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.
It may sound silly, but taking up a music instrument may improve your sleep apnea. When subjects in Germany were taught to play the didgeridoo, their sleep apnea symptoms were reduced. The researchers believe that practicing the instrument improved the tone of the muscles in the upper airway, which are responsible for airway dilation.
Adjust your CPAP machine. Most machines come with default settings that might not correspond to your needs. You should be able to regulate the airflow: try different settings and choose one that seems to work for you. If you feel like your machine is not working like it should, try changing the settings again.
Start sleeping on your side. When you sleep on your back and have sleep apnea, your airway gets block by your tongue and throat tissues. To avoid rolling onto your back once you are asleep, try sleeping with pillows cushioning your side. This helps prevent you from turning onto your back.
If you tend to snore a lot and have difficulties staying asleep, you should go see your doctor right away. You might have a condition known as sleep apnea: find an effective treatment so you can get enough sleep and go through your daily activities without being held back by your health problem.
If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from sleep apnea, you need to avoid caffeine and large meals before you go to bed. Stop eating and drinking any caffeinated beverages at least two hours before you go to bed. Both of these are linked to sleep apnea and should be avoided before bedtime.
The first thing to do when you think you are dealing with sleep apnea is to discover if it is really apnea or just advanced snoring. If you have a loved one sleeping with you, this can be done alone at home, but if not you may need to visit a sleep clinic.
If you have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine when you sleep, ask your doctor to also prescribe a heated humidifier. A humidifier will help keep the air moist for better breathing and to avoid chafing from the mask. Many of these machines now include humidifiers, and your doctor can probably prescribe one for you.
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.
Try to find ways to really tire yourself out before going to bed. This means expending both your mental and physical energy before putting your head on the pillow. Going for a long walk is a great way to calm yourself down and clear your mind while also getting exercise.
If you suffer from sleep apnea now might be the time to see the doctor. There are a multitude of prescription medications available that can help you rest more fully throughout the night. amongst these medications are Lunesta, Ambien, and Rozerem, to name a few. Each of these will help you get a full 8 hours of restful sleep.
There are some sleep apnea cases that you can cure with oral devices. This is caused by the shapes of people’s jaws, which can mean they have narrower airways. These devices realign the jaw so that more air gets into your airways during the night.
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 right treatment. Don’t operate any vehicles or machinery without treatment, as you can be a hazard to yourself and others.
If you do not have a partner who can relay how your breathing is during the night, try recording yourself. Set up a camcorder and play it back in the morning. Then you can see if you stop breathing for long periods of time or snore excessively. Make sure you have enough light for the camera. Modern cameras will record well in low light, but you do need some.
Snoring and sleep apnea are two, totally different things. It’s important that you know the difference between the two so you can see your doctor if you think you have it. Signs of sleep apnea include extremely loud snoring, fatigue in the daytime, choking or gasping for air at nighttime and labored breathing.
If you suffer from allergies, make sure that you bedroom is clean. Allergens in your sleeping environment can certainly worsen your sleep apnea symptoms. Be sure to vacuum carpeted areas regularly, and keep window treatments dust-free. Avoid having pets in your bedroom if you can help it, and wash your bedding frequently.
If you have sleep apnea and your doctor wants you to use a CPAP, focus on the health benefits of this treatment. It can be a difficult transition getting used to wearing a CPAP mask every night. You will be more motivated to stick with it if you think of the ways it will improve your overall health. Not only will you get a better night’s sleep, but you will have improvements in your blood pressure and your lung function as a result also.
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.