While anyone suffering from any medical condition, including sleep apnea, should always seek out medical attention, there are also some things that can be done alone. The most important thing to do is seek out information and tips, and that is exactly what this article is here for- information about sleep apnea.
If you have sleep apnea and cannot break the habit of sleeping on your back, try sleeping in a t-shirt with two tennis balls sewn into the back. Making this sleep shirt is a simple project to do at home, and it can help to break you of sleeping on your back. Every time you try to roll over on your back in your sleep, the tennis balls will remind you to roll back onto your side.
Exercise your throat. Make faces. Stick out your tongue. Rotate your jaw. It might feel a bit silly, but it can actually help people who suffer from sleep apnea. Doing these things exercises the muscles your body needs to moderate its breathing. Studies have shown that doing these exercises a few times a day can make a huge difference.
Try sleeping on your side to prevent sleep apnea from robbing you of a good night’s sleep. When you sleep on your back, the airways get obstructed due to the throat and nasal passages being more prone to obstruction. Be sure to go to sleep sideways and find out if that helps you to sleep tonight.
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.
If you have sleep apnea and were just prescribed a CPAP, keep trying different masks until you find the one that fits you just right. Some masks may not be the right size or shape for your face. If your CPAP mask is leaking air into your eyes all night or rubbing the skin on your forehead raw, ask your sleep center to prescribe a different mask for you.
Shed pounds if you want to get rid of your sleep apnea. There are a number of people who only need to lose a few pounds to entirely stop their sleep apnea episodes. You can have relief from sleep apnea symptoms by losing as little as 10 pounds.
An excellent way to reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea is to prop up your head and body. If you can get your head at least 4 inches off of the mattress or elevate your torso from the waist up, you will reduce your symptoms. Try using a foam wedge or cervical pillow when sleeping to do this.
There are different ways that sleep specialists will treat sleep apnea. They may start by treating an underlying medical condition, using oxygen while you are sleeping or utilizing breathing devices that will manage your obstructive sleep apnea. They could prescribe medications that will help with the sleepiness, but will not help with the apnea itself.
If you are trying to sleep on your side to avoid problems with sleep apnea, one way to do ensure you stay on your side is to put hard round object in your clothes. This will help you to stay on your side throughout an entire night’s sleep and avoid apnea.
To lessen the severity of your sleep apnea at night, move around more during the day! Studies have shown that prolonged inactivity during the day will cause fluid-shifting and airway narrowing by the end of the day, when you lay back or down. To avoid this complication of sleep apnea, get up and stretch at least once every hour.
Alcohol has also been shown to negatively exacerbate the symptoms of sleep apnea. As a depressant it relaxes your throat muscles, making it easier for your airway to become blocked. By not drinking in the hours leading up to bedtime you give yourself a better chance of keeping your airways open.
Surgery may be your answer. If you have tried the at-home treatments with no success, surgery may be required to cure your sleep apnea. If your apnea is caused by severe misalignment of your jaw, you may require surgery to correct your alignment, thus enlarging your airway and curing the sleep apnea.
If you are thinking about some kind of oral device to help with your sleep apnea, you must get it custom fitted by a dentist who specializes in sleep apnea. These devices can have side effects sucks as saliva build-up, soreness, nausea or a permanent position change in the jaw, so regular consultations with your dentist are required.
Avoid sleeping on your back. Sleeping on your back allows gravity to compound your sleep apnea. If your airway is already prone to collapse, sleeping on your back will make it much more likely to occur. If you find yourself turning onto your back as you sleep, consider sewing a tennis ball to the back of your pajamas to discourage it.
If you’re dealing with sleep apnea, you should tone up your throat muscles. This strengthening may prevent future collapsing of your airways. You can make soft noises, put your tongue in and out of your mouth, make faces, or even take up a wind instrument. These exercises will help make your throat stronger.
Keeping your allergies under control can help to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of sleep apnea. Avoid allergy triggers such as pet hair, cigarette smoke, dust and mold. These allergens can cause inflammation of the delicate airways, and this can contribute to restricted breathing, which can cause sleep apnea symptoms.
Remember, this article doesn’t substitute a doctor’s advice, but it is a great resource for people who want tips about living with sleep apnea. If someone follows these tips they will be able to learn how to have a fulfilling, rested life in spite of living with sleep apnea daily.
