There are a lot of people out there who aren’t getting the natural, restful sleep they need and have come to think of their chronic fatigue as an inevitability. The truth is closer than you think. Everyone should be educated about sleep apnea since it is such a serious and prevalent condition.
Try something other than sleeping pills. Sleeping pills are similar to alcohol in that they cause the muscles in your throat to be less tense. In addition, sleeping pills can contribute to many problems associated with sleep apnea. See if your doctor knows of any sleeping medication that doesn’t cause respiratory depression.
Always get enough sleep. When you fail to get a decent amount of sleep on a regular basis or fail to follow a normal sleeping pattern. Insomnia and sleep apnea go hand in hand. So, when you can successfully sleep regularly, your symptoms are less pronounced because you are well rested.
It’s important to lose weight if you suffer from sleep apnea and you are overweight. The heavier you are, the harder it is for air to get down your throat. In fact, some studies suggest that obese people who suffer from sleep apnea can get rid of the condition by losing weight.
If you are a sleep apnea sufferer, it is best to avoid drinking alcohol. Consuming alcohol results in throat relaxation that is more than normal. Snoring and obstructed air passages both result. Therefore, consider quitting your drinking habit, or only drink around 1-2 drinks each day hours before going to bed. In this way, the alcohol will not disturb your sleep.
If you are a trucker who has sleep apnea, take precautions to stay safe on the road. First of all, get yourself properly diagnosed and treated. If your doctor prescribes a CPAP, use it. They are small and easily portable and can run on battery power if necessary. Try to stay fit and get regular sleep to keep your condition under control.
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.
There have been many advances in the treatment of sleep apnea recently and it is in your best interest to explore all of the various options in treatments. If you were unhappy with previous results from past treatments, you may find a new treatment that will work for you and that you will be comfortable with.
If you are one of the many who suffers from sleep apnea, avoid sleeping on your back. Sleeping on your back can block your airways and cause sleep problems. Try side sleeping. If it does not seem natural to you, prop yourself using pillows.
If your sleep apnea is severe, consider asking your SO if they need a separate sleeping area. Your condition shouldn’t be depriving them of sleep as well, but most partners of sleep apnea sufferers complain of frequent complications due to insomnia. Think about how separate sleeping arrangements could benefit someone you care about.
Communicate with your significant other who may be sharing the bed with you. Sleep apnea is a serious condition that has many health risks. It’s important that you, as a family, are aware of those risks, how to combat it and tell-tale signs of side effects that can be harmful.
Find out as much as you can about your sleep apnea. You may know your symptoms and know what the doctor suggests, but do what you can to find out about your health condition. This way, you can be more confident that you are doing what you can to help yourself.
Find ways to achieve a greater state of relaxation before bed, to fight the symptoms of sleep apnea. The more relaxed you are, the better chance you have of finding quality sleep so enjoy a hot soothing bath, quiet read or other activity that will ease you into sleep-mode and help stave off sleep apnea.
If you have sleep apnea, only go to bed when you are actually sleepy. You need to work to establish and maintain good sleep hygiene. This means that you when you get into bed, you actually fall asleep and stay asleep. Wait until you are actually sleepy before retiring for the night, and get back up if you have not fallen asleep within 20 minutes.
Sleep on the side in order to facilitate good rest, if you have apnea. If you sleep on your back, your throat is more likely to constrict and make breathing difficult. Body pillows can be used to make sure you stay on your side throughout the night.
Don’t become impatient with your treatments. You may try things all the time to help your sleep apnea, but one of them will work. Don’t get so discouraged that you say “forget it” and live with your symptoms. Something out there can help you, and it just may take a short time before you find it.
If you are always feeling drowsy during the day and find that it is hard to concentrate on the work you need to do, it may be time to speak to your doctor about the possibility of sleep apnea. You doctor can evaluate your symptoms and recommend some lifestyle changes that will help you get your sleep apnea under control.
Now that you learned a thing or two about sleep apnea, you should be more equipped to deal with this problem in order to help alleviate the symptoms in your life. Feeling tired all the time isn’t normal and you should consult with your doctor.
