You should treat sleep apnea before it becomes a huge burden. It’s difficult (not to mention unhealthy!) to struggle through life without getting proper, natural sleep. Try out these tips to get better sleep today.
One way to improve your sleep apnea is to shed excess weight that you are carrying. Being overweight or obese places pressure on your neck, which can compress your windpipe as you sleep. Losing just 25 pounds can make a difference in your symptoms, and losing enough weight can eliminate the disorder altogether.
Do you light up or knock some back every day? Stop these bad habits. Smoking and drinking have negative effects on your airways. Alcohol relaxes your airways, and tobacco causes it to swell. If you find that you just can’t give these bad habits up, do what you can to not do either of them within four hours of your bedtime.
You should know that using a CPAP machine can cause certain side effects, including snoring, congestion, irritation or dryness in your mouth and airways. If this occurs, you should go to your doctor and make sure you are using your machine properly. Consider using a different mask or a different machine.
Try your best to lay off tobacco and nicotine products. Cigarette smoke can irritate your upper airway causing it to swell up, subsequently hindering your ability to breath during the night. Quitting smoking could therefore, significantly improve your sleep apnea symptoms and will also improve your body’s overall health and your feelings of well-being.
Consider sleeping sitting up if you have sleep apnea, and you do not have a CPAP available. Perhaps you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, but you have not had your CPAP prescribed yet. Maybe the power went out, and your CPAP will not work without electricity. Whenever you have to sleep without the benefit of CPAP therapy, sleeping sitting up will help to keep your airway from collapsing.
People who do not have a partner sleeping with them may not know they suffer from sleep apnea. If you wake up with a dry or sore mouth, wake up out of breath, have morning headaches, insomnia, and/or go to the bathroom frequently during the night, you may have sleep apnea and should talk to a doctor.
Sleep Apnea patients using a CPAP machine may find that a humidifier is their best friend. The continuous passage of air from the machine can dry out sensitive nasal membranes, creating discomfort. A room humidifier, placed near the machine, often provides the humidification needed for comfortable sleep. If that isn’t sufficient, machines with integrated humidification chambers are available and allow the patient to customize the amount of moisture they receive.
Try to keep a sleep schedule if sleep apnea is an issue in your life. Sleep apnea already disrupts your rest more than it should. Whatever you can try to help minimize the effects of this condition and help to normalize your sleep patterns can only help you get better. The most important adjustment to make is to go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
You will find it easier to go to sleep and remain asleep if you follow a schedule. Go to bed at the same time, follow a bedtime routine if it helps you relax and get at least eight hours of sleep every night. Create the ideal environment for you to sleep in.
It is very important that you are getting a good night’s rest every day, and it is crucial you get the proper amount of sleep. Use these suggestions to help you develop a plan for getting the restful sleep that you need to be your best.
