Control Your Sleep Apnea With These Tips

DilrubaFebruary 5, 20226 Mins read304

TIP! There are some bad habits that should be stopped because they make sleep apnea worse. Two of the most common offenders are drinking and smoking.

Many people assume that being tired after a full night of sleep is a fact of life that they simply have to deal with. They do not know about sleep apnea, that they have it or that they could do something about it. The following article offers some great advice on sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea

TIP! Have your dentist fit you for a custom mouth guard. These guards are designed for patients with sleep apnea.

Losing weight through a good diet can fight sleep apnea. It’s surprising how much an unhealthy diet can affect sleep apnea. It has been shown through many studies that people who eat a poor diet usually suffer with worse sleep apnea than someone who is just overweight but manages to still eat somewhat healthier.

TIP! Avoid drinking much alcohol. The natural effects of alcohol lead to over-relaxation of your muscles.

Many people don’t realize that sleep apnea is not something to ignore and can be potentially dangerous if left untreated. If you suspect you may have it, it is important to see your doctor right away. With an official diagnosis, you will have to see a sleep specialist and possibly a home based sleep test with a portable monitor to fully assess the condition.

TIP! When you have sleep apnea you can find out about it from tests your doctor will run. A sleep study can also shed some light on your sleep problems.

Going to sleep on your side may be beneficial. If you sleep on your back, this can make your sleep apnea worse. When you sleep on your back, you are warping the shape of your airways. However, breathing is much easier if you sleep on your side instead. You may want to prop yourself up with pillows so you stay on your side.

TIP! If you are not sleeping with a partner, then it’s almost impossible to determine if you’re suffering from sleep apnea on your own. Try setting up a video camcorder to record yourself while you are sleeping at night.

Make sure you don’t take any sleeping pills after you find out you suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep medicines often contain relaxants which only make your airway more likely to collapse. If your sleep apnea is bad, these pills are even more dangerous. They may be tempting to use but you’ll be better off staying away from sleeping pills.

TIP! Your doctor might ask you to write down when you sleep and wake. In it, you’ll record the number of hours you sleep, as well as any symptoms you have during the night.

You may have to maintain a sleep log for your doctor to diagnose your condition. In it, you’ll be expected to log the hours you sleep nightly, any symptoms you may feel and the overall quality of your sleep. Your partner can let you know if you snore too loudly, jerk your limbs, or stop breathing. With this information, your doctors can make a final determination on whether or not you suffer from sleep apnea.

TIP! If you suffer from sleep apnea, make sure to get sinus and allergy problems treated. It will help you breath better in general, especially during your sleep.

Use a chin strap with your CPAP each night to prevent your mouth from opening as you sleep. This device keeps your jaw up as you sleep. If you have your mouth open CPAP therapy isn’t going to work, so give this device a try to find out if it works.

Cpap Machine

TIP! Sleep apnea never just disappears of its own free will; you have to do something about it. Some treatments will work better for you than others.

Always bring your CPAP along whenever you travel. When sleep apnea affects you, do not attempt even a single night without your CPAP machine. The original packaging should have included a convenient carrying case for travel. This bag will help you safely travel with your CPAP machine when you are on vacation.

TIP! If you do tongue exercises you will allieviate sleep apnea symptoms. Press your entire tongue up inside your mouth, and hold it there for at least a few minutes.

If you need to be hospitalized for some reason, be sure that you take your CPAP machine with you to the hospital. Your CPAP and your mask should be with you for both planned stays and trips to an emergency room. Your own CPAP machine will be set to the pressure recommended by your sleep specialist, so you won’t have to get used to a new machine. Having your own machine will make using a CPAP while in the hospital much easier.

TIP! A major factor of sleep apnea is how you sleep. Try sleeping on your side or your stomach to decrease the condition.

Losing weight can definitely help reduce sleep apnea’s effects. Sleep apnea is common to those that have large necks or that are overweight. When you lose weight it takes a lot of the pressure off of your airways and allows you to breathe more easily when you sleep.

TIP! Corrective oral devices help some sleep apnea cases. This is caused by the shapes of people’s jaws, which can mean they have narrower airways.

If you have sleep apnea, you should not drink excessively. Consuming alcohol results in throat relaxation that is more than normal. Snoring and obstructed air passages both result. So stop drinking because this will only be a detriment to your sleep. This will lessen the chances of alcohol interrupting your sleep.

TIP! Sleep apnea causes chronic exhaustion, which is a self-reinforcing negative spiral. Establishing a regular sleep schedule can ease sleep apnea’s symptoms.

Do not let your condition, treatment or even your CPAP machine embarrass you. Tell people that this is a necessity, and don’t be self-conscious about having to use it in the presence of others. Keep in mind that using your CPAP machine is in your best interest, and if anyone makes fun of you, you should probably find better friends.

TIP! Sleep apnea can be a big deal when left untreated, so see a doctor if suspect that you may have it. You cannot afford to just try to guess on your own whether you have sleep apnea.

Your sleep habits directly affect you and your sleep apnea. Therefore, you need to be careful about the way you sleep. Use a foam wedge to raise the top part of your body higher. This will keep excess tissue and relaxed muscles from blocking your airways.

TIP! Seek out a support group to join. Sleep apnea is not a condition that is very common.

If you sleep on your back you will worsen your sleep apnea. Sewing a pair of balled up socks or a tennis ball onto the back of your PJs will help prevent rolling over. Then, when they try to roll on their back while sleeping, the uncomfortable ball stops them.

TIP! Take a diagnosis of sleep apnea seriously, and follow your doctor’s treatment instructions, including using a CPAP machine if prescribed. Sleep apnea is a dangerous disorder.

Snoring and sleep apnea can be soothed by playing a musical instrument. Not only will it be soothing for you, but in a trial study in Germany, it showed that a wind instrument can relax the symptoms of sleep apnea. This can help you control your problem.

TIP! Visit a sleep-disorder specialist. While your normal doctor can start you on basic treatments for apnea, a sleep specialist only works with sleep disorders such as apnea.

Try staying away from going to bed on your back when you have a sleep apnea condition. Back sleeping could result in a collapsed airway, causing your symptoms. Gravity will not pull on your throat muscles and close them up as easily if you turn on your side instead.

TIP! To help get a decent night of sleep, it is important that you are sleeping on your side. When you sleep on your back, your throat tissues and your tongue fall back into your throat making it hard to breathe.

Do not drink any alcoholic type beverages when living with sleep apnea. Alcohol relaxes the muscles in your throat making sleep apnea’s symptoms more severe. You don’t have to stop drinking, you just shouldn’t have any alcohol before bed.

TIP! Wearing a mouth guard can help sleep apnea sufferers get a good night’s sleep. Mouth guards help correct misaligned jaws, which improves airflow to the lungs during sleep.

If you or your partner have excessive problems getting restful sleep due to snoring or breathing issues, then you need to consult your doctor. There are no viable reasons why you have to keep putting it off. This information is welcomed to be shared with others that have sleep apnea.