Sleep apnea sufferers are well aware of the health problems that result when it goes untreated. Self-education is the first (and possibly the most important) step in dealing with this tricky condition. Use the great advice in this article, and you can manage sleep apnea in an effective way.
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!
Get a checkup regularly and act upon your doctor's suggestions. Besides excess weight, you could be suffering from health issues such as heart disease and hypertension, which can greatly increase your chance of suffering from sleep apnea. Even problems with blood sugar can make sleeping a miserable experience for apnea sufferers.
You must be careful not to use sedating medications if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Anything that sedates you will slow down your breathing, especially when you go to sleep. When you are sedated by medication, your throat muscles will relax and collapse more quickly as you sleep.
If you have a prescription for sleep apnea and you are prescribed a CPAP, you should at least use it four hours every night. Many people find it very difficult to feel comfortable using a CPAP to go to sleep. Use your CPAP as often as prescribed by your doctor, and make sure it fits properly. If you have trouble adjusting to use it the full night, keep it on for four hours at the least.
Drink less alcohol and smoke less if you suffer from sleep apnea. Alcoholic beverages cause the upper airway to become overly relaxed, and smoking causes swelling in your airway. So, cutting back or completely giving up both can improve your symptoms or even cure your sleep apnea problem completely.
Try not to drink alcohol as much. Your muscles will over-relax when you use alcohol, especially before bed. Although many users find this to be one of the benefits of drinking, it tends to make the effects of sleep apnea much more serious. Your muscles will relax and collapse, which will make you snore and possibly cough through the night. If you do drink alcohol, avoid drinking it 3 hours before bedtime.
Try your best to maintain a regular sleeping schedule. When your body gets into a customary sleeping cycle, you will find yourself getting a better night's sleep, and you will also be more relaxed. Several studies have shown that apnea episodes decrease when a person is not sleep deprived or stressed out.
Try some throat and mouth exercises. One reason people suffer from sleep apnea is because their throats close when they sleep. Strengthening these muscles can decrease the chance that they will go slack while you are sleeping. Try some tongue, jaw and neck exercises to increase your throat strength.
Do not take sleeping pills if you suffer from sleep apnea. These pills are not recommended if you suffer from this condition because they relax the muscles of your throat. Skipping them can actually help you get a better night of sleep because your apnea symptoms are not aggravated.
A medical ID is a must for those being assisted by a CPAP machine. This will let emergency personnel and others know you use a CPAP for sleep apnea. This ID should say that you have apnea, that you use CPAP, and that your machine has to be set at a certain pressure level.
Try sleeping with nasal strips to open your nasal passageways. If you suffer from sleep apnea, this can offer some relief to your symptoms, especially snoring. When your sleep is less interrupted by waking periods when you cannot breathe, you receive a better night of rest and often see your symptoms disappear.
Don't drink alcohol, especially at night. The reason most people drink alcohol is to relax, but it also causes the muscles that control your airways to relax as well. When you go to sleep with ultra-relaxed airway muscles, it can make your sleep apnea symptoms worse. Do your body and your wallet a favor and cut out the booze.
While it is common sense to avoid some things before sleeping, like caffeine, many people load up their plates and then go to bed. This is not healthy in general and can worsen sleeping issues like apnea. Avoid eating any heavy meals before going to bed and you will find yourself sleeping better.
All people with sleep apnea know how debilitating this condition can be. Fortunately, taking the time to educate oneself about all of the options and treatments can really help to manage this condition. Use the advice from this article to get a peaceful night sleep.
Orignal From: Do You Have Sleep Apnea? Try These Tips!
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