Anyone who has sleep apnea knows the difficulties it can cause. The best approach to combating the unpleasant effects of this condition is to learn as much as possible on the subject.
Think about changing a few of your habits to help with your sleep apnea. Smoking and drinking can inflame your airways and make them swell. When you drink, your respiratory system is depressed and breathing becomes difficult. Over time, your lungs will be damaged as the result of smoking. Dropping both these habits entirely will help ease the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Do you smoke cigarettes or sometimes drink? Both have a negative effect on your air passages. If it’s too challenging to give up these habits entirely, at least don’t do them before you fall asleep.
Talk to your doctor about getting a fitted sleep mouth piece you can wear at night. You could have an overbite, recessed chin, or narrow breathing passage that worsens your sleep apnea symptoms. You can get better rest if you wear a custom-fitted device to keep your jaw and airway properly aligned.
A major reason why a lot of people deal with the sleep apnea condition is because of the excess weight they’re carrying. If this is a problem for a person, then weight loss is recommended. Try changing your diet and ramp up your activity level. Reducing carbs in the diet may also help.
Playing wind instruments can help you control sleep apnea. Researchers in Germany have suggested that practicing with the didgeriddo can improve upper airway muscles. These particular muscles control your airway walls get.
You can consider video recording your sleep patterns with a camcorder. The video should also hear any noises that occur during your sleep.
Check with your doctor to see which CPAP equipment is best to treat your sleep apnea. Take into consideration both the noise and size of the CPAP machine. Some of these machines are really small and barely make any sounds at all. Your physician probably knows which machines are best.
You should use only one regular pillow each night to sleep with at night. This may put you in a position that can adversely affect your position. This is why one pillow is best to manage your sleeping concerns.
Sleep Apnea
Taking up a musical instrument (especially a wind instrument) can have a positive effect on your sleep apnea. Playing this kind of instrument strengthens your muscles in the upper airways. The muscles have a large impact on how well you breathe. Therefore, you should regularly play these instruments due to the fact that they decrease your sleep apnea symptoms.
Don’t sleep on your back if you have sleep apnea. Sleeping on one’s back with sleep apnea can make it hard for you to sleep. Prop yourself up on your side using pillows or cushions.
You should never smoke if you are afflicted with sleep apnea. The first month is the hardest for most smokers.
Family history is one thing that doctors use to diagnosis sleep apnea. Your general practitioner may order a sleep study. Based upon this, he or she may give you a referral for a sleep specialist. Sleep specialists focus primarily on the diagnosis and treatment of people with sleep disorders.
Everyone who’s experienced a bout of sleep apnea knows that the effects it has on the mind and body can be remarkably stressful. Thankfully, by taking enough time to gain some additional knowledge on sleep apnea, you can manage this condition. Use what you’ve just learned to eliminate the stranglehold that sleep apnea has on your life.