The exasperation and heartbreak sleep apnea can cause in the lives of sufferers and their family members cannot be overestimated. For this reason, it is crucial for those affected by this condition to gain as much information as possible. The collection of tips and guidance that follows below is a great place to start.
Getting a CPAP machine is probably the best option for your sleep apnea. These machines will keep your airways open and help you breathe. You should talk to your doctor about CPAP machines and figure out which model would be the most adapted. This machine should work if you use it properly.
Alleviate you sleep apnea by loosing weight. Many studies have demonstrated that sleep apnea can be significantly improved or even eliminated when patients slim down. You can go to the gym, join exercise classes or just get out and walk. Taking off the extra pounds will help you sleep more soundly.
If you have sleep apnea, be sure to ask your doctor every five years if you should have a follow-up sleep study. As your weight and health change, your CPAP pressure may need to be adjusted. The most accurate way to reassess your needs is to have another sleep study with CPAP so the appropriate pressure can be determined.
Stop smoking. Smoking cigarettes is bad for you for many different reasons. Smoking can also cause sleep apnea. It isn’t just bad for your lungs; it can also cause your upper airway to swell. This can make it difficult for you to get the breath that you need at night.
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.
Try sleeping in a different position (such as on the side) rather than on your back. If you sleep on your back, this can make your sleep apnea worse. When you lay on your back during sleep, the tongue and soft palate shift to the back, which obstructs your airway. It’s easier to breathe when looking to the side. Put a pillow on your side if you always find yourself moving around during sleep.
If you do not know if your snoring is from sleep apnea or just simple snoring, try using a sleep diary. In this diary, you will need to record how much time you spend in bed, the number of times that you awaken each night, and how tired you feel when you arise in the morning.
Use a chin strap if you find your mouth continuing to fall open while you sleep with a CPAP machine. The chin strap will help hold you chin up during the time you are sleep which keeps your mouth closed. CPAP therapy will not work if your mouth is open, so try this simple device to see if it fixes the problem.
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.
Lower risk factors for sleep apnea. Some things you can’t help, of course. So make sure you try to avoid doing things like this so you don’t get sleep apnea.
If you smoke cigarettes and are suffering from sleep apnea, now is the best time to quit this habit. When you smoke, you are increasing the inflammation and the fluid retention in your throat along with your upper airways, and that will contribute greatly to sleep apnea. Once you quit, you should notice your symptoms start to lessen.
Even though you want to sleep better, do not take sleeping medication if you suffer from, or have a history of sleep apnea. What you may think will help will only make the condition worse by relaxing your muscles even more when you sleep. If you suffer from insomnia along with sleep apnea, speak with your doctor.
You should adopt a healthy lifestyle and monitor your weight and blood pressure. Your doctor should be able to advise you on your diet and perhaps on a fitness program if you need to be more active. Living a healthy life should really help you reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Getting a sufficient amount of sleep every night (about 7 to 8 hours) helps to decrease sleep apnea episodes. It has been proven that sleep apnea is less likely to occur when the body is well rested and relaxed. Try to have a specific sleep schedule and stick to it each night.
Taking the time to exercise your jaw and stick out your tongue may seem like children’s play. In a recent scientific study, people who performed jaw and tongue exercises daily were able to relieve some of their sleep apnea symptoms. It may not work for everyone, but could be worth a try for a good night’s rest.
When you are sleeping, in addition to laying on your side, it is also useful to prop your head up. This can be done by using an extra pillow or even a special pillow designed for people who suffer from apnea. A special wedge pillow is the perfect shape for this function.
The impact of sleep apnea on sufferers and their loved ones is unquestionably quite serious. To truly get a handle on the situation and find viable solutions, solid information is a necessity. By reviewing the information in the preceding piece, you are well on your way to possessing a thorough understanding of the causes and potential treatments for sleep apnea.
