Expert Tips for Dealing with Sleep Apnea

When you are not getting quality rest, it becomes really difficult to continue your day to day tasks. And among various types of sleeping problems, sleep apnea is often considered a major one. Even children can suffer from sleep apnea.

When you notice that your child wakes up tired each day, hard to wake up in the morning, angry or rude or their grades are suffering at school, poor sleep due to sleep apnea could be the culprit.

In this post, I will share some of the most effective tips for dealing with sleep apnea.

Use a Mouth Guard

It is not easy to tell if you are suffering from sleep apnea if you don’t sleep with someone who can describe your sleep patterns. Try taping yourself at night to see if you do.

Speak with your physician about getting a mouth guard that can help alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea. A recessed chin or a smaller jaw can cause sleep apnea. You will get better rest if you wear a custom mouth guard that aligns your jaw properly while sleeping.

Lose a few pounds if you need to. Studies have shown sleep apnea symptoms are more common in people who are overweight. If you are obese, you may see a marked difference in how your sleep apnea affects you.

Consult Your Physician

There is no reason to suffer from sleep apnea unnecessarily when there are options to help you. Make an appointment with a doctor to ensure the necessary amount of sleep for you.Communicate with your doctor before and after you get a sleep apnea diagnosis. Your doctor can give you the benefit of his or her medical expertise and help guide you towards the best treatments for your problem. Keeping a sleep log can help your doctor diagnose you with sleep apnea. All hours slept or spent awake should be recorded.

If you have chronic sleeping problems, you can also try sleeping pills. Sleeping pills can make your throat muscles relax. Consult with your practitioner to see which one should be the best sleeping pill according to your physical condition.

If you are having issues with your nose, you can use nasal spray. This product will clear excess mucus and from your airways, and some formulas reduce inflammation.

If the air you breathe is moist, you will have a better night’s sleep. There are many different CPAP machines that are equipped with built-in humidifiers, so ask your doctor about prescribing one for your apnea.

Continue to talk to your doctor, even after your initial diagnosis. This way you can talk to them about your progress.

Monitor the Sleeping Pattern

Your sleeping pattern may also disrupt your sleep cycle. The best thing you can do is to set a specific time to go to sleep and wake up each day. If you have sleep apnea, you should not drink excessively. This will provoke your throat muscles to collapse.

If you have problem in falling asleep faster, soak in a bath before bedtime each night. A hot bath can help sooth your aches and pains. This will help you ready for a restful night’s sleep and decreases the risk of a sleep apnea incident.

Stick to one normal sized pillow as you sleep. This makes you in a position that can adversely affect your breathing. This is why one single pillow is best to manage your symptoms.

Sleeping on the side can be another useful tip. Sleeping on the back can obstruct your airways and cause air passages to constrict. Try to fall asleep on one of your sides to see if your sleep apnea this evening.

Lead a Healthy Life

Lose some weight if you’re heavy. Although it might not be the main cause, being overweight makes sleep apnea worse. Drop some vices to fight against sleep apnea. Drinking and smoking are detrimental to having longer sleep. Do not drink alcohol as you used to. Alcohol has a relaxing effect on all of your muscles. While this might often be a desirable side effect of drinking, it tends to create the problem of sleep apnea. Alcohol relaxes throat muscles and it can hurt your body. If you do drink alcohol, cut back and make sure you do it well before bedtime. Smoking damages all parts of your lungs over time.

Dropping both these habits can help ease the symptoms of sleep apnea.

If you do not have a partner to let you know how you sleep at night, it can be difficult to assess if you have sleep apnea. A video recorder can help you discover whether you are sleeping well or struggling.

Miscellaneous Tips

Playing music on wind instruments can be beneficial to your sleep apnea. A German study found that playing wind instruments such as the didgeridoowill help your sleep apnea. These particular muscles are the key to dilation and control how stiff your airway walls get.

Try an over-the-counter device. Snoring occurs when air passages are almost closed, and apnea involves them being completely shut with no airflow. It is understandable that something can help both. Your sleep apnea can be curtailed a bit with the use of a snoring prevention device.

If the situation is really bad, you should go for sleep apnea treatments like CPAP therapy. Make people aware that your life would be much worse with the machine.

If you’re taking a long trip, tell the airline that you will require your CPAP machine. Most airlines will designate an area for you in a convenient place to make using your machine easier. If flying on a foreign plane, make sure you have the right power adapter.

If you are taking a vacation and suffer from sleep apnea, don’t forget to bring your CPAP machine along. When sleep apnea affects you, do not attempt even a single night without your CPAP machine.

If you are going to be hospitalized for any reason, make sure your CPAP is with you. Your CPAP and your mask should be with you whether you’re admitted to the hospital or visiting the emergency room. This will make continuing your CPAP therapy during your hospital stay.

Concluding Remarks

It is clear from the information shared in this article that sleep apnea is a serious condition that impacts all areas of a person’s life. Your doctor can help you discover the underlying reasons for your sleep apnea and the best treatments for you. Keep these tips in mind tonight when you are going to bed and you might find the treatment that is right for you.