Tips On How To Reduce The Effects Of Sleep Apnea

Tips On How To Reduce The Effects Of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can harm your health and your life, not just your quality of sleep. This is why it's important for sleep apnea sufferers to educate themselves on the condition's causes and the different treatment options available to them. With the information contained in this article, you will have a great start. Losing some harmful vices to fight off sleep apnea. Smoking and drinking are some of the biggest offenders. Your respiratory system will not be happy with you if you drink all the time. When you smoke, you fill your lungs with carcinogens and cause severe damage. You will notice a decrease in sleep apnea symptoms by quitting these habits. Speak with a doctor about using corrective mouth pieces to control your symptoms of sleep apnea. If you have a narrow airway, recessed chin or small jaw, it is likely you have amplified sleep apnea effects. By aligning the position of your jaw and throat, you will find that you can sleep with fewer symptoms of sleep apnea. Are you a drinker or a smoker? Address your bad habits if you have sleep apnea problems. Your airways are affected by using both of these substances. Your throat can swell thanks to smoking, and alcohol relaxes your palate and allows it to drop to the back of your throat, which restricts your airway while you sleep. Avoid second-hand smoke and do not drink immediately before going to bed. Try losing weight if you are obese. Research has shown a clear link between sleep apnea and obesity. Losing twenty five pounds is enough for even the most obese of sleep apnea sufferers to experience some relief of their symptoms, and you may well experience positive results with more modest losses. If you're using a CPAP, use it a minimum of four hours nightly. It is hard for many patients to become accustomed to using the CPAP. Keep in mind your CPAP device should be used at least four hours per night for it to help you. Using it for the minimum of four hours a day will allow yourself to slowly transition to full time use.

Sleep Apnea

Test out sleeping on the side. Don't sleep on your back. When you sleep, your throat muscles relax, and back sleeping causes gravity to pull the relaxed muscles downward, restricting airflow. It's easier to breathe when looking to the side. If you move around at night and tend to always wind up on your back, try propping yourself up with pillows. Playing music on a wind instrument can be beneficial to your sleep apnea problems. Playing this kind of instrument strengthens your muscles in the upper airways. These muscles control the dilation of your airway and the stiffening of the airway walls. So, if you play this instrument on a daily basis, it will help to limit the sleep apnea symptoms which in turn will give you a good night's sleep. If you suffer from sleep apnea and are traveling, remember to bring the CPAP machine along. When sleep apnea affects you, do not attempt even a single night without your CPAP machine. Conveniently, your CPAP machine should have a bag included with it for easy travel. This can be used to transport the CPAP machine simply when not at home. Be sure to eat well and maintain a proper weight to help control your sleep apnea. Despite what you may think, diet plays a major part in the ability to sleep. Good nutrition can help many medical conditions, including sleep apnea. Treating allergies or sinus issues is an issue of the first order. Sleep apnea is a difficult enough condition to deal with. You don't need to deal with anything that will affect your breathing when you sleep. You need to keep your airways open, and remedying the slightest nasal condition will help you sleep better throughout the night. Cut back on your alcohol consumption. The natural effects of alcohol lead to over-relaxation of your muscles. While this is often considered a desirable effect, it can lead to 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 absolutely have to have a drink, don't do as much as you used to. And avoid having one close to bedtime. A great way to reduce the possibility of having sleep apnea is to lose weight. It's possible to get rid of this condition just by losing weight. Just losing a few percentage points of your starting weight can dramatically reduce your symptoms of sleep apnea, as well create more space in your throat and air passages. Sleeping by yourself can keep you from knowing if you have the symptoms of sleep apnea. One way to see is to set up a video camera to record yourself as you sleep. Make sure the video has sound as well, so that your doctor can hear your breathing. Losing weight can definitely help reduce sleep apnea's effects. The condition is common in overweight patients that have larger neck circumferences. Your breathing will be improved once you lose weight because the pressure will be reduced on the airway and your airflow will be increased.

Sleep Apnea

Having your sleep apnea diagnosed by your physician is important; however, some options for self-help may be beneficial to you. Losing weight and stopping smoking are always good, but are especially so for those who suffer from sleep apnea. Coffee, caffeine and alcohol should also be avoided before bed. If you suffer from sleep apnea and you use a CPAP, carry your medical ID. If you need medical attention, it's crucial that others realize that you've got sleep apnea and that you use a CPAP. The ID should say that you have this condition, you require a CPAP, and it should identify the pressure levels you require for effective treatment. Never sleep on your back if you experience the symptoms of sleep apnea. A lot of people suffering from apnea have problems with blocked airways because they sleep not on their side, but on their backs. A good way to get around this is to use a pillow so that you sleep on your side in bed. If you will be away from home and you're suffering with sleep apnea, always remember to bring along the CPAP machine with you. It is important that you always have the machine, even if you feel it is an inconvenience. The original packaging should have included a convenient carrying case for travel. You can transport your CPAP machine with you away from home. Sleep apnea will not disappear all by itself, you must have it treated. There are a variety of treatments that you can do, but they take time to work. Treatment options vary depending on the cause. One person will find relief by stopping the habit of smoking and drinking. Another person may find that losing weight is their solution. One of the most common treatments for sleep apnea are CPAP machines, which force air into the lungs while you sleep. Some prefer surgery to avoid daily contraptions. However you go about it, get help and your quality of life will improve. Sleep apnea sufferers know how stressful having this condition is. Life is hard not only for the sufferer of this condition, but also for those that surround them. Use the information provided here to map out your own battle plan against sleep apnea. Sleeping on your back can make your sleep apnea worse. That's why you need to sleep in an optimal position. Elevate your body by placing a foam wedge under it. Alternately, consider raising your bed top by a minimum of four inches.