If your doctor tells you you have sleep apnea, you might be terrified. Millions of people around the world have it, though, so it isn’t uncommon. Sleep apnea can be treated easily in a number of ways. This article will provide you with many tips on managing your sleep apnea.
Stopping bad habits may help with your sleep apnea. Two of the most common offenders are drinking and smoking. Drinking suppresses your breathing and causes a lot of harm to your respiratory system. Smoking can create carcinogens inside of your lungs, which can damage them later on. Getting rid of these bad habits can help to lessen the frustration that sleep apnea brings.
Talk to your doctor about getting a fitted sleep mouth guard. Sleep apnea can be magnified in effects by small jaws and recessed chins, as well as breathing passageways that are naturally narrow. With a specialty device, you can change your sleeping position and align your jaw so that you are able to sleep.
If you have just been diagnosed with sleep apnea and prescribed a CPAP, join a CPAP support group. It can be quite difficult to get used to sleeping with a mask on your face every night. Sitting in a room full of other people going through the same thing can be very empowering. You can learn from others who have had the same issues you are having and made adjustments to make it work.
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.
Try your best to maintain a regular sleeping schedule. When your body gets into a customary sleeping cycle, you will find yourself getting a better night’s sleep, and you will also be more relaxed. Several studies have shown that apnea episodes decrease when a person is not sleep deprived or stressed out.
Sleep apnea can occur in adults or children; there is no age limit. If you child exhibits certain symptoms, he or she might have sleep apnea. Sometimes, sleep apnea is confused with ADHD, and you should consult your doctor for the proper diagnosis.
Sleep apnea sufferers should always invest in a heated humidifier equipped with a bacterial filtering mechanism for use in the room where they sleep. By utilizing this type of machine, it is possible to guard against the fragile membranes that line the lungs and nasal passages, preventing exacerbation of existing symptoms.
If you suffer from sleep apnea and have a problem with your mouth opening while sleeping with your CPAP, a chin strap may be able to help. This minor fabric piece and make sure that your chin stays up and your mouth closed. Try this out to keep your mouth closed.
Drink one cup of caffeinated coffee a few hours before you go to sleep. It may seem silly to drink a caffeine drink at night, but this can actually help keep your throat open while you sleep. You may have to play around with what time you drink the coffee to avoid restlessness.
Your doctor should make a certain diagnosis of your sleep apnea, but there are ways you can help yourself too. Stopping smoking and shedding weight is a great start, especially for anyone dealing with sleep apnea. Also, stay away from large meals, caffeine and alcohol a few hours before going to sleep.
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.
Prior to going to bed, it is important to open up your nasal passages. This is so that you get enough air flow. To open up the nasal passages, you may want to use saline spray, a nasal dilator, a neti pot, breathing strips or whatever your doctor may have recommended.
There are several tools available to open up nasal passages that work to varying degrees. You should try several of these to see if any of them work well for you. The cheapest and easiest options are nasal strips, but neti pots are also becoming increasingly common for this type of problem.
Avoid sleeping on your back if you have sleep apnea. Falling asleep right on your back will hurt you, because you won’t get a clear passage for your lungs to breath. To counter the effects of gravity on your throat muscles, it’s best to sleep in a sideways position.
Many people who sleep on their back typically experience sleep apnea. If you sleep on your back with sleep apnea the change this right away. It’s been proven that sleeping on the side of your body can greatly reduce the effects of sleep apnea.
Find out as much as you can about your sleep apnea. You may know your symptoms and know what the doctor suggests, but do what you can to find out about your health condition. This way, you can be more confident that you are doing what you can to help yourself.
Avoid sleeping on your back. Sleeping on your back allows gravity to compound your sleep apnea. If your airway is already prone to collapse, sleeping on your back will make it much more likely to occur. If you find yourself turning onto your back as you sleep, consider sewing a tennis ball to the back of your pajamas to discourage it.
Hearing that you have sleep apnea is not easy. Be grateful that this affliction can be successfully managed. Put the advice about sleep apnea you have read here to work for you starting tonight. If you get the correct treatment, your life will be healthy and more fulfilling even with your condition.