Don’t panic if you’ve been told you suffer from sleep apnea. Despite the dangers and discomforts of this serious condition, it can be properly managed so that you can have a normal life. The article below discusses some of the best treatments and methods for dealing with your sleep apnea.
Drop some vices to combat sleep apnea. Two of the biggest problems are drinking and smoking. You can have severe breathing problems if you are a heavy drinker as it depresses your respiratory system. Smoking damages all parts of your airways. Losing these terrible habits will help a great deal when it comes to alleviating your sleep apnea symptoms.
While people who are thin can have sleep apnea for various reasons, one common reason many people have it is being overweight. Should this be the reason, weight loss should be the rule of thumb. Look for a sensible plan that includes both caloric restriction as well as exercise. Taking carbohydrates out of a diet is something that studies show helps people lose weight.
Do you drink and smoke? If the answer is yes and you have sleep apnea, you need to stop both habits. Both of these substances have a negative effect on your ability to breathe while sleeping. Your throat can swell thanks to smoking, and alcohol relaxes your palate and allows it to drop to the back of your throat, which restricts your airway while you sleep. If losing these habits is not possible, then at least limit yourself before going to bed.
Taking up a musical instrument (especially a wind instrument) can have a positive effect on your sleep apnea. Researchers in Germany have found playing a didgeridoo can make your throat muscles stronger. These muscles are the key to dilation of the air passage and proper breathing as we sleep. Therefore, you should regularly play these instruments due to the fact that they decrease your sleep apnea symptoms.
If you’ve got a prescription for a CPAP for your sleep apnea, try using it for around four hours each night. Sometimes it is hard for people to get used to the CPAP. Keep in mind your CPAP device should be used at least four hours per night for it to help you. Using it for the minimum of four hours a day will allow yourself to slowly transition to full time use.
In an effort to better diagnose your apnea problem, your physician might want you to maintain a sleep log. Write out how many times you wake up in the middle of the night, or how ofter you get tired throughout the day. Your partner can help with that, as they know whether you are a loud snorer or jerk about. With this information, your doctors can make a final determination on whether or not you suffer from sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can be very troublesome if not treated. Luckily, there are many methods of treatment for sleep apnea. Share this article with your physician and discuss the ways in which this information and other helpful information may change your life.