Untreated Sleep Apnea Can Have Serious Consequences

Untreated Sleep Apnea Can Have Serious Consequences

You're not going to solve your sleep apnea problem simply by talking about it! If you have this condition, it is important to take steps to treat it. Having knowledge on effective treatments is a solid way to start. The article below will show you some of the ways that you can help yourself. Try using a mouth guard to help you sleep. These special guards are designed to help people who suffer with sleep apnea. This is a good alternative to using the CPAP machine. The mouth guard helps by keeping the airway open and providing stability for the soft tissues. Quit smoking and drinking. Both of these habits are known to make your airway's muscles relax. This will increase your snoring as well as other symptoms of sleep apnea. Quitting these habits may help you avoid costly and invasive surgery in the future. Sleep apnea is a serious health condition. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, see your doctor right away. After the diagnosis, you may be asked to take a sleep test, either at home or at a facility that specializes in sleep disorder testing. 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 are the muscles that control airway dilatation and airway wall rigidity. Due to this, regular play can translate into good sleep at night. Without a partner in your bed to tell you how you sleep, you may not know that you experience sleep apnea. You can always set up a camcorder to make a video of a typical night's sleep. Whatever video system you set up also need an audio component, since your physicians are going to need to hear the sounds you make.

Chin Strap

Do you travel frequently? If so, then do not forget to bring along your CPAP. Once you have your CPAP machine, do not skip using it at any time. A travel bag with good padding probably came with your machine. You can use it to carry your CPAP easily and safely anytime you leave home. Try using a chin strap if your mouth falls open when you sleep while using a CPAP each night. The chin strap will help hold you chin up during the time you are sleep which keeps your mouth closed. The CPAP only works if the mouth is closed, so try using the strap. If you are not having any luck managing your apnea, you may want to talk to a doctor about more radical treatments. If less invasive treatments do not work, it is sometimes necessary to perform surgical procedures such as adenoid and tonsil removal and/or airway enlargement. Be sure to treat allergies and sinus issues right away if you suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea makes breathing during sleep hard. You really don't want anything else impacting your air flow during sleep. Making sure your airway isn't obstructed is your best bet to getting good sleep. Stop snoring devices are often helpful in treating sleep apnea. While apnea involves complete blockage of the airways, snoring is similar in that partial airway obstruction is what causes it. It actually makes sense that your device can assist with the latter if it can help you with the former. Devices that reduce or eliminate snoring can lessen sleep apnea symptoms. If you have tried everything to no avail, be sure to see your doctor about professional treatment. Not everyone responds to the standard treatment for sleep apnea, and some may need to do something a little more drastic, including surgical techniques. Don't sleep facing upwards if you are a sleep apnea sufferer. Most sleep apnea patients spend the night on their backs and that can interfere with the airways. Lie on your side and support yourself with pillows to avoid rolling onto your back. Find ways to decrease the risk factors of our sleep apnea. However, there are risk factors which aren't changeable, such as being a male or that the condition is prevalent in your family. So make sure you try to avoid doing things like this so you don't get sleep apnea. You should not be embarrassed of your diagnosis or your CPAP machine. Use it when you need to, and make others aware that it is necessary to your health and well-being. Keep in mind that using your CPAP machine is in your best interest, and if anyone makes fun of you, you should probably find better friends.

Sleep Apnea

How you sleep can determine how many sleep apnea occurrences you have. Sleeping on one's side or stomach will go a long way toward making for easier breathing with sleep apnea. Lift your body up on a foam wedge. Or, if you can, raise the top of your bed by at least four inches. You need to have patience when you realize you have sleep apnea. Different people find relief through different forms of treatment. Although losing weight is known to reduce sleep apnea symptoms, people who are thin suffer also. Non-invasive options like the CPAP machine are highly successful for millions of sufferers. Some individuals prefer a surgical procedure which relieves airways restrictions. Whatever path you choose, having any kind of treatment done is the secret to resuming a full and rich lifestyle. If you suffer from snoring or sleep apnea, learn to play an instrument. Not only is this habit soothing, but a European research project showed that learning wind instruments like the Didgeridoo significantly cuts back on the problems of sleep apnea. Mastering this music form means you can retain control of your respiratory system. You should never smoke if you are dealing with sleep apnea. Swelling of the airways occurs when one smokes; this makes sleep apnea worse. To give up smoking, try any cessation program. Nicotine replacements are also good choices. For most individuals, the first month is the worst. The nicotine will be out of your system at this point. Sleep apnea may make you feel anxious. Take a warm bath before bed to calm down and induce good sleep. When you bathe in hot water, it calms your muscles and melts away tension. By doing this, it will probably be easier to fall asleep, which will lead to a better night of sleep, rather than a night filled with constant interruptions from flare-ups of your sleep apnea. With everything you learned you should feel a bit more optimistic about your future. Try the treatments you think might work for you for a deeper sleep. Through a nice relaxing sleep, you will eventually gain control over your sleeping issues and feel refreshed during the day. You may not even notice that you have apnea. If you experience unexplained sleepiness, exhaustion, or falling asleep while driving, discuss these symptoms with your doctor. Common symptoms of sleep apnea include unexplained exhaustion and falling asleep during the day.