Sleep Apnea Tips Everyone Should Know About
Do not allow yourself to become too concerned about having sleep apnea. Being a sufferer of sleep apnea can be very dramatic, which is especially true for those that are not aware of what they can do for their condition. You need to learn all you can about this condition though, and that is why this article has been written.
If you have narrow air passages, consider a mouth guard. These can help you breathe better and clear your airways. Ask your doctor to help you get fitted for a mouth guard.
Eating well can help you become thinner, which can often reduce sleep apnea symptoms. Not everyone equates bad and good food with sleep apnea, but many people have found out that it does play a role. It’s been proven that poor diets can contribute to the severity of sleep apnea.
Do not consume as much alcohol as you used to. The natural effects of alcohol lead to over-relaxation of your muscles. This might be something you want to do but it can also exacerbate your sleep apnea. Alcohol has an effect on throat muscles and it can hurt your body. If drinking is an important part of your life, restrict the amount of alcohol you consume and drink it earlier in the day.
Do not take sleeping pills if you have sleep apnea. The pills may relax the throat muscles so much that your airways do not function properly. For those with severe cases of sleep apnea, using these pills can be quite dangerous. Avoid using them even if you are having trouble sleeping.
Your doctor may suggest keeping a sleep journal to help pinpoint if you have sleep apnea or not. You simply log the amount of hours you’re sleeping each night, and mentioning other symptoms too. Ask your partner to note anything unusual noticed during the night while you were sleeping. This will greatly help your doctor in diagnosing your condition.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, you should treat any sinus or allergy problems you may have. You already find it hard to breathe during the night because of your symptoms. You should not have to deal with something else harming your ability to breathe while you’re asleep. You’ll experience a better night of sleep and reduce the odds of running into serious breathing difficulties if you take care of nasal and sinus issues without delay.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, do not underestimate the power of losing a few pounds. If your sleep condition is caused by obesity, weight loss may solve your problem completely. Losing some weight can help improve the amount of air you can take in.
Try not to sleep on your back if you are prone to sleep apnea. A common sleeping position for most people suffering from sleep apnea is on their backs. As a result, it’s easy for airways to get blocked. Wedge a pillow in place to keep your body resting on your side while sleeping.
You can do tongue exercises to help minimize sleep apnea symptoms. One simple exercise is to put your tongue against the roof of your mouth and hold it there for a couple of minutes. This will help strengthen weak tongue and throat muscles so that they don’t slip back and block your airway while you sleep so easily.
Please do not waste time believing that a CPAP maching is something to be ashamed of. Let people know that you need it, and do not feel self-conscious about using it in front of your friends or partner. If you have to use a CPAP machine your family and friends should not make fun of it.
If you sleep on your back you will worsen your sleep apnea. If you find yourself rolling over, try sewing something lumpy, like a ball, into the back of your pajamas. This forces you to lay on your side since it makes it tough to lay on your back.
If you think that sleep apnea is something you may have, it is best to consult with a doctor right away and get a sleep test. A sleep test will let you know if you have the disorder, and if so, how severe your sleep apnea is. The following step would be identifying a treatment regimen, even for milder cases.
People who suffer from sleep apnea should avoid sleeping on their backs. Falling asleep right on your back will hurt you, because you won’t get a clear passage for your lungs to breath. Try sleeping on your side instead.
Many people think of sleep apnea as a problem surrounding the nose, but really strengthening your throat muscles is the key. There are a host of quick, simple exercises that can have a beneficial effect; you should be able to learn and master them very rapidly.
Many people with sleep apnea sleep on their backs. If this is the case, you may want to consider changing your sleeping position. Studies show that if you sleep on your side, it can help to alleviate the sleep apnea symptoms.
Sleep apnea becomes an even bigger problem if you are chronically fatigued. This problem may be reduced when you sleep on a schedule. Have a specific time you go to bed and wake up, and always try to stick to them. This will stop sleep apnea from turning into something worse such as insomnia.
Don’t drink alcohol, particularly right before bed. When you drink alcohol, your throat muscles become very relaxed. This can cause airway blockage. It is not necessary to quit drinking cold turkey, but you should ensure you don’t drink any alcohol immediately before you hit the sheets.
Use exercise to strengthen your throat muscles. Many times, sleep apnea is dependent on weak muscles, so take time to exercise them to improve your symptoms. Take a look online to learn the many easy and quick exercises that can be done in just a few minutes each day to treat the condition.
If you ignore your sleep apnea, it will only get worse. Luckily, there are many methods of treatment for sleep apnea. Use what you learned in this article and consult with a doctor in order to help ensure that you’re staying in the best shape possible.
