Even though millions of people are diagnosed with sleep apnea every year, it is a disease that is not often discussed. Many people do not even know what sleep apnea is. If you have recently been diagnosed with the disorder, it is critical that you educate yourself on what it is all about. This article is filled with health care tips related to sleep apnea.
Don’t drink a lot of alcohol. Alcohol causes your muscles to relax. You might like the feeling, but it can contribute to or cause sleep apnea. Your muscles will relax and collapse, which will make you snore and possibly cough through the night. If you feel like you have to drink, try to not do it prior to going to bed.
For the sleep apnea patient using CPAP treatment, the wide range of options in machines and masks can seem overwhelming. The key to selecting the best equipment for your needs is to test out the various models yourself. Your Durable Medical Equipment (DME) provider should have a variety of masks and accessories available for you to try out. Don’t settle for the “standard” company mask. Insist on viewing several and being fitted properly. Comfort and good fit are key to successfully adjusting to CPAP treatment.
If you have tried a number of less drastic sleep apnea treatment options, you might want to consider discussing surgical treatment options for the condition with your primary care physician. Sleep apnea treatment surgery often involves increasing the diameter of your airway in an effort to reduce the number of apnea episodes that you experience.
Don’t give up on treatment for sleep apnea after one doesn’t work. There are a variety of treatments for your condition, so finding the right one is sometimes a process of trial and error. The number and severity of your symptoms influence what treatment is correct one for you. Giving multiple treatments a chance ensures you find the one that works the most effectively.
If you have sleep apnea, you can improve your symptoms by exercising your throat muscles. The labored breathing common in sleep apnea is usually caused when the soft tissues of the throat collapse and obstruct the airway. Stronger muscles mean a less likelihood of the the airways becoming blocked.
The major signs of sleep apnea are loud snoring, choking or gasping while sleeping, significant lapses in breathing, and daytime tiredness. Other common symptoms are morning headaches, restless sleep, irritability, waking with a sore throat or dry mouth and even having more frequent runs to the bathroom at night. If you exhibit these, then you should see your doctor promptly.
If you find that your CPAP machine is too drying, your physician can prescribe a humidifier for your mask. If your CPAP air is moist and humid, you will breathe and sleep easier. A lot of the CPAP machines now have a humidifier built in, so find out if you can be prescribed one of those.
If you have sleep apnea and have been using your current CPAP machine for five years or more, see if it is time to get it replaced. CPAP technology is rapidly changing all the time. Many insurance policies allow for a new CPAP machine every five years. If yours does, consider upgrading to the newest CPAP so you can get the best treatment possible.
If you use a CPAP machine and suffer from dry mouth as a result, there are two solutions. First, try increasing the humidity of your system. If that doesn’t work, you can also try a chin strap. One or both of these solutions can prevent the air leakage that causes dry mouth.
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, do not be shy about telling your friends and family. Sleep apnea is an extremely common condition. It is very possible that someone you know and love has it too and has not been diagnosed yet. By sharing your experience, you could help someone else realize they have a problem and encourage them to seek treatment.
Don’t drink alcohol, especially at night. The reason most people drink alcohol is to relax, but it also causes the muscles that control your airways to relax as well. When you go to sleep with ultra-relaxed airway muscles, it can make your sleep apnea symptoms worse. Do your body and your wallet a favor and cut out the booze.
While sedatives and other sleep medications may help you fall asleep they are not so good when suffering from apnea. If possible, avoid taking any sleep aids to see if this improves your apnea problems. You just may find that something you thought was helping you to sleep was actually decreasing the quality of your sleep.
Some types of sleep apnea may be treated by using corrective oral devices. Some people have jaws that are too small or oddly shaped which makes it hard for air to flow freely. Corrective mouth guards can improve night-time air flow by holding your jaw and throat in the ideal alignment for unimpeded breathing.
Don’t take sleeping pills. You may feel like the answer to your sleep problems would be a pill to help you sleep, but it’s not! Sedatives and other sleep aids cause your muscles, including your throat muscles, to relax. Relaxed throat muscles are even harder to control while sleeping and are a danger to those who suffer from sleep apnea.
Subscribe to a good health insurance policy. Being diagnosed with sleep apnea might cause your premiums to go up, but purchasing a good policy will help you cover the cost of your CPAP machine and frequent visits to the doctor. Compare different policies and purchase the most coverage you can afford.
Sleep apnea is a disorder that is not talked about enough. It afflicts millions of people and can have serious, and even deadly, health consequences. The health care tips and strategies outlined in this article have educated you on some of the best ways that you can treat sleep apnea and lead a healthy, fulfilling life in spite of the disorder.