Physicians and sufferers alike are all too familiar with the agony sleep apnea can create. The best way to tackle the problems this condition tends to cause is to educate yourself thoroughly on the topic. The information and advice that follows offers you a great start on the road to increased awareness about the causes and treatments for this frustrating disorder.
Skip sleeping pills if you are prone to bouts of sleep apnea. You may feel you need them to get to sleep, but they have a similar effect as alcohol on the body. They also have additional side effects besides the obvious ones. Stay away if you want to lessen your sleep apnea symptoms.
For people who are using a CPAP machine, you need to take notes to give to your doctor. If you experience any symptoms, like snoring, that were eliminated when you started using the CPAP machine and they come back, you need to let your doctor know. Only your doctor can properly assess any problems.
Consider sleeping sitting up if you have sleep apnea, and you do not have a CPAP available. Perhaps you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, but you have not had your CPAP prescribed yet. Maybe the power went out, and your CPAP will not work without electricity. Whenever you have to sleep without the benefit of CPAP therapy, sleeping sitting up will help to keep your airway from collapsing.
Even children can suffer from sleep apnea. IF you have a child with sleep apnea you can tell through poor grades, irritability, or hostility. The symptoms often resemble those of ADHD, but you must consult with your doctor to know for sure.
Do not let sleep apnea ruin your relationship. If your partner has difficulties sleeping next to you because of your snoring or other symptoms linked to sleep apnea, communicate about the problem. be understanding and consider sleeping apart or getting a CPAP machine to reduce your snoring and other symptoms.
Attempt sleeping on the side. A lot of people who suffer from sleep apnea are back sleepers. Sleeping on your back can cause the tissues in your mouth and throat to block your airway. Sleeping sideways facilitates breathing. If you have a hard time sleeping on your back all night, you can try to prop pillows around yourself to prevent you from sleeping on your back.
When you suffer from sleep apnea, you should do your best to stick to the same sleep schedule each day. Sleeping at weird hours of the day can worsen your sleep apnea. Getting treatment from a doctor is just one part of the solution. Making sure that you don’t disrupt your sleep on your own with a lax sleeping schedule is another part of the solution. Go to sleep and wake up at set times each day, even the weekends, for the best results.
Choose only one, flatter pillow to sleep on each night instead of fluffy pillows. Larger or stacked pillows can put your airways in an awkward position and limit your breathing. It will make breathing harder than it needs to be. So, you should stick to one pillow to help lessen any sleep apnea symptoms.
Do not drink too much alcohol if you have sleep apnea. Alcohol makes the throat muscles over-relax, resulting in blocked airways and snoring. If you can, avoid all alcohol or make sure not to drink at all at least 4 hours before bedtime. This helps to avoid the problem of alcohol harming you from getting a good night’s sleep.
People suffering from sleep apnea are well advised not to sleep on their backs. Being on your back can compress your airways, leading to breathing problems that wake you up. Try side-sleeping, but if you can’t do it naturally, try propping a pillow to force your body onto a side every night.
Did you know that blowing up a balloon has another benefit besides making your child happy? This is actually a great exercise to strengthen the airways for those that suffer from sleep apnea. Repeating this balloon inflation five times in succession is recommended to get the most out of this exercise.
Back sleepers make up the majority of sleep apnea sufferers. Should you be one of these, make a change in your sleeping position. It’s been proven that sleeping on the side of your body can greatly reduce the effects of sleep apnea.
If you take sedatives or sleeping pills and suffer from sleep apnea, discontinue these medications. Many of these medicines relax your muscles, including those in your airways. This leads to an increased likelihood of sleep apnea. If you are having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor about other options that will not affect your breathing.
Learn to control anxiety, to lessen the severity of sleep apnea symptoms. Just facing a restless night of sleep can create enough anxiety to keep you up! Learn effective anxiety-control methods that will enable you to clear your mind of problems, including the possibility of experiencing sleep apnea, so that you increase the chances of actually getting to sleep.
You need to get a mouth guard that is custom made for you! You can get plastic mouth guards for cheap these days, and they are worth the investment. Sometimes the shape of the jaw can determine whether or not you have this affliction.
Work with your personal health care provider in curing your sleep apnea. It is important that you get proper treatment for your sleep problems. Always keep your physician informed about your symptoms and any problems you are experiencing. They will be able to help you find the cure for your sleep apnea.
Experts and laypeople agree that sleep apnea can be among the most debilitating disorders a person can have. The impact it has on overall health can be quite severe, and sometimes even life threatening. With any luck, the information contained in the preceding article has provided you with the knowledge you need to approach sleep apnea proactively and effectively on behalf of yourself or someone you love.
