Sleep apnea is potentially fatal. This is why it’s important for sleep apnea sufferers need to try their best to prevent all types of symptoms from occurring. This article will share some helpful advice that will get you control your sleep apnea.
Talk to your doctor about a CPAP device if your sleep apnea is severe. The loudness and size of any machine should be considered. There are some machines that are quiet and small. Your doctor can recommend which machines his patients have had the most success with.
Do you regularly smoke or drink? Your airways are significantly affected by using both of these substances. If you’re not able to stop smoking and drinking, make an effort to avoid smoking or drinking before you go to bed.
Sleep Apnea
Many people find that using a mouth guard while sleeping helps their sleep apnea. Fitted mouth guards help people sleep through the night. Instead of using a CPAP device, you can use a mouth guard. Invest into a mouth guard instead of having a loud machine keep others up at night.
Playing wind instrument can actually help you control sleep apnea problems. A German study found that playing gives you better motor control over your sleep apnea. These particular muscles are the key to dilation of the air passage and proper breathing as we sleep.
Your condition already messing with your sleep cycle nightly. The first change you can do is to be sure you’re going to sleep and wake up each day.
Avoid alcohol if you have sleep apnea. Alcohol relaxes your muscles in a way that harms your breathing. Although many users find this to be one of the benefits of drinking, it tends to make the effects of sleep apnea much more serious. Your muscles will relax and collapse, which will make you snore and possibly cough through the night. If you do drink alcohol, avoid drinking it 3 hours before bedtime.
If nothing you are trying is improving your sleep apnea symptoms, then see your doctor to discuss more aggressive options. Some people don’t have any luck with conventional treatments, and usually opt for surgeries like a tonsillectomy, or the enlargement of the airway.
Risk Factors
It’s vital that you don’t use any type of sleeping pill when you suffer from sleep apnea. These will make your throat muscles too soft, and your air passages will not work right. This can be deadly when combined with sleep apnea. Sleeping pills are a bad idea.
You can lessen the risk factors for sleep apnea. Some factors are impossible to escape. However, many other risk factors can be cut out, like being overweight, smoking or alcohol consumption.
Take up a woodwind instrument.This is not only a good way to expand your horizons, but it will also help strengthen your throat muscles.
If you are using a CPAP machine but having trouble keeping your mouth closed, you should consider using a chin strap. This little piece of fabric holds your chin upright when sleeping so that your mouth remains closed. CPAP machines do not function with open mouths, so a chin strap can really save you.
Don’t be ashamed that you use a CPAP machine to treat your sleep apnea.
This will keep you roll over onto your back.
If you shed some weight it will likely help with apnea. Sleep apnea is more common in patients who are overweight and have a large neck circumference. Even a modest amount of weight loss can increase air flow and decrease airway pressure.
If you have a long flight coming up, contact the airline company and let them know you will need to use your CPAP machine. The airline may seat you and your machine easier. If you fly a foreign carrier, remember to bring a universal power adapter.
Unexplained Sleepiness
The effects of sleep apnea can be avoided with stronger throat muscles. Sleep apnea is commonly caused by the throat becoming obstructed because the soft tissues collapse near the back of your throat. When the muscles have strengthened, collapsing is less likely to occur, thus keeping your airways free.
Remember that you may not be aware of your apnea at night. If you experience unexplained sleepiness, exhaustion, or falling asleep when you drive, try talking to a doctor about it. Your unexplained sleepiness may be due to sleep apnea even if you don’t know you gasp for air every night.
Don’t drink too close to bedtime if you suffer from sleep apnea. Alcohol relaxes your throat muscles and make it difficult to breathe causing an apnea episode.
If you are going to be on a plane a long time, then get in touch with the airline company to inform them that you need your CPAP machine for sleeping. Friendly airlines are happy to seat you where there is sufficient room for you and your machine. Remind them that you will need to plug your machine in, or you can use a machine that uses batteries as a backup measure.
Do not have an alcoholic drink alcohol before you sleep. Alcohol can make your sleep disorder much worse than it already is. It depresses your central nervous system, it also makes it difficult for you to wake up when you stop breathing. This is a fatal combination of conditions.
Sleep Apnea
If you suspect you are suffering from sleep apnea, schedule a sleep test with your doctor. This study will rule sleep apnea in or out, and if you have it, will determine its severity. The following step would be identifying a treatment regimen, even for milder cases.
Sleep apnea does not happen to a condition that doesn’t affect many people. Although you may have a good support group around you, it can be tough for them to really identify with your experience. Find a group for those who have sleep apnea. If you get shy in person, check out online forums to get support and ideas for others with sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea causes many people considerable aggravation. The interruption of sleep and the feeling of being uncomfortable every day is something that drives a sleep apnea sufferer crazy, and it really makes their life unbearable for themselves and for the people they love. Use the information provided here to map out your own battle plan against sleep apnea.
Get support for your sleep apnea from a local support group. Sleep apnea is not that common. Although the people in your life might know what you have, they just might not understand how to deal with it. Try to locate a support group of other apnea sufferers. Should you not want to meet in a group, online forums can offer great advice and support from others who also suffer from sleep apnea.