Hearing the news that you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea can frighten anyone.It is vital that you know that sleep apnea can be a common problem, although it is very serious, it can be treated effectively.
Do you smoke or drink? Get rid of these bad habits. Alcohol and tobacco both cause airway problems. Smoking can cause your airways to swell up while alcohol will make your airway more relaxed, which can cause sleep apnea. If you can’t completely eliminate these habits, try avoiding them prior to bed.
Do not consume as much alcohol often.Alcohol causes all your body to lose their tension. Although many users find this to be one of the benefits of drinking, it can contribute to sleep apnea. Alcohol has an effect on throat muscles and can make it difficult to keep the air passage open. If you can’t give up drinking completely, try not to do it as often or before you go to sleep.
This little piece of fabric holds your chin upright when sleeping so that your mouth from gaping open. Try out to keep your mouth closed.
Have your dentist fit you for a custom mouth guard. These are made especially for those suffering from sleep apnea. This can be an alternative to a CPAP machine, and can be more comfortable, to boot. The mouth guard keeps your jaw in the proper position and keeps your airway more open.
Sleep Apnea
A good way to reduce the possibility of having sleep apnea is to lose weight. A number of people find that if they shed weight they will help the apnea. Even a few pounds can improve the symptoms of sleep apnea and cause the airways and throat to open up more.
Are you using a CPAP for your sleep apnea? If so, then you should try to utilize it a minimum of four hours per night. Using a CPAP while sleeping is a tough adjustment for many patients to make. Four hours of use every night is the minimum necessary time you need to realize the benefits of CPAP therapy. As you become more accustomed to the sleep mask, you should be able to wear it longer.
You can reduce the sleep apnea symptoms you are experiencing. Some factors (like genetic predisposition or being a man) are impossible to escape. However, you can limit many others, like being overweight, smoking or alcohol consumption.
Your physician is the only one who can really diagnose sleep apnea in you for sure, but there are ways you can help yourself too. Quitting smoking and losing weight are great for anyone, particularly those that have sleep apnea. You will definitely want to stay away from alcohol and caffeine, caffeine or heavy meals within a couple hours of going to bed.
Try to avoid sleeping pills. The muscles in your throat relax too much when you use a sedative like sleeping pills, (or alcohol) and your airway is much more likely to collapse during sleep. Natural sleep aids, such as melatonin, are much safer. See if your doctor knows of any sleeping medication that doesn’t cause respiratory depression.
Don’t sleep on your back at all if you are a sleep apnea. Sleeping on your back makes the airways extra vulnerable to blockage; this is why most sleep apnea can make it hard for you to sleep.Use pillows to prop you up on your side while you sleep.
You shouldn’t feel embarassed or your CPAP therapy.
Give sleeping on your sides a try. Many people with sleep apnea sleep while on their backs. When you sleep, your throat muscles relax, and back sleeping causes gravity to pull the relaxed muscles downward, restricting airflow. Breathing is a lot easier for your body to do when you are on your side. If you usually sleep on your back, make a conscious effort to change your ways.
Corrective oral devices help some sleep apnea. A sleep mouth guard can change the jaw alignment and allow greater passage of air.
Sleep Apnea
If you suffer from sleep apnea, do not take pills. Sleeping pills can make it so your airways don’t function correctly. For those with severe cases of sleep apnea, using these pills can be quite dangerous. Avoid using them even if you are having trouble sleeping.
A majority of sleep apnea sleep on their back. If this is the case, then you should think about switching the position in which you sleep. It has been shown that side sleeping helps alleviate sleep apnea so you can obstruct the airway.
If you are concerned that you may be suffering from sleep apnea, have your family doctor evaluate you for sleep apnea. This can be a complex condition, one that requires the help of a medical professional.
Try to sleep on a regular schedule if you have sleep apnea. Your condition is already disrupting your nightly sleep cycle. Do whatever you can to restore your natural sleeping patterns, and you will find that you can handle the apnea a bit easier. Go to sleep and wake up at set times each day, even the weekends, for the best results.
The true meaning of sleep apnea is simply lacking oxygen during night-time breathing. This is why it can get worse at high elevations. Avoid sleeping at higher elevations.
Make sure that your throat and jaw muscles.Sleep apnea can be caused by weak muscles in your throat and neck, so doing these exercises can help. These exercises can greatly help you.
Remember to keep your medical ID upon your person if you make use of a CPAP for your sleep apnea. This is particularly important if you have an accident and require overnight hospitalization. With your ID you can inform medical personnel about your sleep apnea and your CPAP device.
Try playing any sort of wind instruments. Eventually, the muscle training you receive from playing the instrument will enable you to breathe better, and your sleep apnea will lessen.
Surgery can be performed to remove any excessive tissue blocking your airway.
Bring your CPAP along with you if you’re going to the hospital. You need to take your CPAP machine with you whenever you go to the ER or any routine hospitalization, such as for surgery. It already has your pressure settings dialed in, and your mask is something your used to wearing at 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.
Support Group
Sleep apnea is not happen to a lot of people. Although you may have a good support group around you, it can be tough for them to really identify with your experience. Locate a support group with others like yourself. If you aren’t someone who likes dealing with these personal issues in public, look for online forums that offer tips from others.
Stick to using just one normal sized pillow as you sleep. Using multiple or oversized pillows makes it more likely that you will end up in a position that encourages sleep apnea. This makes you sleep in a way that makes it hard to breathe. So, you should stick to one pillow to help lessen any sleep apnea symptoms.
It can be scary to learn you have sleep apnea. Luckily, this disorder is treatable. Use these sleep apnea tips to help you sleep through each night with ease. Once your sleep apnea is effectively treated, you will be able to live the full life you had before diagnosis.