Understanding What The Causes Of Sleep Apnea Are

Understanding What The Causes Of Sleep Apnea Are

If you or someone you know isn't sleeping enough or is fatigued, then this may be caused by a condition called sleep apnea. You should never ignore the condition of sleep apnea, and if you have a sleep partner, they should know of the problem, too. Read through this article to learn more. Talk to a physician about the right CPAP machine for you. The noise level of a CPAP machine and its overall size are both points to take into consideration. There are some very small and quiet machines available. Your physician can recommend the best manufacturers in the industry. Depending on the condition that is causing your sleep apnea, you may be able to find a simple tool to improve your sleep. A mouth guard opens your airway and facilitate nighttime breathing. If this sounds like a solution worth pursuing, discuss the matter with your doctor and schedule a fitting for a guard of your own. If your doctor prescribes a mouth guard, make sure it is properly fitted. Mouth guards help keep your jaw in a proper position. The mouth guard is more comfortable to use than a CPAP machine that works by applying constant positive airway pressure. The mouth guard keeps your jaw in the proper position and keeps your airway more open. Do you smoke and drink alcohol? Eliminate bad habits. These items can harm your airways. Inflammation is caused by smoking and alcohol use causes your airways to collapse, both of which can produce sleep apnea symptoms. If it is not possible for you to quit cold turkey, then try not to smoke or drink immediately before bedtime. Eating well can help you become thinner, which can often reduce sleep apnea symptoms. It's surprising how much an unhealthy diet can affect sleep apnea. Studies show that people who eat low quality foods suffer from apnea worse than overweight people that eat healthy foods.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can be present in children. Signs of sleep apnea in kids includes hyperactivity, hostility and breathing through their mouth. Such symptoms may mimic ADHD, so discuss the matter with your family physician and consider the possibility that your child has sleep apnea. If you are obese, start a weight loss program. Obesity is linked to sleep apnea according to certain studies. If you slim down, you may see a marked difference in how your sleep apnea affects you. 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. When we sleep on our backs, the nasal and throat passages are more prone to obstructing the air-ways. If you can get to sleep lying on your side (and stay that way through the night), you may well experience a much less trouble night. Make yourself wear your CPAP for four hours while you sleep, at the least. Some individuals have a lot of trouble getting used to CPAP masks in their sleep. Good health over the long term is what is important, and you need to build up the amount of time you use it until you can use it throughout the night. If you still have trouble adjusting, get at least four hours and try to add more time each night. Try out different things besides pills to help you sleep. In the same way that alcohol does, sleeping pills over-relax throat muscles. There can also cause other problems if you are dealing with sleep apnea. Speak with your health professional about something that can help you sleep without harming your breathing patterns. Children can also suffer from sleep apnea. If your child exhibits any of the symptoms associated with sleep deprivation, such as chronic irritability, hostility and a drop in their grades, you might be looking at a case of sleep apnea. Such symptoms may mimic ADHD, so discuss the matter with your family physician and consider the possibility that your child has sleep apnea. Try sleeping in a different position (such as on the side) rather than on your back. Many folks afflicted with sleep apnea rest on their backs. When you lay on your back during sleep, the tongue and soft palate shift to the back, which obstructs your airway. Breathing is much simpler when you sleep on one of your sides. Support yourself with pillows so that you won't end up on your back at night.

Sleeping Aids

If when using a CPAP machine your mouth still falls open, use a chin strap. This little piece of fabric can work wonders to hold your chin that your breathing is not interrupted. The CPAP only works if the mouth is closed, so try using the strap. Look for other sleeping aids besides sleeping pills. Similar to alcohol, a sleeping pill will relax the muscles in your throat. There are a variety of other problems that they can cause as well, so be cautious of using them. Ask your doctor about sleeping aids that won't have a negative impact on your breathing. Always carry ID on you if you're a sleep apnea sufferer who uses a CPAP machine. Upon need for help and medical attention, your condition must be known. The ID needs to include all of the medical information pertaining to your CPAP use. You may not even realize you have sleep apnea. If you have no wife or husband to tell you, you be unaware you stop breathing at night. One way to see is to set up a video camera to record yourself as you sleep. Make sure any video you make includes an audio stream, since certain noises are clues that you may suffer from sleep apnea. Don't use more than one standard pillow. 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. This means that your position is actually making it harder for you to breathe. Because of this, you should really just have one good pillow to help with symptoms of sleep apnea. If you suffer from sleep apnea, do not take pills. They can cause muscles in your throat more than usual due to the relaxation it causes. Having a bad sleep apnea case could make these pills a dangerous option. It may be tempting to use these pills to sleep better, but it's not worth the risk. Think about using nasal spray if your nasal passages are stopped up. You can experience a few nights of untroubled sleep using such a product. Do not use nasal spray over long periods of time: this could damage your nose and cause irritation. Talk to a pharmacist to see which spray they recommend.

Sleep Apnea

Try losing weight to deal with your sleep apnea. People who are overweight usually suffer from sleep apnea more. Weight loss makes a big difference in the amount of pressure put on your airways and can improve your breathing. This article offered some great ways to deal with your sleep apnea. Remember that ignoring a sleep apnea problem will not make it go away, and can even expose you to further risk. This information can be shared with others to educate them about sleep apnea. If you have sleep apnea, do not sleep laying on your back. Most people who have sleep apnea are back sleepers, which means that their airways constrict easier. Prop yourself up on your side with a pillow or cushions.