Anyone with sleep apnea knows how problematic it can be. Consult your physician if you think you may be suffering from sleep apnea. Take into your heart the awesome advice that comes in the following paragraphs if you want to control your condition.
Avoid unhealthy activities to control your sleep apnea. Drinking alcohol and smoking are very bad for the condition. Drinking depresses the respiratory system and can cause severe breathing issues. Cigarettes can hurt your lungs, possibly even causing lung cancer. Dropping both these habits entirely will help ease the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Talk to your doctor about getting a fitted sleep mouth guard. You could have an overbite, small jaw, or narrow breathing passage that worsens your sleep apnea symptoms. You can get a mouthpiece to help you when you are sleeping to get better night’s sleep.
Make yourself wear your CPAP for four hours while you sleep, at the least. Sleeping while using a CPAP can be difficult to adjust to at first, but it is not impossible. However, it needs to be used for four hours each night for it to be effective. If you have a tough time with it, be sure you have the right size mask, and that the pressure is working right.
Sleep Apnea
Try to sleep on a regular schedule if you have sleep apnea. Your sleep apnea is already affecting your sleep. A routine sleep pattern will discourage the condition from getting worse. The first change you should make is setting a specific time to go to sleep and wake up each day.
If your sleep apnea doesn’t improve after anything you’ve tried, you may need to discuss more drastic options with your doctor. Some people don’t have any luck with conventional treatments, and usually opt for surgeries like a tonsillectomy, adenoid removal or airway enlargement as their last resort.
If you have sleep apnea you should not smoke. Smoking causes your air ways to enlarge, and it makes sleep apnea much worse. To quit, try using nicotine replacement treatment or a cessation program. The first month is the hardest part. Once you get through this, nicotine begins to exit out of your body, which decreases your cravings.
Getting your throat muscles stronger is a great way to have less of a problem with sleep apnea. The labored breathing common in sleep apnea is usually caused when the soft tissues of the throat collapse and obstruct the airway. The muscles will slowly become stronger, which means that they won’t collapse as often when you sleep, which in turn improves airflow.
Minimize your alcohol intake. If you regularly drink, your throat muscles will relax too much, which will block your airways and cause snoring. Either stop drinking entirely, or limit your consumption to only one or two drinks well before you go to bed. You will make sure that your sleep is not affected by the alcohol.
It is fine to get a CPAP machine, it’s natural for sleep apnea sufferers. Millions of people around the world use them, and you should ignore anyone who teases you about it. Anybody who doesn’t understand doesn’t deserve your time.
Many people who have sleep apnea make the mistake of sleeping on their backs. You would be better served by laying on your side during sleep. One method to prevent yourself from changing positions during sleep is to sew a spherical object like a tennis ball into your nightclothes. Doing this will make sleeping on your back very uncomfortable.
If you’re taking a long trip, talk to the airline about using your CPAP. You will be able to make an arrangement with the airline to use your CPAP. If you happen to be flying overseas on a foreign airline, make sure you have the right power adapter.
Do not procrastinate in searching for a treatment. Start now! If you do not go to a doctor and find a treatment, your symptoms will probably worsen over the years. You shouldn’t allow your snoring and sleep quality to worsen. If you believe you may suffer from sleep apnea, immediately visit your doctor.
Some situations of sleep apnea are solved with corrective mouth pieces. A person’s anatomy may be such that they naturally have a narrow jaw and airway. A simple corrective device may alter the jaw alignment during sleep, allowing for more air to enter the breathing passage.
Sleep apnea can be a problem for your throat and not your nose, so if you work on strengthening throat muscles then it is a good idea for fixing your apnea. If you want to learn exercises that can make your throat stronger, do a little research; there are plenty available.
Once your doctor has diagnosed you with sleep apnea, remain in contact with him or her. You can learn a lot about your condition and treatment by keeping in communication with your doctor. Plan on keeping in touch with your doctor and letting them know about how the treatment is going.
Sleep apnea can make you chronically tired, which is bad for you throughout the day. To reduce your sleep apnea symptoms, be sure to follow a regular sleep routine. Always go to bed and wake up at the same times each day. You may be able to avoid a worsening of conditions this way, for example the risk of complete insomnia.
If you have sleep apnea try taking a cat nap during the day. Not getting enough sleep can lead to health problems as well as lost productivity and poor concentration. If possible, you should try to take an afternoon nap in order to increase your total hours of restful sleep.
People who suffer from sleep apnea know how much it affects day to day life. Luckily you’re here learning about this condition, and trying to understand how to lessen its affects. Use these tips so that you can sleep well at night.