioner about getting a CPAP machine. The size of the machine and the loudness are both things that need to be considered. Some are as small as a loaf of bread and quiet as a whisper. A doctor will be able to give advice on machines that they know their patients have had very good luck with. Attempt to sleep on the side to get a full night of rest in spite of apnea. Back sleeping promotes airway obstruction. Try to fall asleep on one of your sides to see if your symptoms get better. Don't drink alcohol to excess. Alcohol relaxes the muscles too much. Drinking alcohol will make it hard for you to get through the night if you have sleep apnea. Your throat muscles become relaxed and cause your airways to become blocked. If you absolutely must drink, then do it in moderation and certainly not right when you're about to go to sleep. Try to avoid sleeping pills. Just like alcohol, these medications relax your throat when you sleep. They're also known for causing other problems in those that have to deal with sleep apnea. Consult with your physician on sleep remedies that won't hinder your breathing. If you are lacking someone to sleep next to you it might be hard to tell if you suffer from sleep apnea. Therefore, record yourself sleeping at night by putting a video camcorder in your room. Make sure the video has sound as well, so that your doctor can hear your breathing. When you have sleep apnea you can find out about it from tests your doctor will run. A sleep study can also shed some light on your sleep problems. Your primary physician may find that the best course of action is to send you to see a sleep specialist. These doctors have the specialized expertise necessary to diagnose and treat many sleep disorders including sleep apnea. Use a chin strap if you find your mouth continuing to fall open while you sleep with a CPAP machine. It is a simple cloth strap that can easily hold up your chin as you sleep. CPAP devices don't work well when your mouth is wide open, so this device can help. Avoid medications that are designed to help you sleep. These will make your throat muscles too soft, and your air passages will not work right. Sleeping pills could cause injury or death if your sleep apnea is particularly severe. It can be difficult to stay asleep when you have sleep apnea, but you need to use other methods, such as a CPAP. In conclusion, there are many ways for coping with sleep apnea. Use the advice from above to start sleeping better. As soon as you begin to get a good night's sleep, your entire life will change for the better. Remember to bring the CPAP machine with you if you should happen to require a stay at the hospital. If you are scheduled for hospitalization or if you go to emergency, you should make available your CPAP machine and mask. This is preset to your breathing pressure. In addition, you'll be using the same mask you've been accustomed to using each night. Staying in a hospital is tough enough, and you might as well bring your own machine along to help ease the visit as much as you can.