Are you perplexed how you can spend a full night asleep in bed and then wind up not rested enough? If you’ve ruled everything else out, maybe you have sleep apnea. This is fine, you just have to figure out how to deal with it.
Try getting fitted for a custom-made mouth guard. These are a great aid to sufferers of sleep apnea. Instead of using a CPAP device, you can use a mouth guard. A mouth guard will work by positioning the jaw and tongue in a helpful way that will allow for easier breathing while asleep.
You really need to do your best to lose weight if you have sleep apnea. Those who have sleep apnea typically have a neck circumference of 17 inches or more. This excess weight around the throat causes the airway to collapse more easily during sleep. Reducing your weight by even ten pounds can have a beneficial impact on your sleep apnea.
Look for other sleeping aids besides sleeping pills. In the same way that alcohol does, sleeping pills over-relax throat muscles. They can also cause a significant number of additional complications for sleep apnea patients. Consult your physician to find out about possible ways to get to sleep to faster that won’t react poorly with your sleep apnea.
Losing weight is a simple and proven effective method of decreasing your chances of suffering from sleep apnea. Lots of people have found they can eliminate their sleep apnea by dropping all their excess fat. Even small amounts of weight loss have been shown to improve sleep apnea symptoms and open up the throat and airways.
If you have to use a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, you may find it hard to get used to at first. It is important that you do not quit using the machine, though. Focus on the benefits of the machine rather than the inconvenience. It will make life safer for yourself and others. Daytime sleepiness caused by sleep apnea is a major risk factor for car accidents, for instance.
Doctors often recommend that sleep apnea patients consider treatment with a CPAP – Continuous Positive Airway Protection – mask and machine. The machine sends air through a hose to a mask covering your nose. The purpose is to help keep your airway open so you are breathing normally as you sleep. While the machine may initially seem a little foreign and uncomfortable, a great many patients adapt quickly and find they are getting much more restful sleep as a result.
A great way to ensure that you do not sleep on your back and cause sleep apnea to occur is to use a tennis ball to prevent rolling onto your back. You can place one in a pillow behind your back and when you roll over in your sleep, the tennis ball will make you roll back on your side.
If you have sleep apnea, do not sleep laying on your back. The majority of sleep apnea sufferers sleep on their backs, which makes it easy for their airways to become blocked. Lie on your side and support yourself with pillows to avoid rolling onto your back.
New apnea patients who are being fitted for CPAP equipment should insist on trying out several mask options. It is customary for the DME providers (Durable Medical Equipment) to show up at your door with a CPAP machine and a basic mask. Truth be told, there are many different styles of masks, and finding the best style for you dramatically improves your compliance with the CPAP therapy. Take the upper hand and insist that they show you a variety of masks, even if you have to go into their showroom. Like so many health issues, knowledge is the key. You will get better service and far more relief by knowing your options and speaking your mind.
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.
Without a doubt, one major contributor to the level of severity of sleep apnea is weight. If you find yourself to be a few pounds overweight it may be time to hit the gym. Studies have shown losing weight has drastically reduced, and sometimes altogether gotten rid of the symptoms of sleep 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.
If a breathing device hasn’t solved your sleep apnea problems, then you may want to consider a dental device. There are a variety of types of these, but they can mostly be made by an orthodontist. They work by changing the shape of your mouth and throat while you sleep and removing obstructions.
Throat exercise will strengthen the muscles in the throat, keeping them from collapsing during the night. Try pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth, then hold it there for two or three minutes. You can also use a balloon. First take a deep breath through your nasal passages, then inflate the balloon as much as possible. Repeat this five times. These exercises will strengthen your airway muscles.
Do you feel better prepared to deal with sleep apnea? By following the tips presented here, you may be better able to sleep tonight! Keep in mind that this is a long process. Immediate results are not likely. But keep at it and in time you will see the improvement you want.
