Sleep Apnea: Get A Good Night's Sleep With These Helpful Tips

Sleep Apnea: Get A Good Night's Sleep With These Helpful Tips

You may be someone who snores and you may mistakenly feel that snoring is normal and not something that needs to be checked by a doctor. Without knowing it, you may have actually been fighting with sleep apnea for years, and snoring was only a minor symptom. If this sounds like your own situation, you need not worry. This article will be of great help. Do you regularly smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol? Lose all your bad 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 you can't completely eliminate these habits, try avoiding them prior to bed. Giving up smoking and drinking can help to improve your sleep apnea. Both of these bad habits make the airways relax too much, making sleep apnea worse. Giving up these habits can save you a lot of money as compared to expensive surgical procedures that might be needed later if you continue. Quit drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. Both of these cause muscles in your airway to relax, which can increase snoring and worsen sleep apnea. Remember that surgery and medications are expensive. Correcting bad habits is free.

Sleep Apnea

Regular practice on a wind instrument can minimize some of your sleep apnea symptoms. Research done by specialists in Germany indicates you can train your muscles in the upper airway by playing the didgeridoo. It helps to strengthen the muscles in the throat, which collapse during sleep apnea episodes. Regular playing can significantly reduce the occurrence of the symptoms of sleep apnea by allowing these muscle to function properly and letting you get a peaceful night's rest. Speak with a doctor about using corrective mouth pieces to control your symptoms of sleep apnea. The natural configuration of your jaw and airway passages may be conducive to the conditions associated with sleep apnea. You will get better rest if you use specialty devices to position yourself and align your jaw properly while sleeping. Go to the doctor to get a mouth guard that is custom made. These special guards are designed to help people who suffer with sleep apnea. The mouth guard is more comfortable to use than a CPAP machine that works by applying constant positive airway pressure. A mouth guard will work by positioning the jaw and tongue in a helpful way that will allow for easier breathing while asleep. If your doctor has prescribed a CPAP machine, try to wear it for about 4 hours every night. Sometimes it is hard for people to get used to the CPAP. However, it won't be effective if you don't use it every day. Try two hours at first if you must. The next week you should increase that amount to 4 hours. In the end, you should never use it less than 4 hours per night on a permanent basis. 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. Four hours of use every night is the minimum necessary time you need to realize the benefits of CPAP therapy. If you are having difficulty adjusting to it at first, try to make sure you at least use your CPAP four hours each time you sleep. Be sure to eat well and maintain a proper weight to help control your sleep apnea. It may surprise you how much eating poorly can affect your sleep apnea symptoms. Research indicates that less nutritious food may exacerbate sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is very serious. If you have symptoms of sleep apnea, be sure to speak with your doctor immediately. A specialist in sleep disorders can order the tests necessary to diagnose the condition. Get a chin strap to keep your mouth closed when you are sleeping with a CPAP or BIPAP machine. This device keeps your jaw up as you sleep. Your mouth needs to remain closed for CPAP therapy to be effective. 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. Sleeping on your back can obstruct your airways and cause apnea. Be sure you try sleeping on your side to get rid of a few of your problems caused by sleep apnea at night. Bring your CPAP on all the trips you go on during your travels. It is important that you always have the machine, even if you feel it is an inconvenience. Most CPAP machines have convenient and durable carrying cases. The bag should be used to secure your CPAP during all of your travels. To get a diagnosis for sleep apnea, your doctor may have you write a sleep log. All hours slept or spent awake should be recorded. Your spouse can inform you of any excessive snoring, jerking, or momentary lapses in your breathing. With this information, your doctors can make a final determination on whether or not you suffer from sleep apnea. Don't forget to bring your CPAP along when you need to stay in the hospital. While a hospital will have CPAP machines, you may be much more comfortable with a machine that already fits you well. 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. If you have sleep apnea, consider dropping some weight. Some people are able to almost completely eliminate their sleep apnea with weight loss. Even a little weight loss can improve the symptoms of sleep apnea and cause the airways and throat to open up more.

Sleep Apnea

Try a device marketed to help with snoring. Snoring is caused by mostly-closed airways, and apnea is fully-closed airways. If you can reduce the snoring, it is possible you can keep your airways open. If you have mild sleep apnea, an anti-snoring device may be enough to help with your condition. Sleep apnea sufferers should treat their allergies promptly. Sleep apnea is already robbing you of your ability to breathe well during your sleep. You really don't want anything else impacting your air flow during sleep. Keep your throat and airway as clear as you possibly can at all times. Minimize the risk factors associated with sleep apnea. Certain risk factors that are associated with the condition cannot be controlled, such as being a man or having a family history of it. If you are an alcoholic, a smoker or are overweight, changing these factors may eliminate your sleep apnea. Use a single, average-sized pillow for your head at night. Using more than one pillow, or one that is too large, can make you sleep in an odd position. Sleeping in this way may prevent easy breathing. So find a normal size pillow that is comfortable and doesn't contort your airway because this will help you sleep better and breathe easier. Strengthening the muscles of your throat can be an effective way to reduce the risk of sleep apnea. The cause of sleep apnea is a blockage in the airways which results in a lack of an ability to breathe. Stronger muscles are not as likely to collapse. Find ways to decrease the risk factors of our sleep apnea. Genetic and congenital risks cannot be altered, but lifestyle changes can be made. On the other hand, certain risk factors, such as being fat, smoking cigarettes, and drinking alcohol, are entirely under your control. Some people become anxious due to their sleep apnea and make the mistake of taking sedatives before bed, which can be dangerous for apnea sufferers. Take a warm bath instead. The warm water will relax and soothe your muscles. This will help you get to sleep and stay asleep rather than having constant sleep apnea interruptions.

Sleep Apnea

If you suffer from sleep apnea this is a good way to get better sleep. Set yourself a regular bedtime and stick to it. Also try to create an environment that is conducive to getting restful sleep. If your room is not, insomnia might set in. Try not to sleep on your back if you have sleep apnea. Most sleep apnea patients spend the night on their backs and that can interfere with the airways. To prevent yourself from rolling over while you sleep, use pillows or cushions. You may be unaware of your snoring or breathing problems that could be sleep apnea. If you happen to feel sleepy, tired and exhausted all the time, then it's best that you consult with a doctor. Common symptoms of sleep apnea include unexplained exhaustion and falling asleep during the day. Sleep apnea will not go away by itself; you need to treat it. Depending on the person, some treatment options will work well, while others will not. For some, weight loss can help, but even slender people can suffer from sleep apnea. CPAP machines and other non-invasive therapies have worked for millions of apnea sufferers. Some prefer surgery to avoid daily contraptions. Which ever way you go, the key is to get it treated so you can live a peaceful life. Be in constant contact with your physician with regards to a recently diagnosed case of sleep apnea. Your doctor should be able to provide you with helpful information and tips on your health condition. Plan on keeping in touch with your doctor and letting them know about how the treatment is going. There are several things that can trigger sleep apnea and there are many treatments. What you read today is a great starting point, and it gave you a solid foundation of knowledge about this condition, so pass to anyone who is dealing with this problem. You are well on your way to a great night's sleep. If you think you suffer from sleep apnea, get an official diagnosis from your family physician. This is a very complicated condition, one that requires the help of a medical professional. Speak to your doctor about your symptoms, and he will be able to determine the cause of your problems and develop a treatment plan that is right for you.