Sleep apnea is an annoying condition. It can also be life threatening. Therefore, it is vital that you educate yourself thoroughly about this sleep disorder, learning why you have it and how you can treat it. By reading the article that follows, it is possible to get a good start on doing just that.
A common reason for sleep apnea to occur is increased weight. Anyone who is overweight and suffers from sleep apnea needs to lose weight for the sake of their health. The best way to lose weight is to become physically active with exercise at least four times per week and eat less food calories than are burned off each day by activity. Restriction of carbohydrates is shown to help those wanting to shed pounds.
Talk to your doctor about fitting you with a mouth piece you can wear at night. If you have a recessed chin or a small jaw, these conditions can greatly increase your sleep apnea symptoms. Mouth pieces can help align your jaw in the proper way, which will provide you with high-quality sleep.
Mouth Guard
Try using a mouth guard that’s custom-fitted for you. These special guards are designed to help people who suffer with sleep apnea. Instead of using a CPAP device, you can use a mouth guard. The mouth guard can help by keeping your airway unobstructed.
Even kids can suffer from sleep apnea. If he or she is cranky, active, inattentive and tends to breathe through their nose, they may have sleep apnea. These symptoms are much like ADHD so you should make sure you get the right diagnosis.
Sleep Apnea
If you are dealing with sleep apnea, you never want to take any sleeping pills. You will relax your throat muscles this way and you will not get as much from your sleep. Sleeping pills could cause injury or death if your sleep apnea is particularly severe. It can be difficult to stay asleep when you have sleep apnea, but you need to use other methods, such as a CPAP.
Exercising your tongue can help with your sleep apnea. If you press your tongue up and hold it there for a short period of time, it will help. You will make your muscles stronger, and you will have better results with your other treatments.
You can reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea by making the muscles in your throat stronger. Relaxed or excessive tissue can obstruct air passages and make breathing difficult. When your muscles strengthen, they won’t collapse so easily, and your airway will stay clear.
Don’t drink too much if you have sleep apnea. When you drink you relax your throat muscles which actually provokes them to collapse. You should either cease drinking alcohol or reduce your consumption to no more than a couple of drinks before dinner. Doing so will minimize the chance that alcohol will interfere with your sleep.
If you have to use a CPAP machine, you should not have to hide it from others because you are embarrassed. Inform people you are using it so you don’t feel awkward when you need to bring it out when other people are around. If the people around you give you trouble regarding the use of your machine, you may need a better group of friends.
If you have a long flight coming up, tell the airline that you are going to need your CPAP on board. Friendly airlines are happy to seat you where there is sufficient room for you and your machine. If you fly a foreign carrier, be sure to pack a power adapter.
Sleep Apnea
There is no debate about the frustration that is often brought on by sleep apnea. It’s an uncomfortable, frustrating, and sometimes dangerous condition. It can make life miserable for both you and those around you. Use this information to help you go about your treatment against sleep apnea.