If you or someone close to you has recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea, this is the perfect article for you. By carefully studying the information contained in this article you can learn how to treat the disorder and ensure that you are doing everything that you can to protect your health. Read on to learn more.
Sleep apnea can be connected to your weight. If you are overweight, consider going on a diet to lose a few pounds. Studies have shown that overweight people who suffer from sleep apnea were able to improve their symptoms by losing about 25 pounds in a year: give it a try!
Learn how to play a wind instrument. Studies have found that playing a wind instrument like the flute or the didgeridoo can help with sleep apnea. Wind instruments exercise your breathing and help your body get accustomed to taking in sufficient amounts of air. Your throat will be able to better control airway dilation.
Do your best to sleep off your back and on your side. Many people with sleep apnea are used to sleeping on their backs. If you sleep flat on your back you are only exasperating your breathing problem by allowing your throat muscles to relax and move down. Sleep on your side to keep your airways straight. If you think you might roll over anyway, try a wedge pillow.
If you do not know if your snoring is from sleep apnea or just simple snoring, try using a sleep diary. In this diary, you will need to record how much time you spend in bed, the number of times that you awaken each night, and how tired you feel when you arise in the morning.
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, avoid sleeping pills. They can relax your throat muscles, making it hard to get enough air when you sleep. Sleeping pills can actually really harm you and prevent any air from coming through your body, so stay away from them as much as possible.
Always carry ID on you if you’re a sleep apnea sufferer who uses a CPAP machine. It may be a vital piece of information if you need emergency medical care and unable to give that information. Your ID should clearly state all information relevant to your sleep apnea, including what pressure level setting you use for your CPAP.
Drink one cup of caffeinated coffee a few hours before you go to sleep. It may seem silly to drink a caffeine drink at night, but this can actually help keep your throat open while you sleep. You may have to play around with what time you drink the coffee to avoid restlessness.
A proven tip to reducing and preventing sleep apnea is to try sleeping on your side. You should avoid sleeping with your face up on your back. Gravity will cause the tongue and tissues in your neck fall back and block your airways. So sleep on your side for a better nights sleep.
Sleep apnea will not magically disappear; patients will need to get it treated. Some treatments work better for different people. Losing weight will help minimize symptoms in many patients, but sleep apnea can occur in very thin individuals as well as those who are overweight. There are many options available to help treat this condition, one of which is a CPAP machine. Some people do prefer surgery over any other types of sleep apnea alleviation methods. More importantly than what treatment you decide to get is that you actually get some form of treatment.
As was discussed earlier, if you or someone you know has received a sleep apnea diagnosis, it is crucial that you educate yourself and learn everything there is to know about the disorder. The health care tips that you have read about in this article can help you successfully treat sleep apnea.
