Are you dealing with sleep apnea? Is it keeping you up at night? Sleep apnea affects your sleep, but there are things you can do to help yourself sleep better at night. The article that follows contains some helpful information that you can use when you are dealing with sleep apnea.
Strengthen your throat and jaw with some basic exercises. Developing these muscles should reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea. You can exercise your throat and jaw by simply pulling your tongue or practicing some very simple breathing exercises. The goal is to train you to breathe differently and hopefully make your sleep apnea disappear.
If a person is severely overweight, they are much more likely to develop sleep apnea. The obvious solution is to lose the excess weight. Follow a strict diet and exercise regimen for awhile to see if this makes a difference. Cutting out white carbs such as white rice, pasta and sugar is one step that many people use to lose weight.
If you are unsure whether or not you have sleep apnea, consider setting up an audio or video recorder next to your bed. When you review the recording, watch or listen for choking, gasping or other signs that you are not getting enough air as you sleep. Present your findings to your doctor if you suspect that you do have apnea.
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.
Test out sleeping on the side. Some sleep apnea patients lay 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. Try to sleep on your side to avoid that. Support yourself with pillows so that you won’t end up on your back at night.
Use a chin strap with your CPAP each night to prevent your mouth from opening as you sleep. The chin strap holds your chin so that you cannot sleep with your mouth open; it is a tiny piece of fabric. CPAP can’t work with an open mouth, so try using this device to fix the issue.
Being overweight is a common cause of sleep apnea. If you suffer from this condition, losing weight can help you find relief. Talk to your doctor to find some safe and effective ways of dropping a few pounds. Doing so will also benefit you in many other ways as well.
Left untreated, sleep apnea may get progressively worse. Some treatments may work for certain people, but not all of them. Obesity, asthma and allergies can all contribute to sleeping problems. The CPAP machine has been a very successful option for millions, and it does not involve any invasive procedures. Some people find that they do best by having surgery that will help alleviate their symptoms. Working with your doctor to identify the best approach for your apnea issues will increase your opportunity to live a healthy and well-rested life.
It’s important to lose weight if you suffer from sleep apnea and you are overweight. The heavier you are, the harder it is for air to get down your throat. In fact, some studies suggest that obese people who suffer from sleep apnea can get rid of the condition by losing weight.
Sleep apnea is a condition that can really mess with your sleep. With sleep being as important as it is, you don’t want anything interrupting it. Use the tips shared in this article and you can be on your way to a peaceful night’s sleep, even if you are dealing with sleep apnea.
