Although specific requirements may vary, everybody needs a good night’s sleep! If you face the problems posed by sleep apnea, you know you’re not getting the quality sleep you need to face each day. Check out the following tips that may help you fight sleep apnea and finally get a decent 8 hours of sound and healthy sleep.

Get a checkup regularly and act upon your doctor’s suggestions. Besides excess weight, you could be suffering from health issues such as heart disease and hypertension, which can greatly increase your chance of suffering from sleep apnea. Even problems with blood sugar can make sleeping a miserable experience for apnea sufferers.

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.

Make yourself wear your CPAP for four hours while you sleep, at the least. Some people find the machine difficult to get accustomed to. Four hours of use daily is recommended with a CPAP machine to see the medical benefits. If it is hard and become difficult to adjust to in the beginning, then ensure you are using it at least four hours a night.

Exercise your throat. Make faces. Stick out your tongue. Rotate your jaw. It might feel a bit silly, but it can actually help people who suffer from sleep apnea. Doing these things exercises the muscles your body needs to moderate its breathing. Studies have shown that doing these exercises a few times a day can make a huge difference.

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.

You may have to maintain a sleep log for your doctor to diagnose your condition. This log is where you’ll keep track of how much you sleep during the night, and other symptoms you may experience. Your spouse can inform you of any excessive snoring, jerking, or momentary lapses in your breathing. This diary will help a medical professional see patterns in your sleep habits.

Inform a friend or family member of your condition. Sleep apnea can be life threatening. It can also cause complications when combined with other conditions. Inform those around you of your sleep apnea. If the worst occurs, they will be able to pass this information along to a medical professional during an emergency.

Doctors often recommend that sleep apnea patients consider treatment with a CPAP – Continuous Positive Airway Protection – mask and machine. The machine sends air through a hose to a mask covering your nose. The purpose is to help keep your airway open so you are breathing normally as you sleep. While the machine may initially seem a little foreign and uncomfortable, a great many patients adapt quickly and find they are getting much more restful sleep as a result.

Anyone who suffers from sleep apnea should avoid using sleeping pills. It can be tempting to try to use them to help you sleep better, but these pills can relax your throat muscles and make your sleep apnea worse. They also have a number of other side effects that can be unpleasant.

Sleep apnea will not go away by itself; you need to treat it. Some treatments may work for certain people, but not all of them. Although losing weight is known to reduce sleep apnea symptoms, people who are thin suffer also. You can use options like CPAP machines to help you sleep at night. Other people may be inclined to opt for surgery where changes may be made to the airway passages. Whichever route you choose, getting proper treatment can improve your sleep and your life.

If you have sleep apnea and use a CPAP, try to replace your mask and hose every six months. Most insurance policies allow for a new mask and hose every six months, and some allow you to replace them every three months. The mask can stop fitting well after several months of use, and the hose can develop small cracks or holes that let air leak. Replace these items to keep getting the best CPAP therapy possible.

Nobody likes to be grumpy, but sleep deprivation will make you miserable. Take what steps you can to alleviate the symptoms of your sleep apnea, so that you can achieve a higher quality of sleep and start being a more productive and positive person during the day. You deserve it!

Great Advice If You’re Suffering With Sleep Apnea was originally published on Spring