If your loved one regularly wakes in the night short of breath, it may be because of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious condition; you and the loved one you sleep with cannot simply ignore the problem and expect it to resolve itself. Keep reading to find out more about sleep apnea.
To help with your sleep apnea, you need to consult with your doctor about the best CPAP machine to use. Among other considerations, inquire about how big the machine is and how noisy it is when it is operating. Certain CPAPs are tinier than bread boxes and are barely heard. Your physician can recommend the best manufacturers in the industry.
Breathing Passage
Ask your doctor about a corrective mouth piece for your sleep apnea symptoms. Sleep apnea can be caused by a genetically small jaw, recessed chin or a breathing passage that is too small. Specialty devices can rectify the minor deviations during sleep so that your jaw aligns and your breathing passage remains unobstructed, giving you a better night of uninterrupted rest.
You must use your CPAP at least 4 hours nightly after receiving your unit. Although it can be difficult to become accustomed to wearing a CPAP, it is an important tool in improving sleep apnea. However, in order to be effective, the CPAP has to be used for four hour every night. If you still have trouble adjusting, get at least four hours and try to add more time each night.
You can both shed unwanted pounds and reduce the effects of sleep apnea with a nutritious and healthy diet. Some people are surprised to learn how much a bad diet effects sleep apnea. It has been shown in studies that those who eat unhealthier foods face more severe sleep apnea than their overweight, yet healthy-eating, counterparts.
Try to sleep on your side instead of your back to breathe easier when you sleep. The airway obstructions that cause sleep apnea are far more likely to occur if you sleep on your back than in any other position. If you have trouble staying off your back, sew a tennis ball into the back of your pajamas to help you stay on your side. You may see a big difference in the quality of your sleep.
Sleep Pattern
When dealing with sleep apnea it is best to keep a regular sleeping schedule. An irregular sleep pattern only aggravates the sleep apnea condition. A routine sleep pattern will discourage the condition from getting worse. For most people, the most important thing is to get up and sleep at the exact same time each day.
If your sleep apnea requires the use of a CPAP machine, make certain that a medical ID is always with you. This will let emergency personnel and others know you use a CPAP for sleep apnea. Your ID should include your use of CPAP and the pressure level at which your CPAP must be set.
If you are requiring a hospital visit, don’t leave the CPAP machine behind. Whether you have a planned hospitalization or you need to go to the emergency room, you should have your CPAP and mask available for use while you are there. It will already be at your personal settings and pressure, and be the mask you know you can sleep in. All of this will mean much better sleep for you with your CPAP, if you need hospitalization for any length of time.
This article has provided you with a great start as you learn more about sleep apnea. If you just ignore sleep apnea, you are setting yourself up for future health problems and low quality of life. You may wish to print this article out to discuss it with others.