Many people do not understand what sleep apnea is and how it can be treated and managed. Sleep apnea is much more than snoring, it is a serious medical affliction that can have a number of negative health consequences. This article contains information on sleep apnea and several tips on how to best treat it.
If you are unsure whether or not you have sleep apnea, consider setting up an audio or video recorder next to your bed. When you review the recording, watch or listen for choking, gasping or other signs that you are not getting enough air as you sleep. Present your findings to your doctor if you suspect that you do have 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.
People who do not have a partner sleeping with them may not know they suffer from sleep apnea. If you wake up with a dry or sore mouth, wake up out of breath, have morning headaches, insomnia, and/or go to the bathroom frequently during the night, you may have sleep apnea and should talk to a doctor.
Going to bed on your side can be something you can do to help you get better rest if you have sleep apnea. When people sleep on their back, their tongue and soft palate rest to the back of the throat, which blocks the airway. Try very hard to rest on your side, and you may find your symptoms alleviated.
Get a mouth guard made especially for sleep. If you have a recessed chin, overbite or a small jaw, they way your jaw sits while you sleep may be causing the breathing problems while you sleep by narrowing your airways. A mouth guard can correct this and help you sleep better.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, make sure your significant other or your family is aware of your condition. In emergency situations, it is vital that whoever is with you can tell the physician treating you about your condition during any emergency medical care. You should make them aware of both the apnea diagnosis and your treatment.
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.
All sleep apnea patients can benefit from information found through the AWAKE Foundation. AWAKE sponsors support groups across the country that are dedicated to educating and informing the public on issues and treatment options related to sleep apnea. These meetings frequently showcase new equipment and mask options for CPAP patients, as well as updates on new trends in treatment. With chapters in most regional areas, AWAKE serves as a very effective support service for patients and their families to get sound and reliable information to improve their health.
Be aware that sleep apnea is not something you will always know is occurring at night. If you are having problems with excessive tiredness or falling asleep during the day with no known cause, talk to your doctor right away. These symptoms may show that you have sleep apnea.
Take hold of your sleep apnea and seek out a cure for it. By not visiting your doctor and searching for a treatment, your sleep apnea symptoms are just going to get worse. Don’t hesitate. Your symptoms will only get worse. See your doctor right away.
Take the time to exercise your throat. Studies have shown that throat exercises can reduce sleep apnea symptoms by almost 40 percent. By practicing throat exercises daily, you can retrain your body to breathe in a way that prevents your sleep apnea. Although it may feel daunting to do the exercises daily, just envision how much more rested and energized you will feel after a good night’s sleep.
Sleep apnea sufferers oftentimes take sleeping pills in an effort to get a good night’s sleep. This is a huge mistake. Taking sleeping pills will actually make it harder for you to breathe while you sleep. This is because sleeping pills relax throat muscles, which leads to your throat getting blocked off. Sleeping pills can also cause lead to a number of other problems, including addiction.
Mild to moderate sleep apnea symptoms can be greatly reduced by exercising regularly, eating a nutritious diet and maintaining healthy sleep patterns. All of these lifestyle choices help you get more restful sleep, stay at a healthy weight and have a greater sense of overall well being. These factors can lead to a decrease in the risk of sleep apnea episodes.
If you have sleep apnea and are looking for a way to improve your sleep, think about using a nasal spray. If your nose is stuffy and clogged up breathing properly during sleep will be incredibly difficult and a nasal spray may be of use. You don’t, however, want to use a nasal spray for an extended period of time because this can cause damage to your nose.
Stay consistent with your treatment. You might be tempted to entertain the thought that skipping a night or so is safe, but you are going to regret it in the morning and not be as functional the next day. Follow the instructions given by your doctor to the letter. This will keep you sleeping better and more rested.
As was discussed in the beginning of this article, many people do not understand sleep apnea and fail to respect just how serious a medical problem it is. If left untreated, the disorder will cause a number of health issues. Apply the tips from this article to successfully treat sleep apnea.
