Learning that you might have sleep apnea can feel overwhelming and frightening. It is vital that you know that sleep apnea can be a common problem, and while serious, it can be treated effectively.
Get a mouth guard to help you sleep at night. These mouth guards correct airways and facilitate breathing. Consult with a doctor or get a mouth guard made if you are suffering.
Drop some vices to fight against sleep apnea. Drinking alcohol and smoking are a couple of the biggest offenders. Drinking affects the ability of your respiratory system. Smoking adds harmful chemicals which damage your lungs and damages them over time. Dropping these habits entirely will help ease your symptoms.
Do you smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol? Both of these substances have a negative influence on your air passages. If it is not possible for you to quit cold turkey, just do not do it before laying down to sleep.
Taking up a musical instrument (especially a wind instrument) can have a positive effect on your sleep apnea. Some studies have shown that an instrument like the didgeridoo can help you improve the muscles in your throat. It helps to strengthen the muscles in the throat, which collapse during sleep apnea episodes. So, if you play this instrument on a daily basis, it will help to limit the sleep apnea symptoms which in turn will give you a good night’s sleep.
If you’re using a CPAP, you should at least use it four hours every 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.
You simply log the amount of hours you’re sleeping each night, whether you woke up during the night and how you felt when you woke up each morning. Your partner can let you know if you snore too loudly, jerking, or momentary lapses in your breathing. This can help a medical professional see patterns in your sleep apnea.
Sleep while on your side. Sleep apnea sufferers tend to sleep on their back. Your airways become blocked when you sleep on your back. Avoid sleeping on your back and go on your side to make breathing easier. Put a pillow on your side if you always find yourself moving around during sleep.
You should use only one regular pillow each night to sleep with at night. This makes you to lie in a way where breathing is more difficult. This means that one single pillow to sleep more restfully at night.
Sleep Apnea
Avoid sleeping pills when you find out you realize you are diagnosed with sleep apnea. Sleep medicines often contain relaxants which only make your airway more likely to collapse. These pills can become very dangerous if you have a bad case of sleep apnea; even though you might be tempted to use them to stay asleep, this is definitely not a good solution.
Weight loss can be a huge difference in sleep apnea symptoms. People who are overweight usually suffer from sleep apnea.
You can actually reduce your sleep apnea symptoms by doing tongue exercises.
Cut down on your chances of developing sleep apnea. There are some factors that are unavoidable. These can include being male or family genetics. But others, such as weight smoking and drinking, can be controlled.
Sleep Apnea
It can be scary to learn you have sleep apnea. Luckily, it is a condition that can be managed. Use the tips from this article to help you cope with your sleep apnea. With proper treatment, you can live a healthy and full life despite your sleep apnea condition.
If you are using a CPAP when dealing with sleep apnea, get your doctor to prescribe you a heated humidifier. If the air you are taking in is moist and warm, you will have a better night’s sleep. A lot of modern CPAP machines have a humidifier on them; ask your doctor about it.