Learning that you might have sleep apnea is a bit unnerving. Clear up any questions you have about sleep apnea because you don’t want to go home not knowing what to do. The following article contains the best sleep apnea advice, so read on.
Avoid contact with cigarette smoke and consumption of alcohol if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are a big problem for people who have sleep apnea. You can have severe breathing problems if you are a heavy drinker as it depresses your respiratory system. Smoking, of course, causes both long and short term damage to your lungs and airways, as well as putting you at risk for cancer. When you stop doing these things, your sleep apnea symptoms should be reduced.
Speak with your physician about getting a mouth piece that can help you breathe better. If you have a narrow airway, recessed chin or small jaw, it is likely you have amplified sleep apnea effects. You can overcome these difficulties and experience much more restful sleep by using a custom-fitted device to keep your jaw and airway properly aligned.
If you’re having a problem with sleep apnea and are a smoker or a drinker, you may find that quitting can help you immensely. Both smoking and drinking promote relaxation of the airways causing sleep apnea and excessive snoring. Quitting these addictions may be the easiest way to address your sleep apnea.
If you have been prescribed a CPAP for sleep apnea, make an honest effort to use it at least four hours a night. Some people have a really hard time sleeping with the device. However, you must use your CPAP a minimum of four hours for it to be effective. Just use it as much as possible and you’ll get used to using it after a couple of weeks.
Don’t drink a lot of alcohol. Your muscles will over-relax when you use alcohol, especially before bed. Although you may think this improves your sleep, it actually just worsens it. Like the rest of your muscles, those around your throat and airway relax under the influence of alcohol, making it harder for you to maintain a proper air passage. If you have to have a drink, do it well before bedtime.
Eating healthily can help you shed weight and relieve sleep apnea. Changing from a poor diet to a healthy one can transform your sleep apnea symptoms. It has been shown in studies that those who eat unhealthier foods face more severe sleep apnea than their overweight, yet healthy-eating, counterparts.
Children can have sleep apnea. There are a multitude of symptoms that can determine whether your child has sleep apnea. A lot of sleep apnea symptoms are associated with ADHD, so work with your doctor to investigate all possibilities.
It is not uncommon for children to be sleep apnea sufferers. If he or she is cranky, active, inattentive and tends to breathe through their nose, they may have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea symptoms can mimic those of ADHD, but only a doctor can give the proper diagnosis.
Consider any alternative you can find to using sleeping pills. In the same way that alcohol does, sleeping pills over-relax throat muscles. They can also contribute to a large variety of things that are problematic to those who suffer from sleep apnea. Speak with your health professional about something that can help you sleep without harming your breathing patterns.
Sleep apnea is no joke. If you have symptoms of sleep apnea, be sure to speak with your doctor immediately. If he says you have sleep apnea you should go to a sleep specialist so that you can get tested further.
It’s vital that you don’t use any type of sleeping pill when you suffer from sleep apnea. One of the effects of sleeping pills is that they constrict your throat, which only exacerbates sleep apnea. Having a bad sleep apnea case could make these pills a dangerous option. It may be tempting to use these pills to sleep better, but it’s not worth the risk.
If you suffer from sleep apnea and must go to the hospital, make sure your CPAP is with you. Your CPAP machine should be with you whether you’re admitted to the hospital or visiting the emergency room. This is preset to your breathing pressure. In addition, you’ll be using the same mask you’ve been accustomed to using each night. These things will make it much easier to continue your CPAP therapy while you are hospitalized.
Keeping a sleep ledger can help your doctor monitor your sleep apnea. All hours slept or spent awake should be recorded. Ask your partner to keep track of your snoring, movements, and whether you stop breathing at night. This helps the doctor discern whether you have sleep apnea or not.
Think about using nasal spray if your nasal passages are stopped up. This product will clear excess mucus and from your airways, and some formulas reduce inflammation. Most nasal sprays are not recommended for extended periods of time so use them sparingly. Take a trip to the local pharmacy to see what they have available to help with keeping your nose open when you’re sleeping.
You can wear a chin strap with your CPAP if you have problems with your mouth falling open as you sleep. The chin strap is a fabric strap that supports your chin to keep your mouth shut. If you keep your mouth open your CPAP will not work.
It is better to sleep on your side if you have sleep apnea. If you sleep on your back, your air passages may become blocked. You can prop yourself up on one side with cushions or pillows to discourage face-up sleeping.
If you suffer from sleep apnea and intend to travel at all, make sure you bring you CPAP in the luggage. A diagnosis of sleep apnea is serious and means that you cannot forgo the use of your CPAP for even a single night. Most CPAP machines come with a travel bag designed for just this purpose. Use this bag to carry your CPAP whenever you travel.
Sleep apnea is a condition that requires treatment in order to be resolved. Some treatments may work for certain people, but not all of them. Getting to a lower weight can cut back on symptoms in a lot of sufferers, but even slender folks can be afflicted. One of the most common treatments for sleep apnea are CPAP machines, which force air into the lungs while you sleep. However, other people prefer having surgery where they can make changes in overcoming restrictions in the airway passages. Choose the route which best meets your needs since getting treatment can lead to a happier and most restful life.
If your nose seems stuffy, apply a nasal spray. Nasal spray can help clear out your airways. Do not use nasal spray over long periods of time: this could damage your nose and cause irritation. Talk to a pharmacist to see which spray they recommend.
You can help lessen the effects of sleep apnea by doing exercises which strengthen the throat muscles. When the muscles at the back of your throat collapse, your breathing can be reduced. Stronger muscles have more integrity and will not be as likely to block your airways.
Sleep apnea will not magically disappear; you need to treat it. Different people find relief through different forms of treatment. Getting to a lower weight can cut back on symptoms in a lot of sufferers, but even slender folks can be afflicted. One of the most common treatments for sleep apnea are CPAP machines, which force air into the lungs while you sleep. Some people with severe sleep apnea will have surgery to get rid of the tissue that blocks the airway. Choose whichever method you think will work for you so you may begin to live a happy and comfortable life.
Do not drink to excess if you suffer from sleep apnea. Drinking can relax the throat muscles too much, and that can cause airways to be blocked as well as snoring. If you are going to drink, have only one a few hours before bed. You need to do this to ensure that drinking has no effect on your sleeping patterns.
Try to sleep on your side instead of your back to relieve sleep apnea. Something with an odd shape sewn into your sleeping attire can prevent you from returning to the back position whilst sleeping. This will keep you from rolling onto your back.
Start playing wind instruments. You are going to have a good time with the music, and you get to give your mind a workout. However, you are also working out your throat muscles that regulate breathing. Exercising these muscles will make them stronger, thus, making them less likely to collapse while you sleep, which will improve airflow to your lungs.
Remember, it’s not easy to spot your own sleep apnea when sleeping. You should tell your doctor about any symptoms of fatigue, drowsiness or nodding off while driving. Although you are not likely to realize that you are fighting for air every night as you sleep, you may very well have developed sleep apnea.
Don’t be ashamed that you have to use a CPAP machine. You will need to quickly get used to using it front of those who are closest to you. Anybody who doesn’t understand doesn’t deserve your time.
Take action and find a treatment for your sleep apnea. If you fail to see a physician and get treated, it is very likely that your symptoms are going to get worse. Avoid waiting for your condition to deteriorate. If you wonder whether you have sleep apnea, talk to a doctor right away.
Sleeping face-up can worsen sleep apnea symptoms, so make an effort to face sideways when sleeping. One trick to prevent yourself from accidentally rolling onto your back in the night is to attach a lumpy object to the back of your pajamas. This forces you to lay on your side since it makes it tough to lay on your back.
Falling asleep belly up can be detrimental for sufferers of sleep apnea. Sleeping on your back can restrict your airways, making symptoms worsen. Sleeping on your side is ideal if you suffer from this condition.
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. As long as you let them know ahead of time, many airlines will make an effort to seat you in an area where you can use your machine. If you are using a foreign airline, pack a power adapter that will fit their outlets.
Exhaustion can worsen the symptoms of sleep apnea. Sleep on a good schedule to address this issue. Set yourself some guidelines as far as sleeping. This will stop sleep apnea from turning into something worse such as insomnia.
If you have sleep apnea, or if you just snore a lot, playing an instrument may be beneficial. A study shows this can greatly reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea. Playing a musical instrument strengthens the airways and gives you greater control.
Drink alcohol as infrequently as possible if you suffer from sleep apnea. Your throat muscles will relax more than they should from alcohol, and this makes it difficult for sufficient air flow to occur, instigating sleep apnea. It is not necessary for you to totally stop drinking, but you should not have any prior to going to bed.
It can be overwhelming to find out you have sleep apnea. Luckily, this disorder is treatable. Use what you’ve learned here to better your life and effectively treat your apnea disorder. With the correct treatment, you can live normally, free from the affects of sleep apnea.
