Have you ever heard of something known as sleep apnea? Perhaps you even suffer from this dreadful problem yourself. If you do, then you are already aware of how difficult and frustrating of an issue it can be. While completely removing sleep apnea is difficult, this article can get you started on living with it.
Many people find that using a mouth guard while sleeping helps their sleep apnea. Guards like these are specifically made for assisting sleep apnea patients. Instead of using a CPAP device, you can use a mouth guard. Your airway will stay open wider and the guard will provide added stability for your throat.
Try your best to lay off tobacco and nicotine products. Cigarette smoke can irritate your upper airway causing it to swell up, subsequently hindering your ability to breath during the night. Quitting smoking could therefore, significantly improve your sleep apnea symptoms and will also improve your body’s overall health and your feelings of well-being.
Consider putting yourself on a strict bedtime schedule and routine, if sleep apnea is keeping you from a good night’s sleep. Doing the same things at the same time may help condition your mind and body to better sleeping, and if you suffer from sleep apnea, you need all the help you can get!
Get treatment for your allergies or sinus problems if you have sleep apnea. During the night, you are already dealing with breathing problems. You must eliminate anything that might obstruct your airway as you sleep. Maintaining free nasal passages will ensure greater odds of sleeping getting a great night’s sleep.
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, it is important to avoid drinking alcohol. Alcoholic beverages will relax the muscles in your throat, which makes it more likely that they will block your airway during your sleep. At the very least, avoid any alcoholic beverages in the evening before you get ready for bed.
If you are a smoker, this may be making your sleep apnea more severe. When you smoke a cigarette, the airways in your nose become swollen, restricting the amount of air that you can breathe. Quit smoking if you can. If you can’t give it up entirely, don’t smoke in the evenings before bed.
Maintaining a regular sleep schedule can help anyone dealing with sleep apnea. Once you can get on a schedule and stick to it, you will notice that your symptoms will decrease as your body gets more sleep. Make a routine that works for your lifestyle, and do your best to stick to it.
Believe it or not, it has been scientifically proven that your sleep apnea can be tied to your weight. In a recent study, it was proven that people who have lost at least 25 pounds relieved their sleep apnea symptoms. This drastic slim down should be taken slowly, over the course of at least one year.
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 makes it far less likely for you to revert to a prone sleeping posture.
If you are suffering from sleep apnea, sleeping pills are definitely not your answer. Sleeping pills give you similar negative symptoms as alcohol would. These pills relax your airways too much and will worsen your symptoms. Not only will your symptoms worsen; you may experience other side effects as well. Lay off of sleeping pills for a good night’s rest.
All sleep apnea patients can benefit from information found through the AWAKE Foundation. AWAKE sponsors support groups across the country that are dedicated to educating and informing the public on issues and treatment options related to sleep apnea. These meetings frequently showcase new equipment and mask options for CPAP patients, as well as updates on new trends in treatment. With chapters in most regional areas, AWAKE serves as a very effective support service for patients and their families to get sound and reliable information to improve their health.
If you are trying to sleep on your side to avoid problems with sleep apnea, one way to do ensure you stay on your side is to put hard round object in your clothes. This will help you to stay on your side throughout an entire night’s sleep and avoid apnea.
Do not give up if the first treatment you try does not work. Give each treatment a few weeks before you decide to give up and move on to the next treatment. Finding the right solution can take some time, but you will be glad you went through this process.
Quit smoking. Smoking any kind of tobacco inflames all of your airways, which can make it more difficult for you to breathe at night. If you cannot stop altogether, work on cutting down throughout the day, particularly in the evening before you go to sleep. This will help your nasal passages to open so sleep is easier.
Make sure your CPAP mask fits properly. You may be reluctant to use the CPAP at all, but the mask could be the reason for your problems. Talk to your doctor about how you feel with the CPAP machine, and he or she may be able to recommend better masks for you that fit well and feel better.
Avoid alcohol, particularly before you go to bed. Sleep apnea is just one of the sleep disorders that can be negatively affected by alcohol use. It depresses the central nerve system which can both exacerbate the apnea itself as well as make it more difficult to rouse yourself in the event you do stop breathing. This is a potentially fatal combination.
By reducing the likelihood of an apnea breakout, you are ensuring a good night’s sleep. This is something that is essential for everyone and impacts many aspects of daily life. This article offered some great tips on what to do when you are experiencing this frustrating ailment, and how to move forward in your own life.
