Like many other ailments, people are not adequately informed about the reality of sleep apnea, primarily 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 helpful tips!
Try playing a wind instrument. Playing the trumpet or a similar musical instrument should help you strengthen your throat and help you control your breathing. Your upper airways should become more vigorous and remain open throughout the night, which would make the symptoms of sleep apnea disappear or at least reduce them.
If you are unsure whether or not you have sleep apnea, consider setting up an audio or video recorder next to your bed. When you review the recording, watch or listen for choking, gasping, or other signs that you are not getting enough air as you sleep. Present your findings to your doctor if you suspect that you do have apnea.
Improve your sleep apnea by slimming down a bit. Recent research showed dramatic improvements in overweight men who shed 25 pounds over one year to reduce sleep apnea symptoms. In some cases, the weight loss resulted in a cure of sleep apnea where no further treatment of the condition was necessary.
Some people have problems using the CPAP machine to deal with their sleep apnea. The best advice is to stick with it. It is not a cure, but it does treat your sleep apnea. If you stop using it, you still have sleep apnea, so you need to use the machine regularly.
Join a CPAP support group if you have just been diagnosed with sleep apnea and are prescribed a CPAP. It can be pretty challenging to get used to sleeping with a mask on your face every night. Sitting in a room full of other people going through the same thing can be very empowering. You can learn from others who have had the same issues and make adjustments to make it work.
Try to sleep on your side. If you fall asleep on your back, gravity can make it easier for your tongue and tonsils to fall back into your throat and obstruct your windpipe, causing apnea episodes. While it may be demanding a first, as time passes, however, it will start to become second nature to sleep on your side.
Stick to a schedule when it comes to your sleep. Your regular sleeping patterns already suffer due to your condition. Whatever you can try to help minimize the effects of this condition and help to normalize your sleep patterns can only help you get better. Go to sleep and wake up each day on a regular schedule, and this schedule should be used on the weekends.
One of the best ways to lessen sleep apnea symptoms is by losing weight. Weight loss alone can be an effective treatment for mild sleep apnea. Losing even just five pounds can make your sleep apnea symptoms go away.
If you have to use a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, you may find it hard to get used to it. It is essential 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 significant risk factor for car accidents.
Sleep apnea is a severe condition that affects many overweight people. One of the first things that should be addressed by anyone suffering from this condition is to lose some weight. Until your weight is average, your doctor may find it challenging to diagnose the cause accurately.
Avoid any drugs or alcohol if you are experiencing any sleep apnea. Drugs and alcohol will slow down your respiratory system, which is known to be one of the causes of sleep apnea. If you are struggling with this issue, try to get some professional help to overcome these addictions.
If you have sleep apnea and your CPAP does not seem to be working out for you, consider alternate types of machines. You may be a person who needs the air pressure to change throughout the night as you sleep. Your doctor can prescribe a machine that uses different technologies to deliver air, such as an APAP, BiPAP, or C-FLEX machine. Each of these adjusts the pressure up and down as you sleep, making it more comfortable and practical.
Smokers who also suffer from sleep apnea need to make a difficult decision. Research shows that smoking can worsen sleeping problems such as snoring and apnea, so those who like to light up need to look into themselves and decide what is more critical, nicotine or a great night’s sleep.
Keeping up to date on new trends in the medical community can be very advantageous to sleep, apnea patients. The American Sleep Apnea Association has a patient website that offers a wealth of information on issues related to the disorder, online support group forums, and effective treatment options. You can find the website at http://www.sleepapnea.org.
Go to your doctor if you always feel sleepy and irritated. This might be caused by sleep apnea, even though your condition is not bad enough to wake you up at night. Mild sleep apnea can cause you to sleep very lightly and not feel refreshed in the morning.
Some people may experience sleepiness brought on by sleep apnea. Make sure that if you are one of the many who experience this, don’t operate any vehicles or heavy machinery. Do the responsible thing and get the proper treatment. Don’t operate any vehicles or machinery without treatment, as you can be a hazard to yourself and others.
These tips were written primarily for people who suffer from apnea, whether directly or indirectly as a bed partner. While it can be pretty challenging to remove apnea from your life altogether, there are ways to live with it, and these were touched on in this helpful sleep apnea article.
