People, young and old, can suffer from sleep apnea which can be a life-threatening condition. Unfortunately, many people don’t know their options, and they just choose to try and deal with the condition. Read on to learn how to get your sleep apnea under control and get the rest you need.
You really need to do your best to lose weight if you have sleep apnea. Those who have sleep apnea typically have a neck circumference of 17 inches or more. This excess weight around the throat causes the airway to collapse more easily during sleep. Reducing your weight by even ten pounds can have a beneficial impact on your sleep apnea.
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.
If you have sleep apnea, try sleeping on your side. If you are a back or stomach sleeper, gravity is working against you all night. Your airway is much more likely to collapse if you are facing straight up or down. Sleeping on your side instead makes it much easier for your body to maintain your airway as you sleep.
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.
Sleep apnea can occur in adults or children; there is no age limit. If you child seems to be distracted in class, cannot focus, and is breathing through his mouth, then he may have sleep apnea. These symptoms are quite similar to ADHD, so it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis because treatments for these two disorders are quite different.
Keep your bedroom in prime shape for sleeping. Insomnia and sleep apnea are often connected. This makes keeping an environment in which you sleep at the right temperature, lightness level and sound level important for helping you get a good night of rest. The right environment also means leaving your stresses outside the bedroom to ensure you are relaxed enough to fall asleep.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, have a regular bedtime. Your condition is already messing with your regular sleep cycle every night. This is why it is important to maintain a consistent sleep pattern, which will eliminate sleepiness in the day. You should go to bed at the same hour every single day.
Always bring your CPAP along whenever you travel. If you have sleep apnea, you need to use your CPAP every night. This machine should have a travel bag with it. You can transport your CPAP machine with you away from home.
If you use a CPAP machine, make sure the mask fits well. Most people who quit using their CPAP machine usually say it is because the machine is uncomfortable. There are a number of different masks available, so you are not forced to use one that causes discomfort. Try out many different styles to find the right one.
On easy way to help limit your sleep apnea is to stick to regular sleeping hours. When you stick to a sleep schedule that is steady and consistent, you will be more relaxed and sleep much better. Apnea episode frequency will be greatly reduced if you can get plenty of sleep every night.
Avoid excessive drinking if you are a sleep apnea sufferer. When you drink you relax your throat muscles which actually provokes them to collapse. Quit drinking, or have only one drink a few hours before bed. You don’t need alcohol to compound your issues with sleep apnea, and following this advice will help alleviate that.
The most important aspect of dealing with sleep apnea is understanding exactly what it is. Unlike simple snoring, it is when a sleeper stop’s breathing for a short period of time while he is sleeping. If your sleep partner tells you that sometimes you stop breathing, there is a good chance you have apnea.
One way to reduce problems with sleep apnea is to start playing a wind instrument. These types of instruments will actually train your muscles in your upper airways, which are the muscles needed to control airway dilation while you are sleeping. Not only will you sleep better, you will also have a new skill to show off!
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.
Avoid anything that can make your sleep apnea worse, especially high altitudes. Sleeping in a high altitude ie. airplanes can actually make your symptoms worse as the loss of oxygen increases. If you must travel, make sure you talk to your physician about how you can relieve your symptoms of sleep apnea.
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.
It bears stating once again that sleep apnea is an extremely common condition with millions of sufferers. Lack of knowledge about the condition is something you do not want if you are dealing with this problem. Useful tips and information can be a vital part of treating sleep apnea.