If you suffer from sleep apnea, you know how elusive a good night’s sleep can be. Unfortunately, you also know how difficult it is to go through life without sufficient sleep. Help is here, with good advice on how to overcome the symptoms of sleep apnea, in the tips of the following article.
Do throat and tongue exercises daily to reduce your apnea symptoms. The results of recent research suggest that jaw exercise, and tongue exercises can greatly reduce the presence of sleep apnea symptoms. Doing just a few of these exercises every day can help you get a good night of rest.
Start sleeping on your side. When you sleep on your back and have sleep apnea, your airway gets block by your tongue and throat tissues. To avoid rolling onto your back once you are asleep, try sleeping with pillows cushioning your side. This helps prevent you from turning onto your back.
Exercise your neck and throat. Sleep apnea is caused by your throat becoming obstructed as you sleep. By strengthening the muscles in your neck, throat, and jaw, you can help your muscles withstand the pressure. Spend a few minutes every day performing exercises designed for the jaw and neck area.
Do not let sleep apnea ruin your relationship. If your partner has difficulties sleeping next to you because of your snoring or other symptoms linked to sleep apnea, communicate about the problem. be understanding and consider sleeping apart or getting a CPAP machine to reduce your snoring and other symptoms.
Your doctor might ask you to write down when you sleep and wake. Sleep logs are records where patients write down the length and quality of their sleep. If you sleep with another person, they’ll be able to help you keep track of snoring, interruptions in breathing, or jerking of your limbs. This will allow your doctor to see if you’re suffering from sleep apnea.
If you use a CPAP machine, make sure the mask fits well. Most people who quit using their CPAP machine usually say it is because the machine is uncomfortable. There are a number of different masks available, so you are not forced to use one that causes discomfort. Try out many different styles to find the right one.
If you think that you may have sleep apnea, set up a video of yourself as you sleep. Just be sure that the video recorder has sound capability. When you wake up, look at the video, and if it seems like something other than snoring is going on, it may be time to go to the doctor.
Sleep apnea does not go away on its own; patients need treatment. Different treatment options work well for some people, but not others. Dropping some pounds might help your sleep apnea, but that might not be the cause. Millions of sleep apnea sufferers find relief from non-surgical options like CPAP machines. Some actually choose to have surgery done, where airway restrictions are physically removed. Whatever path you choose, having any kind of treatment done is the secret to resuming a full and rich lifestyle.
Quit smoking. Not only is it a good idea to quit smoking for your health in general, but it will also help with your sleep apnea. Smoking affects your lungs and respiratory system, causing your airways to swell and exacerbating your sleep apnea. By quitting, you allow your airways to return to normal and as an added bonus, you’ll also save a ton of money!
Contact the airline you will be flying on if you are flying overseas and will need to sleep on the airplane. The airline may seat you in a convenient place to make using your machine easier. If you are flying to a foreign destination, bring along a power adapter.
Learn to recognize sleep apnea. If you snore a lot or choke and can’t breathe during the night, this is probably a sign of sleep apnea. Use a tape recorded if you sleep alone and listen to the tape to find out how much noise you make during the night.
Make sure that you are getting enough sleep every night. When you are sleep deprived, you may notice that your sleep apnea is worse. You also want the room you are sleeping in set up so that you can get a good night sleep. It should be dark, quiet and you should feel comfortable and at peace while you are sleeping.
Some people may experience sleepiness brought on by sleep apnea. Make sure that if you are one of the many who experience this, don’t operate any vehicles or heavy machinery. Do the responsible thing and get the right treatment. Don’t operate any vehicles or machinery without treatment, as you can be a hazard to yourself and others.
Check with your doctor about any medications that you are taking that may be causing your sleep apnea symptoms. Some prescription medications, such as muscle relaxers, may, in fact, promote the collapse of the soft tissue in the back of the throat which can contribute to the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Go to a doctor to get your potential sleep apnea checked out. Sleep apnea is a serious condition, so just guessing at a diagnosis could be dangerous. Let your physician know about everything that has transpired, find out what is causing it, and immediately take the necessary action.
Nasal strips may help lessen your symptoms of sleep apnea. These types of strips i.e. Breathe Right may be able to open your nasal passages. Remember that clogged nasal passages may not be your reason for sleep apnea problems, but these over-the-counter nasal strips may help you relieve or lessen symptoms.
Sleep deprivation is an awful sentence to suffer through, but that’s what sleep apnea gives you. Hopefully, this article has given you some helpful ways in which you can deal with the symptoms of sleep apnea, and start getting the much needed quality sleep you are in need of.
