Physicians and sufferers alike are all too familiar with the agony sleep apnea can create. The best way to tackle the problems this condition tends to cause is to educate yourself thoroughly on the topic. The information and advice that follows offers you a great start on the road to increased awareness about the causes and treatments for this frustrating disorder.
Do throat and tongue exercises daily to reduce your apnea symptoms. The results of recent research suggest that jaw exercise, and tongue exercises can greatly reduce the presence of sleep apnea symptoms. Doing just a few of these exercises every day can help you get a good night of rest.
If you have sleep apnea, be sure to ask your doctor every five years if you should have a follow-up sleep study. As your weight and health change, your CPAP pressure may need to be adjusted. The most accurate way to reassess your needs is to have another sleep study with CPAP so the appropriate pressure can be determined.
Consider elevating the head of your bed if you suffer from sleep apnea. As you sleep, gravity is constantly pulling on your muscles and causing your airway to close. If you elevate the head of your bed a bit, the slight incline makes it easier for your body to maintain your airway when you are sleeping.
Avoid using sleeping pills and do not be tempted to consume alcohol before bedtime. Both sleeping pills and alcohol are sedatives, which can interfere with your breathing, as they cause your throat muscles to relax. You should also avoid other types of sedatives, including some prescription painkillers and many street drugs.
People who do not have a partner sleeping with them may not know they suffer from sleep apnea. If you wake up with a dry or sore mouth, wake up out of breath, have morning headaches, insomnia, and/or go to the bathroom frequently during the night, you may have sleep apnea and should talk to a doctor.
If your current treatment options are not cutting it, speak to a doctor about additional techniques that may be suitable. There are surgical procedures that have proven to be highly effective in severe sleep apnea cases, such as airway enlargement and the removal of the adenoids or (if they’re still present) the tonsils.
For people who smoke, the best way to correct a sleep apnea condition is to quit smoking. Smoking is one of the biggest causes of sleep apnea. When people stop smoking their risk of sleep apnea is reduced and they can get a full night sleep within days of quitting.
Anyone who suffers from sleep apnea should avoid using sleeping pills. It can be tempting to try to use them to help you sleep better, but these pills can relax your throat muscles and make your sleep apnea worse. They also have a number of other side effects that can be unpleasant.
If you have tried all the self-help ideas and treatments and made changes in your lifestyle, and you still have not had success in helping your sleep apnea, you should consult with a sleep doctor. These doctors can evaluate your condition and work with you to find a treatment that is effective.
Sleeping face-up can worsen sleep apnea symptoms, so make an effort to face sideways when sleeping. To keep yourself from rolling over onto your back when you are asleep, you can sew a lumpy object, such as a ball, onto your pajamas. This will keep you from rolling onto your back.
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.
Do not use a large pillow when you sleep. Propping your head with a pillow will cause your airways to become narrower. Use a thin pillow or try sleeping with your head on your arm if you can. This should help you keep your airways open and sleep more peacefully.
Many people who have sleep apnea sleep on their back. If this is your situation, you should think about different sleeping postures. Studies show that if you sleep on your side, it can help to alleviate the sleep apnea symptoms.
Use a CPAP machine. You may not like the idea of sleeping in a machine, but many people who use a CPAP have found relief of their sleep apnea symptoms in a very short time. Such a machine may be uncomfortable at first, but if you stick with it, you will find a great deal of relief.
If you notice that one of your relatives has unusual sleep patterns, snores a lot and always look tired, this might mean they have sleep apnea and are not aware of it. Tell them what you know about this condition and encourage them to go see a doctor for some tests.
Sleep apnea sufferers should do everything they can to stop smoking. Smoking cigarettes inflames and irritates nasal tissues, which can make breathing much, much more difficult. Ideally, everyone with sleep apnea should totally give up cigarettes. This is, however, extremely difficult. Smokers with sleep apnea who can’t quit totally, should at least try to avoid smoking in the hours immediately before bedtime.
If you have sleep apnea and are looking for a way to improve your sleep, think about using a nasal spray. If your nose is stuffy and clogged up breathing properly during sleep will be incredibly difficult and a nasal spray may be of use. You don’t, however, want to use a nasal spray for an extended period of time because this can cause damage to your nose.
Experts and laypeople agree that sleep apnea can be among the most debilitating disorders a person can have. The impact it has on overall health can be quite severe, and sometimes even life threatening. With any luck, the information contained in the preceding article has provided you with the knowledge you need to approach sleep apnea proactively and effectively on behalf of yourself or someone you love.