Sleep apnea is more than just a minor inconvenience or annoyance; it can have very serious and inconvenient. 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 headed in the right direction.
One way to fight against sleep apnea is to give up vices. As with many other health problems, alcohol and tobacco will worsen sleep apnea. You can have severe breathing problems if you are a heavy drinker as it depresses your respiratory system. Cigarettes can hurt your lungs, possibly even causing lung cancer. Drop as many bad habits as you can as early as possible.
If you have been prescribed a CPAP for sleep apnea, do try to sleep a minimum of four hours with it nightly. It is hard for some patients to get used to sleeping with a CPAP. If you struggle to adjust to it in the beginning, try to make sure you at least use your CPAP four hours each time you sleep.
Sleep Apnea
Speak with your doctor about treating your sleep apnea with a dental mouth piece. It may be that your airways are narrower than average, and this is fine. Specialty devices can alter your position during sleep and more properly align jaw elements, giving you a much higher quality rest.
Eating healthier foods can help you deal with sleep apnea symptoms. A lot of people are surprised that a bad diet can affect sleep apnea worse. Research has proven that those who consume low quality food may exacerbate sleep apnea than even overweight folks who eat healthy.
One way to check out your sleeping habits is to train a video camera on yourself as you sleep. The video should be equipped with sound so that doctors can also have audio to listen for any noises that occur during your sleep.
Reduce your consumption of alcohol. Alcohol naturally relaxes your muscles. While this may be something you desire, it tends to create the problem of sleep apnea. Your throat muscles may be affected, causing breathing difficulties. If you absolutely have to have a drink, don’t do as much as you used to. And avoid having one close to bedtime.
You need only one normal-sized pillow to sleep with at night. This causes you in a way that makes it harder to breathe. This means that one pillow is best to manage your symptoms.
Sleep Apnea
In an effort to get a restful night of sleep, sleep on your side if possible. When you sleep on your back, the airways get obstructed due to the throat and nasal passages being more prone to obstruction. Try to fall asleep in a side position, and discover if that relieves your sleep apnea tonight.
Weight loss can make a major impact on those with sleep apnea symptoms. Sleep apnea is more common in patients who are overweight and having a large neck circumference.
If you have a long flight scheduled, tell the airline that you are going to need your CPAP on board. The airline company is very accommodating and will designate an area for you in a convenient place to make using your machine. If you happen to be flying overseas on a foreign airline, ensure you carry a power adapter.
If you have sleep apnea and your mouth keeps falling open while you sleep with your CPAP every night, try wearing a chin strap. It’s simply fabric that keeps your chin up and mouth closed. The CPAP only works if the mouth is closed, so try using the strap.
Throat exercises can help with the symptoms of sleep apnea. These exercises strengthen the muscles surrounding the airway, making them less likely to collapse.One good exercise involves pressing your tongue onto the roof of the mouth and holding it for three minutes before releasing. Perform this exercise once every 24 hours.
Some types of sleep apnea are able to be corrected using oral devices. These devices can align your jaw much the same way that braces do the teeth.
If you have sinus or allergy issues, this may be causing your sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes enough difficulty breathing on its own. You want to reduce any chance that you have of disturbing your sleep. Making sure your airway isn’t obstructed is your best bet to getting good sleep.
Sleep Apnea
A majority of people with sleep apnea sufferers sleep on their backs. If you are one of these people, then you should think about switching the position in which you sleep. It has been proven that the tongue and palate fall toward the back of the throat when people sleep apnea so you can get some rest.
Remember that you need not feel embarrassed by your CPAP machine and your treatments. Inform those that need to know about it, and don’t feel uncomfortable using your CPAP around those close to you. They want you healthy. Anybody who doesn’t understand doesn’t deserve your time.
Don’t drink alcoholic drinks if you are a sleep apnea sufferer. Alcohol is not good for your throat making sleep apnea’s symptoms more severe.
The technical definition for sleep apnea is not having enough oxygen during night-time breathing. This is why it can get worse at high elevations. Avoid sleeping in higher elevations as much as possible.
If you’re taking a long trip, talk to the airline about using your CPAP. Friendly airlines are happy to seat you where there is sufficient room for you and your machine. If you fly a foreign carrier, be sure to pack a power adapter.
Make sure you exercise your throat and jaw muscles both get exercise. Some people learn from their doctors that weak muscles in their tongue, so these exercises will strengthen your muscles. These exercises may truly help reduce your symptoms.
Sleep Apnea
You may not even notice that you have apnea. If you find yourself falling asleep when you are driving, feel exhausted after a full night of sleep or feel strangely sleepy, talk to your doctor. Common symptoms of sleep apnea include unexplained exhaustion and falling asleep during the day.
Get a fitted mouth guard made just for you. These devices have shown to help in the clearing of airways and alleviating snoring, which is believed to be the root cause of some sleep apnea cases. Your sleep apnea symptoms can be caused by how your jaw is positioned.
If you’re not getting enough sleep, consider taking naps during the day to help make up for lost sleep. Not getting enough sleep can take a terrible toll on your health and poor concentration. Take an afternoon nap during the day.
Keep your throat and jaw muscles in shape. Sleep apnea can be brought on by weak muscles, so doing these exercises can help. Simply adding a few exercises into your daily routine can have a major effect on your condition.
There is no debate about the frustration that is often brought on by sleep apnea. Being uncomfortable, unable to sleep, and afraid of dying can make sleeping an absolutely miserable time for those suffering from it. Use the information provided here to map out your own battle plan against sleep apnea.