Is sleep apnea keeping you up at night? This rather common condition affects many people and some people don’t even know they have it. There are some things you can do to make loving with condition a little more bearable. The following article will help you sleep better with sleep apnea.
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.
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.
Understand the effects that smoking and drinking alcohol have on sleep apnea, if you are trying to get a grip on your quality of sleep. Smoking enlarges airways, while alcohol can relax them too much, both of which will contribute to the symptoms of sleep apnea severely. Consider making the necessary cut-backs that will cut down on your sleep problems.
Don’t underestimate the potential health consequences of sleep apnea. If you have symptoms of sleep apnea, make an appointment with your doctor. A specialist in sleep disorders can order the tests necessary to diagnose the condition.
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.
Family history is one thing that doctors use to diagnosis sleep apnea. A sleep study can also shed some light on your sleep problems. Your primary physician may find that the best course of action is to send you to see a sleep specialist. These doctors have the specialized expertise necessary to diagnose and treat many sleep disorders including sleep apnea.
Use a single, average-sized pillow for your head at night. Using more than one pillow, or one that is too large, can make you sleep in an odd position. This may result in breathing difficulties, because you end up in odd positions. Use a single pillow for maximum relief from your sleep apnea.
A great way to know if you are experiencing severe apnea is to keep a sleep journal. Write down all the times that you wake up in the night and also record how you feel in the morning. This will help you to have a record to see your progress.
Learn to play a wind instrument. You will like the music and help exercise muscles that can better your breathing. Working these muscles make them stronger, and help you control them, especially when you sleep; this will reduce your sleep apnea.
Believe it or not, it has been scientifically proven that your sleep apnea can be tied to your weight. In a recent study, it was proven that people who have lost at least 25 pounds relieved their sleep apnea symptoms. This drastic slim down should be taken slowly, over the course of at least one year.
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.
Subscribe to a good health insurance policy. Being diagnosed with sleep apnea might cause your premiums to go up, but purchasing a good policy will help you cover the cost of your CPAP machine and frequent visits to the doctor. Compare different policies and purchase the most coverage you can afford.
Getting used to a CPAP machine takes some time. If your doctor prescribes this treatment for your sleep apnea, get used to the machine by trying the mask on during the day, gradually wearing it for longer periods each time. This allows you to get comfortable with the machine, so you will be able to sleep with it.
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, it is important to remember to inform all your other doctors of this. Sleep apnea can affect your overall health and contribute to other health problems. Any doctor who is treating you needs to know that you have a sleep disorder and what you are doing to treat it.
Discuss your sleep apnea with your partner. Evaluate their feeling about it. Spouses are often the first to help sleep apnea sufferers recognize their condition. You need to know how your lack of sleep is affecting your partner, and work on treating your condition for both of your sakes.
Find a bed time ritual that works for you and stick to it. If there are certain things that you can do that bring on a healthy sleep, then continue to do them. You may find that an extended bath mellows you out or reading helps relax you to sleep. Anything that you can find that works should be part of your nightly ritual.
Make sure your doctor knows about other conditions you have and all the medications you take. Some medications you may take for other conditions can be causing your apnea or making it worse. Your doctor may be able to make adjustments in your medications that can relieve your sleep apnea.
You do not have to look at sleep apnea as something that will ruin your life or your sleep. There are several things that you can do to make sleeping at night a more pleasurable experience. Use the tips in this article to help you deal with this common condition.
