Sleep apnea isn’t just a minor inconvenience or annoyance; it can have very serious and far-reaching health consequences. This is why people with sleep apnea are wise to educate themselves regarding the condition’s causes and its treatments. This article will share some helpful advice that will get you control your sleep apnea.
Get a mouth guard if your airways are the cause of your sleep apnea. They are designed to help you breathe properly at night by aligning your airways. It’s best to see a medical professional to get fitted properly for a guard that will fit your individual situation.
Drop some vices to fight against sleep apnea.Drinking alcohol and smoking are a couple of the biggest offenders. Drinking affects the respiratory system and can cause severe breathing issues. Smoking introduces known carcinogens into your lungs over time. Dropping these habits can help ease the symptoms of sleep apnea.
A common reason that people have problems with sleep apnea is due to excessive weight.
Taking up a musical instrument (especially a wind instrument) can have a positive effect on your sleep apnea. Research done by specialists in Germany indicates you can train your muscles in the upper airway by playing the didgeridoo. Muscles in this area stiffen the airway walls and control the dilation. There are also throat exercises you can practice, including blowing up a balloon, if you do not want to buy a didgeridoo.
Playing music on a wind instrument can be beneficial to your sleep apnea. Researchers in Germany have suggested that practicing with the didgeriddo can improve upper airway muscles. These muscles impact your airway dilation of the air passage and control how stiff your airway walls get.
If you’re using a CPAP, make an honest effort to use it at least four hours a night. It is hard for many patients to get used to sleeping with a CPAP. If you are having difficulty adjusting to it at first, get at least four hours and try to add more time each night.
Try something other than 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. They can also cause a significant number of additional complications for sleep apnea patients. Consult your physician to find out about possible ways to get to sleep to faster that won’t react poorly with your sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea
Eating in a healthy way will help you shed weight and fight apnea. A lot of people are surprised to learn how a poor diet negatively affects sleep apnea. Research indicates that those who consume low quality food demonstrate more severe sleep apnea.
A good physical exam, and a look at your family history, can quite often easily determine sleep apnea’s presence. You might also undergo a sleep study. Dependent upon what your personal physician discovers, they might give you a referral to see a sleep specialist.
Try something other options besides sleeping pills. Sleeping pills can cause just make you snore more by relaxing the muscles in the throat. They may also have other harmful issues to make your sleep apnea worse. Consult with your doctor to find a sleep without putting your breathing.
You will write down how many hours you sleep throughout the night, and anything else notable. Your partner can often say if you jerk limbs around, jerk your limbs, or stop breathing. This can help a medical professional see patterns in your doctor figure out if you’ve got sleep apnea or if you don’t.
It is not easy to tell if you are suffering from sleep apnea if you don’t sleep with someone who can describe your sleep patterns. A video recorder can help you discover whether you are sleeping well or struggling. Remember to make a video with sound so your doctor can hear you snore!
This little piece of cloth will keep your chin up when sleeping so that your mouth from gaping open. Your mouth must remain closed for CPAP therapy to be effective.
If you suffer from sleep apnea and intend to travel at all, it is important to plan on taking your CPAP machine with you. You ought not to go a single night without your CPAP. You were probably provided a padded traveling bag for your machine. You can transport your CPAP easily and safely anytime you away from home.
Bring your CPAP on all the trips you go on during your travels. Once you have a CPAP machine, neglecting to use it for even one night can cause problems. Most machines come with a travel pack anyway. Use this bag to carry your CPAP whenever you travel.
If you are requiring a hospital visit, bring your CPAP with you to ensure you get restful sleep. Your CPAP and your mask should be with you whether you’re admitted to the hospital or visiting the emergency room.This will make continuing your CPAP therapy while at the hospital.
Sleep apnea sufferers should treat their allergies or other sinus related issues. You already are having difficulty breathing during the night due to your sleep condition. You do not need anything else reducing your ability to get air while you’re asleep.
Stick to using just one normal sized pillow as you sleep. When you use multiple pillows or an over-sized pillow, it can interfere with your position as you breathe. Pillows that lift your head can cramp the airways that you need to be open to be able to breathe properly as you sleep. Try out different pillows until you find just one pillow that allows you to lay your head flatter against the bed each night so you can breathe more freely.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea does not go away by itself; you need to treat it. Some treatments will work better for people and some do not. One thing that can help you is losing weight, but there are thin people who suffer from sleep apnea as well. Some people find that using a CPAP machine or other devices. Some people do best by having surgery that will help alleviate their symptoms. Choose the route which best meets your needs since getting treatment can lead to a happy and comfortable life.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, do not underestimate the power of losing a few pounds. Sleep apnea is more common in patients who are overweight and have a large neck circumference. If you lose weight, it will improve air flow by reducing pressure on your airways.
Sleep apnea is undoubtedly a major cause of sleep frustration. Fatigue, interrupted sleep, irritability and the dangers of sleep apnea are cause for sufferers to worry. Use the advice from this article to learn how to fight sleep apnea.