Tired All The Time? Maybe It’s Sleep Apnea

TIP! If a person is severely overweight, they are much more likely to develop sleep apnea. Should this be the reason, weight loss should be the rule of thumb.

Are you or your partnered troubled by a lack of restful sleep; or are issues with snoring keeping you awake? If you have ruled out other possible causes, you need to get tested for sleep apnea. If you think you may be suffering with this condition, then stop worrying and continue onto the article below for some helpful advice!

Mouth Guard

TIP! Try not to drink alcohol as much. The natural effects of alcohol lead to over-relaxation of your muscles.

If your sleep apnea is the result of narrow airways, try using a mouth guard when you sleep. These devices correct your airways and they help you breathe properly. Consult with a doctor or get a mouth guard made if you are suffering.

TIP! Even children can suffer from sleep apnea. If you find your child is innatentive, always tired or uses their mouth to breath and not their nose, they may suffer from this condition.

Playing wind instruments can actually help you control sleep apnea. Researchers in Germany found that playing a didgeridoo can train and strengthen the muscles of the upper airway. This muscle group manages airway dilation and stiffening. There are also throat exercises you can practice, including blowing up a balloon, if you do not want to buy a didgeridoo.

TIP! Sleep apnea is no joke. It’s important to seek medical advice as soon as you suspect you may be suffering from it.

If your doctor prescribes a mouth guard, make sure it is properly fitted. Guards such as these were designed for someone who suffers with sleep apnea. If you don’t have CPAP, then this guard is an excellent alternative. Also, it’s a lot more comfortable wearing this mouth guard while sleeping. The soft tissues in your throat can collapse when you sleep at night, and wearing a mouth guard can help to keep your airway unobstructed.

TIP! Take back a good night of rest by side sleeping. When people sleep on their back, their tongue and soft palate rest to the back of the throat, which blocks the airway.

Avoid sleeping pills when you find out you realize you are diagnosed with sleep apnea. Sleep medicines often contain relaxants which only make your airway more likely to collapse. For those with severe cases of sleep apnea, using these pills can be quite dangerous. Avoid using them even if you are having trouble sleeping.

TIP! Attempt side sleeping. If you sleep on your back, this can make your sleep apnea worse.

If you are using a CPAP to treat sleep apnea, be sure to take it when you’re going to the hospital. While a hospital will have CPAP machines, you may be much more comfortable with a machine that already fits you well. The settings will be prepared and you won’t have to adjust the pressure. It will be much simpler to continue using a CPAP machine in the hospital if you don’t have to deal with unfamiliar equipment.

TIP! There are several components to a sleep apnea diagnosis including a physical examination, a complete review of your medical history and a review of your family history. Also, there may be a sleep study performed and even a sleep specialist recommended if the doctor treating you feels that your condition is severe enough to get it looked at further.

If you are not having any luck managing your apnea, you may want to talk to a doctor about more radical treatments. If you do not have success with standard treatments, you may have to consider surgery, such as a tonsillectomy or airway enlargement.

TIP! If you suffer from sleep apnea, avoid using sleeping pills. The muscles in your airway may become too relaxed.

You need only one regular pillow to sleep with at night. The use of multiple cushions, or very large pillows, can throw off your sleeping posture and inhibit your breathing. Sleeping in this way may prevent easy breathing. So find a normal size pillow that is comfortable and doesn’t contort your airway because this will help you sleep better and breathe easier.

TIP! People with sleep apnea who need a CPAP should have a medical ID that identifies the problem. You don’t need people questioning you and your device all the time, so it makes it easier when you bring your medical ID.

Use nasal spray if you suffer from sleep apnea. It may offer a couple nights of relief. Avoid using this product for more than a few days because it may irritate the delicate tissues in your nose. Ask your pharmacist what other options you can try to keep your nasal passages clear.

Sleep Apnea

TIP! If you shed some weight it will likely help with apnea. Sleep apnea is correlated with being fat and having a large neck.

If a person has sleep apnea and is overweight, they can often reduce their symptoms by losing some weight. Sleep apnea commonly occurs in overweight patients that have a larger neck. Getting thinner will lower the amount of pressure on your trachea, which means more air will get to your lungs while you sleep.

TIP! There are a number of solutions available, many of them relatively simple. Target a specific time for bed and be consistent with it nightly.

You should always consult a physician when you have sleep apnea, but there are things you can do for yourself too. It’s always a good idea to stop drinking and smoking and lose weight. It is doubly so if you have sleep apnea. Overeating, consuming an excessive amount of alcohol and too much caffeine before bed can all exacerbate sleep apnea.

TIP! If you have sleep apnea, you are not likely to realize it during your sleep. You need to let your doctor know if you have excessive daytime sleepiness, frequent exhaustion or episodes of falling asleep at the wheel.

Don’t sleep facing upwards if you are a sleep apnea sufferer. Many people with sleep apnea find their airways block more easily when they sleep lying on their backs. Prop yourself up on your side with a pillow or cushions.

TIP! Corrective oral devices may be used to correct sleep apnea on occasion. It is not uncommon for people to have jaw shapes that create a narrow airway.

Does this new information make sleep apnea seem less overwhelming? You should be ready to get some good healthy sleep using these tips. Keep in mind that you may not see the results of your efforts as quickly as you’d like. Keep trying new methods and eventually you’ll find the ones that work.

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