If you wake up tired all the time, your situation might not be as inevitable as you think it is. However, that tired feeling all day long could be caused by sleep apnea. Use this article to get an idea about sleep apnea.
Do you smoke and/or drink? If the answer is yes and you have sleep apnea, you need to stop both habits. Both of these substances have a negative effect on your ability to breathe while sleeping. Smoking will cause your throat to swell, and alcohol will relax it too much. If you can’t completely eliminate these habits, try avoiding them prior to bed.
It is important to stay away from alcohol if you have sleep apnea because it can help you see some improvement with the condition. Both of these bad habits make the airways relax too much, making sleep apnea worse. Getting rid of these habits can save you money as well.
To relive sleep apnea symptoms, play a wind instrument such as the flute or clarinet. Instruments like the didgeridoo can help you relieve yourself from sleep apnea conditions. It helps to strengthen the muscles in the throat, which collapse during sleep apnea episodes. These are great reasons to take up playing this instrument and easing the symptoms of sleep disorders.
Sleep apnea is a serious health condition. If you find you have some of the symptoms, talk to a physician as soon as you can. Then, if you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, you can talk with a specialist and even use a sleep monitor to understand the severity.
Avoid drinking alcohol very often. Drinking alcohol relaxes the muscles of your throat and airway. While this might often be a desirable side effect of drinking, it can also cause sleep apnea. Your throat muscles may be affected, causing breathing difficulties. If you must drink alcohol, consume it sparingly and at least a few hours before heading to bed.
A diagnosis of sleep apnea is performed by analyzing your medical history as well as your family history, followed by a physical exam. You might also undergo a sleep study. Dependent upon what your personal physician discovers, they might give you a referral to see a sleep specialist.
Children can suffer from sleep apnea, also. Children who breathe through their mouth rather than their nose can suffer from sleep apnea. Other symptoms can include hyperactivity, poor grades, irritability or hostility. These symptoms are much like ADHD so you should make sure you get the right diagnosis.
Sleeping by yourself can keep you from knowing if you have the symptoms of sleep apnea. One way to check out your sleeping habits is to train a video camera on yourself. The video should be equipped with sound so that doctors can also hear any noises that occur during your sleep.
Sleep on your side as much as possible. Many people with sleep apnea sleep while on their backs. When you lay on your back during sleep, the tongue and soft palate shift to the back, which obstructs your airway. Sleeping sideways facilitates breathing. To prevent rolling over onto your back while you sleep, build a wall of pillows behind yourself.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, avoid sleeping pills. They can cause muscles in your throat more than usual due to the relaxation it causes. The medication can be very dangerous, even fatal, if you suffer from sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea generally is diagnosed by studying your medical and family history and having a thorough physical exam. Sleep studies may be suggested and your doctor might refer you over to a type of sleep specialist that can diagnose and treat your symptoms.
Remember to bring the CPAP machine with you if you should happen to require a stay at the hospital. If your stay is planned or an emergency, you will need your CPAP device either way. You have already set the pressure to the appropriate level, and you are accustomed to the mask that you have been using nightly. It will be much simpler to continue using a CPAP machine in the hospital if you don’t have to deal with unfamiliar equipment.
If you’re a sleep apnea sufferer and your mouth always opens as you sleep because of your CPAP, you may want to wear a chin strap. This is a small piece of fabric that holds your chin up while you sleep and keeps you mouth closed. Try this out to keep your mouth closed.
You should consult with a medical professional about the more intensive sleep apnea treatments available to you if your symptoms don’t respond to the basic steps you take. A small percentage of patients don’t react to the common treatments, and as a result, surgery may be their only option, which includes enlarging the airway or removing the tonsils.
You should take your CPAP machine everywhere you will be spending the night. Do not leave it at home. A diagnosis of sleep apnea is serious and means that you cannot forgo the use of your CPAP for even a single night. You should have a travel bag for your machine. Use this for easy travel with your CPAP device.
One of the best ways to lessen the symptoms of sleep apnea is by losing weight. Weight loss alone can be an effective treatment for those with mild sleep apnea. The symptoms of sleep apnea can be greatly reduced by even a relatively minor amount of weight loss as the breathing passages and the throat open up.
If you’re admitted to the hospital, take your sleep apnea machine with you. It doesn’t matter whether your hospital visit is planned or an emergency, your CPAP should be there with you, along with your mask. It is already set to your pressure, and you will have the exact mask you are used to using every night. You’ll be able to resume your CPAP therapy much easier by having these things in the hospital with you.
Try a good nasal spray to take care of nighttime nasal congestion. It helps to clear the nasal passages and airways to let you sleep more soundly. However, never use this spray over a long period of time, since it can cause your nose to irritated and damaged. Talk to a pharmacist to see which spray they recommend.
Get treatment for your allergies or sinus problems if you have sleep apnea. Your condition is already affecting your breathing at night. You don’t want to have anything else that hinders your breathing while you sleep. Keep your throat and airway as clear as you possibly can at all times.
Some people have great luck with stopping their snoring by using an anti-snoring device they wear in their mouth while sleeping. Snoring happens when the airways are mostly closed but air can come though, and apnea is when the airways are completely closed. This is why it makes perfect sense as to why this might work for you. If you have mild sleep apnea, an anti-snoring device may be enough to help with your condition.
If you are not having any luck managing your apnea, you may want to talk to a doctor about more radical treatments. Standard treatment vectors of sleep apnea do not work for certain individuals, and they wind up going in for surgical options. These can include tonsil removal and airway enlargements.
If a person has sleep apnea and is overweight, they can often reduce their symptoms by losing some weight. Sleep apnea is linked to people who are overweight. Getting thinner will lower the amount of pressure on your trachea, which means more air will get to your lungs while you sleep.
Don’t drink too much if you have sleep apnea. Snoring and airway blockages are made worse by over-relaxed throat muscles, and this is something that heavy drinking can cause. Quit drinking, or have only one drink a few hours before bed. This will lessen the chances of alcohol interrupting your sleep.
Never sleep on your back if you experience the symptoms of sleep apnea. Sleeping on your back raises the risk of a blocked airway, experienced by many sufferers. Use whatever means you can to keep from rolling on your back. Pillows can help and some people even sew a tennis ball into the back of their night clothes.
Laying on your back while sleeping can worsen your sleep apnea symptoms. Instead, try laying on your side. Sew something lumpy onto your pajamas to make sure you do not roll onto your back. Then, when they try to roll on their back while sleeping, the uncomfortable ball stops them.
Speak with your doctor about writing you a prescription for a heated humidifier if you have a CPAP machine to sleep. The humid, warm air enables CPAP users to have a much easier time getting restful sleep. Many of these machines now include humidifiers, and your doctor can probably prescribe one for you.
Certain behaviors can improve the symptoms of sleep disorders and help you get a good night’s sleep. Give yourself a regular bedtime, and sleep about the same time every night. Make your bedroom comfortable to sleep in. Insomnia is a real danger if your sleeping arrangements are sub-par.
Try not to feel embarrassed by your CPAP machine. Millions of people around the world use them, and you should ignore anyone who teases you about it. Undergoing CPAP therapy is an important step in preserving your overall health; don’t let inappropriate social pressure prevent you from getting the treatment you need.
If you have sleep problems, then consult your doctor to find the root of them by getting a comprehensive sleep study. A sleep study is a test that can determine not only if you have apnea but also how severe it is. After that, you need to look for a treatment to manage it, even if it’s not that severe.
Whatever you do, don’t sleep on your back. One method to prevent yourself from changing positions during sleep is to sew a spherical object like a tennis ball into your nightclothes. This forces you to lay on your side since it makes it tough to lay on your back.
People who have sleep apnea tend to sleep on their backs. If you do this, you might want to start sleeping on your side, instead. Studies have shown that sleeping on your side instead can facilitate the problem of sleep apnea, leading to a more restful night of sleep.
If you have a history of anxiety, try getting in a hot bath before bed. This can relieve symptoms of anxiety induced sleep apnea. A good hot bath is an excellent way to reduce tension and soothe away your aches and pains. This will help you sleep better and you will get more quality sleep instead of worrying about sleep apnea.
Do not drink any alcoholic type beverages when living with sleep apnea. Alcohol relaxes the muscles in your throat and may put you into a very deep sleep. You need not stop drinking completely; however, it should be curtailed near bedtime.
Don’t sleep face-up if you suffer from sleep apnea. You are more likely to have apnea during your sleep if you are on your back because your airway can close up more easily in this position. Try sleeping on your side instead.
Sleep apnea is technically defined as a lack of oxygen while sleeping. As is the case, it would behoove the sufferer of sleep apnea to avoid sleeping at an elevation. It is important to get treatment for your sleep order before your body goes without oxygen for too long. Your doctor can suggest treatments, therapies, useful tools and surgery, if necessary.
If exhaustion has haunted you for a long time, it might be a good idea to talk to your doctor about this. There is no use to prolong the suffering. Share what you learned with those around you.
