If your sleep quality is in jeopardy due to sleep apnea, be aggressive about solving the problem. Not getting enough sleep is both dangerous and detrimental to your health. Give the advice ahead careful consideration, and improve your sleep quality, even if you have sleep apnea.
Consider elevating the head of your bed if you suffer from sleep apnea. As you sleep, gravity is constantly pulling on your muscles and causing your airway to close. If you elevate the head of your bed a bit, the slight incline makes it easier for your body to maintain your airway when you are sleeping.
If you have just been diagnosed with sleep apnea and prescribed a CPAP, join a CPAP support group. It can be quite difficult to get used to sleeping with a mask on your face every night. Sitting in a room full of other people going through the same thing can be very empowering. You can learn from others who have had the same issues you are having and made adjustments to make it work.
If you suspect that you have a sleeping disorder, but are unsure, enter a sleep study. They may be able to diagnose your disorder as sleep apnea and make suggestions regarding treatment. Treatments include mouth guards, CPAP, diet changes, and modifications of sleeping habits. You won’t know your options until you speak with someone about it.
Lie on your side when you sleep. A lot of people that suffer from sleep apnea lay down in bed at night on their backs. Sleeping on your back can cause the tissues in your mouth and throat to block your airway. Avoid sleeping on your back and go on your side to make breathing easier. A large body pillow can help keep you from rolling to your back in the middle of the night.
If you are a smoker and suffer from sleep apnea, quit, or at the very least, cut back dramatically. Smoking is dangerous for those who suffer from sleep apnea because it causes swelling to the airways, not to mention all the tar it leaves behind in your lungs and airways.
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.
Tongue exercising may help resolve certain sleep apnea symptoms. For instance, press your tongue into the roof of your mouth for at least three minutes. This will make your throat stronger and prevent the muscles from relaxing too much during sleep and causing apnea.
Avoid heavy drinking when sleep apnea is a problem. If you regularly drink, your throat muscles will relax too much, which will block your airways and cause snoring. Quit drinking, or have only one drink a few hours before bed. This can keep alcohol from messing up your sleep.
If you have sleep apnea and use a CPAP when you sleep at night, do not neglect your filters. It can be easy to forget about this, but you need to make sure your machine operates at maximum efficiency. Wash your reusable filter at least every week, and replace your white pollen filter at least once a month.
If you are going to be on a plane a long time, then get in touch with the airline company to inform them that you need your CPAP machine for sleeping. You will be able to make an arrangement with the airline to use your CPAP. If you happen to be flying overseas on a foreign airline, make sure you have the right power adapter.
While it is common sense to avoid some things before sleeping, like caffeine, many people load up their plates and then go to bed. This is not healthy in general and can worsen sleeping issues like apnea. Avoid eating any heavy meals before going to bed and you will find yourself sleeping better.
If you suffer from sleep apnea now might be the time to see the doctor. There are a multitude of prescription medications available that can help you rest more fully throughout the night. amongst these medications are Lunesta, Ambien, and Rozerem, to name a few. Each of these will help you get a full 8 hours of restful sleep.
Learn to recognize sleep apnea. If you snore a lot or choke and can’t breathe during the night, this is probably a sign of sleep apnea. Use a tape recorded if you sleep alone and listen to the tape to find out how much noise you make during the night.
Try nasal spray to help alleviate your troubling sleep apnea symptoms. Moistening of the nasal passages can decrease snoring and increase comfort! Use a little about ten minutes prior to going to bed and your sleep should be improved; for extra relief, place a humidifier in the room as well.
Avoid anything that can make your sleep apnea worse, especially high altitudes. Sleeping in a high altitude ie. airplanes can actually make your symptoms worse as the loss of oxygen increases. If you must travel, make sure you talk to your physician about how you can relieve your symptoms of sleep apnea.
If you suspect that you might have sleep apnea, see your doctor and get a referral for a sleep study. A sleep lab can tell you if your sleep apnea is a correct diagnosis for you or whether something else is going on. They can also recommend what will be helpful to your situation. Once you know about your condition and its severity, you can start getting treated.
Sleep is not something you can skimp on. Print this article out and keep it with you so that you can ask your doctor questions about what you have learned here. Talk to him or her about different types of treatments that will help move you toward a well-rested life again.
