Do you still feel tired after attempting to sleep for 8 hours? Is your sleep partner complaining that your snoring is all throughout the night? Has your own snoring woken you up before? If you answered yes, you might have sleep apnea. But, do not fear. Read this article to find excellent help.
Consider doing a few very specific exercises before going to bed each night, to alleviate some of your sleep apnea symptoms. Exercising throat and tongue muscles has been proven in scientific studies to reduce snoring, improve breathing and lessen the more profound effects of sleep apnea when done according to doctor’s orders.
For people who suffer from sleep apnea, they may stop using their CPAP machine because it is noisy or too large. See if you can get an upgrade. The machines have gotten much smaller and quieter in recent years. You may be eligible for an upgrade. Contact your doctor or insurance provider for more information.
For people who are using a CPAP machine, you need to take notes to give to your doctor. If you experience any symptoms, like snoring, that were eliminated when you started using the CPAP machine and they come back, you need to let your doctor know. Only your doctor can properly assess any problems.
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.
Take the steps to find out if you actually have sleep apnea. Those who snore don’t necessarily have the disorder. If you have a sleeping partner, ask them questions about your actions during sleep. Do you stop breathing and gasp for air? That is a sure sign of sleep apnea.
You should take your CPAP machine everywhere you will be spending the night. Do not leave it at home. You never should go a single night without your CPAP. This CPAP should have a travel bag that came with it. You can transport your CPAP machine with you away from home.
A proven tip to reducing and preventing sleep apnea is to try sleeping on your side. You should avoid sleeping with your face up on your back. Gravity will cause the tongue and tissues in your neck fall back and block your airways. So sleep on your side for a better nights sleep.
Sleep apnea events can be decreased by keeping regular sleep hours. Going to bed and getting up at approximately the same time every day will provide better and more relaxed sleep. This simple lifestyle change can be a big help when sleep apnea is in the mild to moderate range.
Avoid any type of drugs or alcohol if you are experiencing any type of sleep apnea. Drugs and alcohol will slow down your respiratory system, and that is known to be one of the causes of sleep apnea. If you are struggling with this issue, try to get some professional help to overcome these addictions.
Try to slim down. Sleep apnea is exacerbated and sometimes even caused by obesity. Try losing enough weight to shift your BMI from obese to just overweight or even healthy. People who have lost weight have improved their sleep apnea symptoms, and some have even cured their sleep apnea completely.
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.
Don’t feel any shame about necessary treatments for sleep apnea, including lugging around your CPAP device. Tell people that this is a necessity, and don’t be self-conscious about having to use it in the presence of others. Remember that a CPAP machine is helping you, and if others make fun of you, they aren’t your friends.
Smokers who also suffer from sleep apnea need to make a difficult decision. Research shows that smoking can worsen sleeping problems such as snoring and apnea, so those who like to light up need to really look into themselves and decide what is more important, nicotine or a great night’s sleep.
If your sleep apnea is caused by misalignment of your jaw, which results in the narrowing of your airway, you may benefit from visiting a doctor. A doctor can look at the alignment and suggest a night mouth guard that will force your airways to stay open while sleeping by holding your jaw in proper alignment.
Your nasal breathing may contribute to sleep apnea. If you have a stuffy nose, make sure that you help open your airways with a nose spray. Your local drugstore sells over the counter sprays that are great for this purpose, but feel free to ask a pharmacist for help choosing the right one.
In some more extreme cases of sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend a CPAP machine. This machines function to continually force your airway to remain open while you are asleep. While they can be a hassle, they often times are life savers. If you think this may be necessary, speak with your physician.
If you have sleep apnea, it is important to recognize and heed the signs of daytime sleepiness. When you have sleep apnea, you are at a much higher risk of falling asleep sitting up. This can be dangerous if you are driving a car or working. When you notice that you are feeling overwhelmingly sleepy, take a break and take a nap.
You have begun your journey towards managing your condition effectively just by reading the preceding paragraphs. The first step is the most important one, because it gets you on the way to relief. You should be better-informed on how to get a better night’s sleep.