Helpful Tips For Living With Sleep Apnea
Do not freak out if you get a diagnosis of sleep apnea. Although the disorder can have dramatic, negative health consequences, if treated properly it is possible to live a normal life. Learn what you can about sleep apnea and what works for you. That is what this article is all about. Try these tips out and consult with your doctor.
Get a custom mouth guard. These are made especially for those suffering from sleep apnea. The mouth guard is more comfortable to use than a CPAP machine that works by applying constant positive airway pressure. The soft tissues are given the support that they need to keep the airways open.
If your physician has prescribed a CPAP machine, do try to sleep a minimum of four hours with it nightly. Many folks have difficulty adjusting to the CPAP in the beginning. However, in order to be effective, the CPAP has to be used for four hour every night. Keep trying to use your machine, and work up to a full night slowly if you need to.
Eating well can help you become thinner, which can often reduce sleep apnea symptoms. Changing from a poor diet to a healthy one can transform your sleep apnea symptoms. There is scientific data that suggests that eating a poor diet can worsen sleep apnea, independent of a person's weight.
Avoid drinking much alcohol. Your muscles will over-relax when you use alcohol, especially before bed. Even though you may enjoy the relaxing effects, this can contribute to sleep apnea events. Your throat muscles become relaxed and cause your airways to become blocked. While it's not vital that alcohol be avoided 100%, do what you can to make sure you do not drink it before a nap or nighttime sleep.
Avoid sleeping pills if you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea. These pills can cause your throat muscles to relax and keep your airways from properly functioning. Sleeping pills can actually really harm you and prevent any air from coming through your body, so stay away from them as much as possible.
When dealing with sleep apnea it is best to keep a regular sleeping schedule. Sleep apnea already disrupts your rest more than it should. Anything you can do to restore a natural sleep pattern will assist you in regaining your health and avoiding daytime sleepiness. Go to sleep and wake up at set times each day, even the weekends, for the best results.
Those with sleep apnea should treat any symptoms of sinus or allergy problems. You already find it hard to breathe during the night because of your symptoms. You don't want to have anything else that hinders your breathing while you sleep. Try and clear your airways as much as possible, and keep your nasal problems to a minimum.
Choose only one, flatter pillow to sleep on each night instead of fluffy pillows. Puffy pillows, or using too many pillows, can put you in a position that interferes with your breathing. Not only is this bad for your neck in general, it also restricts your airway. Use a single pillow for maximum relief from your sleep apnea.
If you can't see a doctor about your sleep apnea, you can still do some things to help yourself. Quitting smoking and losing weight are beneficial to anyone, particularly those that have sleep apnea. It is also important to avoid consuming alcohol, caffeine and heavy meals at least two hours prior to going to sleep.
Speak with your doctor about writing you a prescription for a heated humidifier if you have a CPAP machine to sleep. If the air you breathe is moist, you have a higher chance of sleeping better and continuing your CPAP machine application. Your physician can help you select a full-featured CPAP machine that includes an on-board humidifier.
Sleeping in certain positions can also impact your sleep apnea. You need to find the right position. Lift your body up on a foam wedge. An even better idea is to lift the top part of the bed by about four inches, if you can.
Remember, it's not easy to spot your own sleep apnea when sleeping. You need to let your doctor know if you have excessive daytime sleepiness, frequent exhaustion or episodes of falling asleep at the wheel. These symptoms are classic signs of sleep apnea that should be investigated even if you haven't experienced breathing issues while sleeping.
Take hold of your sleep apnea and seek out a cure for it. Avoiding a visit to the doctor will only prolong finding treatment, and your symptoms can get worse over time. Do not wait for your snoring and inability to remain asleep to get worse: if you think you might have sleep apnea, go to your doctor.
If you have sleep problems, then consult your doctor to find the root of them by getting a comprehensive sleep study. This procedure will let you know if you're suffering with sleep apnea and what you are dealing with. The next step is to find a treatment for your problem, even if you have a very mild case of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can produce serious repercussions in your overall state of health, especially if you don't do anything to treat it. As you can now see, there are things you can do to treat it. Start with the information from this post; apply what you learned so that you live a healthier and happier life.
Get a custom mouth guard. These are made especially for those suffering from sleep apnea. The mouth guard is more comfortable to use than a CPAP machine that works by applying constant positive airway pressure. The soft tissues are given the support that they need to keep the airways open.
If your physician has prescribed a CPAP machine, do try to sleep a minimum of four hours with it nightly. Many folks have difficulty adjusting to the CPAP in the beginning. However, in order to be effective, the CPAP has to be used for four hour every night. Keep trying to use your machine, and work up to a full night slowly if you need to.
Eating well can help you become thinner, which can often reduce sleep apnea symptoms. Changing from a poor diet to a healthy one can transform your sleep apnea symptoms. There is scientific data that suggests that eating a poor diet can worsen sleep apnea, independent of a person's weight.
Avoid drinking much alcohol. Your muscles will over-relax when you use alcohol, especially before bed. Even though you may enjoy the relaxing effects, this can contribute to sleep apnea events. Your throat muscles become relaxed and cause your airways to become blocked. While it's not vital that alcohol be avoided 100%, do what you can to make sure you do not drink it before a nap or nighttime sleep.
Avoid sleeping pills if you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea. These pills can cause your throat muscles to relax and keep your airways from properly functioning. Sleeping pills can actually really harm you and prevent any air from coming through your body, so stay away from them as much as possible.
When dealing with sleep apnea it is best to keep a regular sleeping schedule. Sleep apnea already disrupts your rest more than it should. Anything you can do to restore a natural sleep pattern will assist you in regaining your health and avoiding daytime sleepiness. Go to sleep and wake up at set times each day, even the weekends, for the best results.
Those with sleep apnea should treat any symptoms of sinus or allergy problems. You already find it hard to breathe during the night because of your symptoms. You don't want to have anything else that hinders your breathing while you sleep. Try and clear your airways as much as possible, and keep your nasal problems to a minimum.
Choose only one, flatter pillow to sleep on each night instead of fluffy pillows. Puffy pillows, or using too many pillows, can put you in a position that interferes with your breathing. Not only is this bad for your neck in general, it also restricts your airway. Use a single pillow for maximum relief from your sleep apnea.
If you can't see a doctor about your sleep apnea, you can still do some things to help yourself. Quitting smoking and losing weight are beneficial to anyone, particularly those that have sleep apnea. It is also important to avoid consuming alcohol, caffeine and heavy meals at least two hours prior to going to sleep.
Speak with your doctor about writing you a prescription for a heated humidifier if you have a CPAP machine to sleep. If the air you breathe is moist, you have a higher chance of sleeping better and continuing your CPAP machine application. Your physician can help you select a full-featured CPAP machine that includes an on-board humidifier.
Sleeping in certain positions can also impact your sleep apnea. You need to find the right position. Lift your body up on a foam wedge. An even better idea is to lift the top part of the bed by about four inches, if you can.
Remember, it's not easy to spot your own sleep apnea when sleeping. You need to let your doctor know if you have excessive daytime sleepiness, frequent exhaustion or episodes of falling asleep at the wheel. These symptoms are classic signs of sleep apnea that should be investigated even if you haven't experienced breathing issues while sleeping.
Take hold of your sleep apnea and seek out a cure for it. Avoiding a visit to the doctor will only prolong finding treatment, and your symptoms can get worse over time. Do not wait for your snoring and inability to remain asleep to get worse: if you think you might have sleep apnea, go to your doctor.
If you have sleep problems, then consult your doctor to find the root of them by getting a comprehensive sleep study. This procedure will let you know if you're suffering with sleep apnea and what you are dealing with. The next step is to find a treatment for your problem, even if you have a very mild case of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can produce serious repercussions in your overall state of health, especially if you don't do anything to treat it. As you can now see, there are things you can do to treat it. Start with the information from this post; apply what you learned so that you live a healthier and happier life.
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