Is sleep apnea keeping you up at night? This rather common condition affects many people and some people don’t even know they have it. There are some things you can do to make loving with condition a little more bearable. The following article will help you sleep better with sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can be connected to your weight. If you are overweight, consider going on a diet to lose a few pounds. Studies have shown that overweight people who suffer from sleep apnea were able to improve their symptoms by losing about 25 pounds in a year: give it a try!
Your doctor or a sleep specialist can help you find the CPAP machine that is best suited for your needs and comfort. The noise level of a CPAP machine and its overall size are both points to take into consideration. The newer CPAP machines are much smaller and quieter than earlier ones were. Your doctor should be able to point you in the right direction of a capable machine.
Skip sleeping pills if you are prone to bouts of sleep apnea. You may feel you need them to get to sleep, but they have a similar effect as alcohol on the body. They also have additional side effects besides the obvious ones. Stay away if you want to lessen your sleep apnea symptoms.
Taking up a musical instrument (especially a wind instrument) can have a positive effect on your sleep apnea. Research in Germany has shown that playing an instrument called the didgeridoo can train the muscles in your upper airways and strengthen them. The upper air passage muscles control the size of your airway. Regular playing can significantly reduce the occurrence of the symptoms of sleep apnea by allowing these muscle to function properly and letting you get a peaceful night’s rest.
Adjust your CPAP machine. Most machines come with default settings that might not correspond to your needs. You should be able to regulate the airflow: try different settings and choose one that seems to work for you. If you feel like your machine is not working like it should, try changing the settings again.
It’s vital that you don’t use any type of sleeping pill when you suffer from sleep apnea. The pills may relax the throat muscles so much that your airways do not function properly. Having a bad sleep apnea case could make these pills a dangerous option. It may be tempting to use these pills to sleep better, but it’s not worth the risk.
Take the steps to find out if you actually have sleep apnea. Those who snore don’t necessarily have the disorder. If you have a sleeping partner, ask them questions about your actions during sleep. Do you stop breathing and gasp for air? That is a sure sign of sleep apnea.
There are known risk factors for sleep apnea. Some of obstructive sleep apnea risk factors are being overweight, a smoker, male, related to someone with sleep apnea or being Hispanic, Black, or a Pacific Islander. If you have one or more of these risk factors, you are more prone to being diagnosed with sleep apnea.
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, it is essential that you stop smoking immediately. People who smoke are 3 times more likely to suffer from sleep apnea than non smokers or those who have quit smoking. There are many wonderful programs that can help you kick the habit.
It’s important to lose weight if you suffer from sleep apnea and you are overweight. The heavier you are, the harder it is for air to get down your throat. In fact, some studies suggest that obese people who suffer from sleep apnea can get rid of the condition by losing weight.
If you have sleep apnea, do not use sleeping pills. These medications work to relax the throat muscles, which is not what you need to cure sleep apnea. They can also cause a lot of other problems, so it is best to stay away from them. If you have a hard time falling asleep at night, try learning some natural ways to rest your body.
If you do not have a partner who can relay how your breathing is during the night, try recording yourself. Set up a camcorder and play it back in the morning. Then you can see if you stop breathing for long periods of time or snore excessively. Make sure you have enough light for the camera. Modern cameras will record well in low light, but you do need some.
Did you know that blowing up a balloon has another benefit besides making your child happy? This is actually a great exercise to strengthen the airways for those that suffer from sleep apnea. Repeating this balloon inflation five times in succession is recommended to get the most out of this exercise.
Back sleepers are more likely to suffer with snoring or sleep apnea. If that is you, think about switching to the side. It’s been proven that sleeping on the side of your body can greatly reduce the effects of sleep apnea.
Make sure you don’t drink any alcohol before bed. Alcohol relaxes your throat muscles which makes it hard for air to get through. This only means to reduce your drinking that is close to bedtime.
Do not hesitate to ask your partner for help. Your partner could help you get your CPAP machine ready before you go to sleep and even wake you up if you are choking and gasping in the middle of the night. If your partner is not willing to do these things for you, you should probably find someone who is really there when you need them.
You do not have to look at sleep apnea as something that will ruin your life or your sleep. There are several things that you can do to make sleeping at night a more pleasurable experience. Use the tips in this article to help you deal with this common condition.
