You may feel that your sleep apnea diagnosis is the end of your world. Perhaps you have never felt so alone as when your doctor gave you the news. Take heart though, because you are definitely not alone. Thousands are diagnosed with sleep apnea every year, and you can learn from their experiences.

You have to get rid of a few vices to get through sleep apnea. Two of the biggest problems are drinking and smoking. Alcohol depresses your nervous system and makes it harder to breathe, particularly when you are asleep. Smoking damages all parts of your airways. Your sleep apnea symptoms will improve if you give up both of these unhealthy habits completely.

Try losing a few pounds, if you suffer from chronic sleep apnea. Controlled studies have proven that people with this sleep disturbance benefit greatly after losing 20 or more pounds. Symptoms may even diminish completely, so you now have yet another reason to get your weight down to a healthier number!

A physician is the best person to ask about which CPAP machine is the right one to use for your specific situation. You must consider both the size of your machine and its loudness. A machine to get you through the night is better than feeling fatigued every day. Your doctor will help you find one that is well made.

If you are unsure whether or not you have sleep apnea, consider setting up an audio or video recorder next to your bed. When you review the recording, watch or listen for choking, gasping or other signs that you are not getting enough air as you sleep. Present your findings to your doctor if you suspect that you do have apnea.

Improve your sleep apnea by slimming down a bit. Recent research showed dramatic improvements in overweight men who shed 25 pounds over a period of one year to reduce sleep apnea symptoms. In some cases, the weight loss resulted in a cure of sleep apnea where no further treatment of the condition was necessary.

Clear up your nasal passage before heading to bed. If you suffer from sleep apnea and have problems with a “stuffed up” nose, using a nasal spray or device can help clear your nasal airway. This is not a permanent solution, but one you can use when your apnea symptoms are the worst.

People with sleep apnea who need a CPAP should have a medical ID that identifies the problem. If you are ever in need of emergency treatments, this ID will let the medical team know that you suffer from sleep apnea and are following CPAP therapy. Your ID needs to mention your sleep apnea, your CPAP use and your CPAP pressure settings.

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.

A good way to determine if you are suffering from sleep apnea is by recording yourself when you sleep. You can do either an audio or video recording to catch your sleep patterns and sounds you generate when you are in a deep slumber. These recordings can be quite informative. Try doing them for several nights in a row to get a good range of information.

An excellent way to reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea is to prop up your head and body. If you can get your head at least 4 inches off of the mattress or elevate your torso from the waist up, you will reduce your symptoms. Try using a foam wedge or cervical pillow when sleeping to do this.

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.

One great tip for people who sleep with an apnea sufferer is to use a white-noise machine. While this won’t target the problem at all, it does at least help the partner to get a good night’s sleep. Remember to use the same sound every night in order to sync the noise with relaxation.

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.

A sleep apnea diagnosis is definitely not the end of your happy little world. In fact, it might just be the start of a whole new healthier chapter in your life. Take the tips you learned in this article, and start to make positive changes in your life that can help you to rest easier.

Tips For Dealing With Sleep Apnea And Improving Your Sleep was originally published on Spring