Like many other ailments, people are not properly informed about the reality of sleep apnea, especially if they have never dealt with it before. Many people begin to develop this issue later in life and are unaware of how to reduce problems with it- that is where this article comes in with useful tips!
You should know that using a CPAP machine can cause certain side effects, including snoring, congestion, irritation or dryness in your mouth and airways. If this occurs, you should go to your doctor and make sure you are using your machine properly. Consider using a different mask or a different machine.
Believe it or not, wind instruments can help you deal with your sleep apnea. German researchers suggest playing the didgeridoo regularly trains your upper airway muscles. You’ll have better control over your airway’s dilation and the stiffness of the surrounding tissues if you exercise these muscles. Therefore, you should regularly play these instruments due to the fact that they decrease your sleep apnea symptoms.
Adjust your CPAP machine. Most machines come with default settings that might not correspond to your needs. You should be able to regulate the airflow: try different settings and choose one that seems to work for you. If you feel like your machine is not working like it should, try changing the settings again.
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.
To keep your sleep apnea in check, eat a healthy diet to lose weight. Many people may be surprised how much a poor diet plays in the symptoms of sleep apnea. People who do not eat well, or are overweight, may suffer from sleep apnea.
Try some throat and mouth exercises. One reason people suffer from sleep apnea is because their throats close when they sleep. Strengthening these muscles can decrease the chance that they will go slack while you are sleeping. Try some tongue, jaw and neck exercises to increase your throat strength.
If you have to use a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, you may find it hard to get used to at first. It is important that you do not quit using the machine, though. Focus on the benefits of the machine rather than the inconvenience. It will make life safer for yourself and others. Daytime sleepiness caused by sleep apnea is a major risk factor for car accidents, for instance.
A good way to determine if you are suffering from sleep apnea is by recording yourself when you sleep. You can do either an audio or video recording to catch your sleep patterns and sounds you generate when you are in a deep slumber. These recordings can be quite informative. Try doing them for several nights in a row to get a good range of information.
Minimize the risk factors associated with sleep apnea. Certain risk factors that are associated with the condition cannot be controlled, such as being a man or having a family history of it. But, there are other things you can do to cut out risks such as not smoking or drinking heavily, and also managing your weight.
One great tip for people who sleep with an apnea sufferer is to use a white-noise machine. While this won’t target the problem at all, it does at least help the partner to get a good night’s sleep. Remember to use the same sound every night in order to sync the noise with relaxation.
If you have sleep apnea, you should not drink excessively. Consuming alcohol results in throat relaxation that is more than normal. Snoring and obstructed air passages both result. You should either quit drinking, or try and limit it to an occasional drink before going to bed. This will help you know that alcohol is not affecting the quality of your sleep.
If you have sleep apnea, and you have to have a sleep study, considering taking your pillow from home with you. It can be very difficult to sleep in the sleep lab. You are in an unfamiliar place in a strange bed. You have lots of wires, and electrodes attached to you. Having your own pillow can help to relax you and make it easier to fall asleep.
If you use a CPAP machine and suffer from dry mouth as a result, there are two solutions. First, try increasing the humidity of your system. If that doesn’t work, you can also try a chin strap. One or both of these solutions can prevent the air leakage that causes dry mouth.
How you sleep can affect your condition. Because of this, your sleeping position should be the best possible one. You can try using a foam wedge; it will elevate your upper body. Talk to your doctor about other ways of sleeping that will be beneficial to you.
Sleep apnea is caused by a blockage when you are sleeping, that results in a cessation of breathing. In order to address this, you can buy an over the counter nose strip. This will help ensure that your airways are open for the duration of your sleep, and as such you will not be affected by sleep apnea.
When suffering from a problem like sleep apnea, you should always check out the basics of your life first. If you smoke, overeat, eat late at night, or ingest high quantities of caffeine, simply changing these life habits may be enough to improve your overall sleep situation without any surgeries.
These tips were written especially for people who suffer from apnea, whether directly or indirectly as a bed partner. While it can be quite difficult to completely remove apnea from your life, there are ways to live with it, and these were touched on in this useful sleep apnea article.
