Do you know what is one of the major causes of a bad night sleep? The answer is snoring and sleep apnea. The latter is a more advanced form of snoring that carries potential health risks and shouldn’t be ignored. If you believe that you have this issue, then you should read this article filled with tips to Successfully Handle Your Sleep Apnea.
Tips for Sleep 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.
Relief for your allergies
Make sure to provide relief for your allergies. Congestion can make it harder to breathe through your nose and force you to take in air through your mouth. Allergies can cause soft tissues to swell and make apnea much more severe. Research the medicines you use to treat your symptoms and be wary of adding side effects to the mix. 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.
Pillow softness:
Sleep apnea can be a serious disorder. If you find you have some of the symptoms, talk to a physician as soon as you can. Once you know whether or not you have it for sure, you can figure out how to deal with it. If you can, sleep on one of your sides. Sleeping on your back is attributed to a lot of people who suffer with sleep apnea. Your airways become blocked when you sleep on your back. However, breathing is much easier if you sleep on your side instead. If you move around at night and tend to always wind up on your back, try propping yourself up with pillows.
Physician treating
If you suffer from sleep apnea, make sure your significant other or your family is aware of your condition. In emergency situations, it is vital that whoever is with you can tell the physician treating you about your condition during any emergency medical care. You should make them aware of both the apnea diagnosis and your treatment. Consider putting yourself on a strict bedtime schedule and routine, if sleep apnea is keeping you from a good night’s sleep. Doing the same things at the same time may help condition your mind and body to better sleeping, and if you suffer from sleep apnea, you need all the help you can get!
Take your CPAP
You should take your CPAP machine everywhere you will be spending the night. Do not leave it at home. If you have a sleep apnea diagnosis, you must use your CPAP every single night. This machine should have a travel bag with it. This is perfect for taking your CPAP along with you anytime you are away. If you suffer from sleep apnea and must go to the hospital, make sure your CPAP is with you. It is critical to have your CPAP available to you, along with your mask at all times. The machine is pre-set to your specifications and you have the benefit of wearing the mask you are already familiar with. Doing so will make your hospitalization easier because you can continue to do your CPAP therapy.
Ideal environment
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. Did you know there are exercises that you can do to reduce your sleep apnea? Throat exercises are a great way to reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea. Try pressing the tongue against the floor of your mouth. Use a toothbrush to brush the tongues tops and sides. Repeat this exercise three times a day for five repetitions.
Final words
Sleep apnea, and even snoring, can both cause you to lose out on your rest, making the rest of your life much more difficult. That is why reading through this article is so important. Now you can return to bed with confidence!