You may not think your snoring is anything to be concerned about, but it could be a sign of a very serious disorder called sleep apnea. This condition is treatable if you seek the help necessary. Read on to find out if your snoring shows signs of being something more serious than just plain old snoring, and find out what can be done about it.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, it is vital to avoid consuming alcohol before bedtime. Alcohol acts as a sedative, therefore, it will naturally slow down your breathing. In addition, it will relax all the muscles in your body, including those in your throat that help to keep your airway open.
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and prescribed a CPAP, work hard to get in the habit of using it every time you sleep. While it can be a struggle to get used to sleeping with a mask on your face, your health and your life depend on it. Work with your sleep center to get everything adjusted just right so that you can use CPAP therapy with a minimal amount of discomfort.
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.
Sleep Apnea patients using a CPAP machine may find that a humidifier is their best friend. The continuous passage of air from the machine can dry out sensitive nasal membranes, creating discomfort. A room humidifier, placed near the machine, often provides the humidification needed for comfortable sleep. If that isn’t sufficient, machines with integrated humidification chambers are available and allow the patient to customize the amount of moisture they receive.
If you have tried many treatment options and nothing works, then it is time to contact your doctor for more serious treatment alternatives. There are some people who cannot tolerate traditional methods of alleviating sleep apnea symptoms, leading to the need for surgical intervention to enhance their airway.
Don’t use multiple or oversize pillows. If you use very thick pillows or many pillows, you may end up sleeping at an odd angle that hurts the free flow of air through your airways. Sleeping in this way may prevent easy breathing. This is why one pillow is best to manage your symptoms.
If you smoke cigarettes and are suffering from sleep apnea, now is the best time to quit this habit. When you smoke, you are increasing the inflammation and the fluid retention in your throat along with your upper airways, and that will contribute greatly to sleep apnea. Once you quit, you should notice your symptoms start to lessen.
If simple changes in your lifestyle, such as regular sleep hours and losing weight, have not eliminated your sleep apnea episodes, it is time to consult with a sleep specialist. The specific causes of your sleep apnea can be evaluated, and an individual treatment plan can be designed for you.
Keep a generator at home. If there is a power outage, your CPAP machine will stop functioning. Some CPAP machines have a battery that will kick in if the power goes out but you should invest in a quality generator in case you have to remain without power for several hours.
If you are drowsy, listen to your body. If you are not getting enough sleep at night because of sleep apnea, you are more likely to feel drowsy during the day. This indicates that your treatments are not effective. So, when you are feeling drowsy on a regular basis, consider visiting your doctor to re-discuss your treatment options and your current apnea treatment plan.
Don’t sleep on your back. If you sleep on your back, you are sleeping in a position that can block your airways. Try sleeping on your side, however, if this is not natural to you, then prop yourself up with pillows in order to force yourself into sleeping on your side every night.
If you suspect that you have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor about undergoing a sleep study. During the course of the study, you will be hooked to monitors while you sleep. These monitors will tell doctors about the levels of oxygen in your blood, the states of sleep you enter, and whether or not your breathing is inhibited while you sleep.
Make sure that you are getting enough sleep every night. When you are sleep deprived, you may notice that your sleep apnea is worse. You also want the room you are sleeping in set up so that you can get a good night sleep. It should be dark, quiet and you should feel comfortable and at peace while you are sleeping.
When suffering from a problem like sleep apnea, you should always check out the basics of your life first. If you smoke, overeat, eat late at night, or ingest high quantities of caffeine, simply changing these life habits may be enough to improve your overall sleep situation without any surgeries.
Communicate with your significant other who may be sharing the bed with you. Sleep apnea is a serious condition that has many health risks. It’s important that you, as a family, are aware of those risks, how to combat it and tell-tale signs of side effects that can be harmful.
As you have seen from the above article, sleep apnea can be very serious, but it is treatable. Arm yourself with the above information, and take control over this problem. Once you know the steps you can take, you are on your way to a more restful night of sleep, and will be healthier for it.