Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder than can affect as many as five percent as adults, but often goes unrecognized. If you suffer from this condition, you will stop breathing for up to a minute while you sleep. This can cause snoring, fatigue, and other problems. Fortunately, there are effective treatments to help you find relief.
Skip sleeping pills if you are prone to bouts of sleep apnea. You may feel you need them to get to sleep, but they have a similar effect as alcohol on the body. They also have additional side effects besides the obvious ones. Stay away if you want to lessen your sleep apnea symptoms.
You should know that using a CPAP machine can cause certain side effects, including snoring, congestion, irritation or dryness in your mouth and airways. If this occurs, you should go to your doctor and make sure you are using your machine properly. Consider using a different mask or a different machine.
It’s vital that you don’t use any type of sleeping pill when you suffer from sleep apnea. One of the effects of sleeping pills is that they constrict your throat, which only exacerbates sleep apnea. Avoid them at all costs to prevent yourself from hurting your body any more.
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.
If you have a CPAP machine, ask your physician to prescribe you a heated humidifier as well. Using a CPAP can initially be hard to get used to, but the moist, comfortable air from a humidifier will make the therapy more soothing. A lot of CPAP machines come with built-in humidifiers, so ask your doctor to prescribe that type for you.
Believe it or not, it has been scientifically proven that your sleep apnea can be tied to your weight. In a recent study, it was proven that people who have lost at least 25 pounds relieved their sleep apnea symptoms. This drastic slim down should be taken slowly, over the course of at least one year.
You might try playing a wind instrument to reduce your symptoms. According to a study from Germany, not only does this offer mental benefits, but it can also can reduce symptoms of sleep apnea. Mastering this music form means you can retain control of your respiratory system.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, change your sleeping position to reduce the number of sleep apnea events. Sleep on your side instead of on your back to lessen the likelihood that the soft tissue in the back of the throat will collapse and block your air passages. Prop a pillow behind your back to help you stay on your side as you sleep.
Take the initiative and figure out how to live with sleep apnea. If you do not go to a doctor and find a treatment, your symptoms will probably worsen over the years. A visit to your doctor is essential to prevent your sleep apnea symptoms from ruining your nightly sleep.
Clear your nasal passages before you go to sleep to avoid apnea. Open them up by using some saline spray, nasal dilator or a neti pot. Clearing the nasal passages will allow you to breathe easier while you are sleeping. Do not forget to use distilled water when you use a neti pot.
If you suspect sleep apnea to be the cause of your night time woes, arrange to have a sleep test with your family physician. A sleep lab can tell you if your sleep apnea is a correct diagnosis for you or whether something else is going on. They can also recommend what will be helpful to your situation. The following step would be identifying a treatment regimen, even for milder cases.
Lose weight. If you find yourself having difficulty sleeping, take the time to evaluate your weight. If you are obese, that is likely a major factor in your sleep apnea. Start on a diet and exercise regime right away so that you can slim down and sleep more comfortably every night.
It’s not uncommon for many people who are sleep apnea sufferers to sleep on their backs. If this describes your case, it may be time to change your sleeping position. Studies show that if you sleep on your side, it can help to alleviate the sleep apnea symptoms.
If you are concerned that you may suffer from sleep apnea, it is important to be diagnosed right away. This way, you can start getting the treatment you need as quickly as possible. The advice you have read in this article can help you find the relief you need from this troublesome condition.
Sleep Apnea: The Deadly Condition You May Never Have Heard Of was originally published on Spring