Don’t panic if you’ve found out that you suffer from sleep apnea. Even though the condition can cause many health problems, you can manage it with the proper treatments. You just have to concentrate on your treatment options and education, which you will find in this article.
Shedding some excess pounds is a good idea if you’re overweight. Obesity is linked to sleep apnea according to certain studies. If you are obese, lose at least 20 pounds to see if it makes a change for the better with your sleep apnea. It will also help ward off other medical conditions, too.
You can really cut back on your symptoms by giving up alcohol and smoking.Both smoking and drinking promote relaxation of the muscles in your airway. Quitting these addictions may be the future.
If you’re using a CPAP, try using it for around four hours each night. It can be extremely difficult for many patients to become accustomed to using the CPAP. If you have trouble adjusting to use it the full night, get at least four hours and try to add more time each night.
Get fitted for a specialty made mouth guard. These oral devices are specially made for sleep apnea sufferers. It’s a good way to get around having to use a CPAP machine, and feels better to wear throughout the night. A mouth guard works by keeping airways open and giving the soft tissues stability.
You might consider video recording your sleep patterns with a camcorder. The video needs audio to listen for any noises.
Sleeping Pills
Eating healthy foods consistently can reduce your weight and sleep apnea symptoms. Not everyone equates bad and good food with sleep apnea, but many people have found out that it does play a role. Someone who is overweight but still eats a healthy diet will have fewer symptoms of apnea than someone who eats an unhealthy diet but weighs less.
Sleeping pills are not the answer if sleep apnea.Sleeping pills can interfere with your throat muscles to the degree that they no longer properly function. These pills can lead to a very dangerous situation if your case is bad, even if you just want to get to bed sooner.
You will record the time you go to sleep and wake up, and any other symptoms you experience. Your partner can often say if you jerk limbs around, stop breathing for a second, or momentary lapses in your breathing. This type of data can help your sleep habits.
Try to sleep on your side at night. When you sleep on your back, the airways get obstructed due to the throat and nasal passages being more prone to obstruction. See if sleeping on your side doesn’t help your sleep apnea condition.
If you’re a sleep apnea sufferer undergoing CPAP treatment, remember to pack your CPAP machine. Your CPAP and your mask should be with you whether you’re admitted to the hospital or visiting the emergency room.This will simplify your CPAP therapy during your hospital stay.
Sleep Apnea
Adding a chin strap to your CPAP routine can help to keep your mouth closed as you sleep. This device keeps your jaw up as you sleep. CPAP therapy will not work if your mouth is open, so try this simple device to see if it fixes the problem.
Consider trying devices that assists in reducing your snoring.Snoring is caused by your airways being blocked with minor airflow, but sleep apnea occurs when the airways completely close up. It makes sense to have a device that something can help both. Your sleep apnea may benefit from the use of an anti-snoring aid.
If left untreated, sleep apnea can have a disastrous affect on your health and well-being. What is good is that you have a variety of options available for how to treat it. Use what you have been taught from this article, and speak with your doctor to get a plan in motion.
If you use a CPAP, then ensure a medical ID is carried with you at all times. The reason for this is because if you must be taken to the hospital, the staff assisting you needs to understand that you’re using the CPAP machine for your sleep apnea. Your ID should include your use of CPAP and the pressure level at which your CPAP must be set.