Sleep is necessary for good health, but sleep apnea prevents that for many people. This article will provide you with sleep apnea advice to help you get a better night's sleep.
A reason that a lot of people have problems with sleep apnea is due to excessive weight. If this is true for you, try getting a little thinner. Diet and exercise can do wonders to treat this condition. It may be worth it to look into diet plans that reduce the amount of carbohydrates that you eat.
A CPAP machine may turn out to be vital in combating your sleep apnea, and you should get your doctor's advice about what model is right for you. Not all machines are alike, and you may need one that has a humidifier or a certain type of pressure. Some machines can be quite small and be very quiet. The doctor will know which manufacturers offer the best machines.
Mouth Guard
Have your dentist fit you for a custom mouth guard. These oral devices are specially made for sleep apnea sufferers. If you don't have CPAP, then this guard is an excellent alternative. Also, it's a lot more comfortable wearing this mouth guard while sleeping. The soft tissues are given the support that they need to keep the airways open.
Sleep apnea can benefit from a good diet that results in your losing weight. One of the main factors contributing to sleep apnea is being overweight, caused by poor eating habits. Research indicates that less nutritious food may exacerbate sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can be present in children. If you find your child is innatentive, always tired or uses their mouth to breath and not their nose, they may suffer from this condition. These symptoms are quite similar to ADHD, so it's important to get an accurate diagnosis because treatments for these two disorders are quite different.
Attempt to sleep on the side to get a full night of rest in spite of apnea. Your air passages are more likely to suffer obstruction when you sleep on your back. If you have trouble staying off your back, sew a tennis ball into the back of your pajamas to help you stay on your side. You may see a big difference in the quality of your sleep.
Going to sleep on your side may be beneficial. Some sleep apnea patients lay on their backs. When you sleep, your throat muscles relax, and back sleeping causes gravity to pull the relaxed muscles downward, restricting airflow. Sleep on your side to keep your airways straight. If your sleep tends to see you rolling onto your back, support yourself with pillows on one side or the other.
Sleeping Pills
If you have sleep apnea, never take sleeping pills. They can relax your throat muscles, making it hard to get enough air when you sleep. 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.
If you suffer from sleep apnea and intend to travel at all, make sure you bring you CPAP in the luggage. You ought not to go a single night without the CPAP if you have sleep apnea. Your machine probably came with a convenient carrying bag. Use this bag to carry your CPAP whenever you travel.
Sleep with just one pillow at night. Over-sized pillows may lead to you sleeping in an unhealthy position. It will make breathing harder than it needs to be. Because of this you should only use one pillow for easier sleeping.
Try to prevent snoring with an over-the-counter device. Snoring happens when the airways are mostly closed but air can come though, and apnea is when the airways are completely closed. So, it makes sense that a device that helps with the former can help with the latter. These tools may be able to lessen the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Risk Factors
Minimize the risk factors associated with sleep apnea. Certain risk factors are ones you can do nothing about it, like inheriting genetic traits or having been born a man. There are many other factors, though, that can be minimized or eliminated through lifestyle changes, such as excessive weight, alcohol use, or smoking.
Try losing weight to deal with your sleep apnea. The condition is common in overweight patients that have larger neck circumferences. Shedding some unnecessary weight can really cut down on the pressure airways receive, which means you get easier air flow and breathing during your sleeping hours.
Remember, it's not easy to spot your own sleep apnea when sleeping. If you're having difficulty in staying awake during the day, especially while you are behind the wheel, immediately talk to your doctor. Your symptoms may mean sleep apnea even if you don't know you gasp for air every night.
If you are prone to sleep apnea, you should try not to sleep on your back. Sleeping on your back can block your airways and cause sleep problems. Instead, sleep on a side. You can use pillows to prop you up if side-sleeping is not something you are used to.
There are throat exercises for sleep apnea sufferers that have been found quite effective. They tone and strengthen the muscles, giving you more control over them. One good exercise involves pressing your tongue against the bony palate of the mouth and holding it for three minutes before releasing. Do this once a day.
Sleep Apnea
If you are losing rest from sleep apnea, you could be jeopardizing your long-term health. Start taking control over your sleep apnea, and get the rest you deserve. Life offers us enough challenges, you shouldn't be facing it on too little sleep!