Don’t Let Sleep Apnea Control Your Life

Ben Thoden Jul 27, 2012 · 4 min read

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Finding effective treatment options for the complex disorder of sleep apnea is an important issue that all patients face. Understanding the full range of treatment options is key to finding an effective solution that will work for your own situation. You are much more likely to find the proper treatment if you learn the helpful pointers listed below.

Speak with your doctor about getting a mouth guard that will help alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea. There may be genetic reasons you suffer from sleep apnea. Your airway may be naturally thin or your jaw may interfere with breathing during sleep. Corrective devices can improve your jaw alignment at night and increase your rest quality.

TIP! You should take your CPAP machine everywhere you will be spending the night. Do not leave it at home.

You can wear a chin strap with your CPAP if you have problems with your mouth falling open as you sleep. The chin strap will help hold you chin up during the time you are sleep which keeps your mouth closed. CPAP devices don’t work well when your mouth is wide open, so this device can help.

You need to get a mouth guard that is custom made for you! These have been shown to relieve snoring by clearing the airways at night, thereby reducing the effects of sleep apnea. Your jaw could affect you in your sleep and make you experience sleep apnea.

Sleep on one of your sides or your stomach to reduce the symptoms created by your sleep apnea. Your throat won’t be blocked, and you can get air to pass through your body with ease. Prop yourself up with pillows on your side so you don’t unwittingly role onto your back while you are sleeping.

TIP! Even children can suffer from sleep apnea. If your child is inattentive, hyperactive, has poor grades, is irritable or hostile, and/or breathes through their mouth instead of their nose, they could be suffering from sleep apnea.

Stay away from pain medicines with narcotic or opioid properties. If your respiratory system is suppressed by these drugs, your oxygen level can drop through the night as you sleep. When the person already suffers from low blood oxygen because of sleep apnea, it is a recipe for disaster.

Cpap Machine

Talk to your doctor before using a humidifier, mouth guard or nasal strips in conjunction with your CPAP sleep mask. Using a CPAP can initially be hard to get used to, but the moist, comfortable air from a humidifier will make the therapy more soothing. A lot of CPAP machines have humidification standard now, so ask your doctor for a model like that.

TIP! Chronic fatigue can complicate sleep apnea symptoms and make the disorder even worse. Make sure you stick to a regular bedtime and stay in bed long enough.

Try not to feel embarrassed by your CPAP machine. Inform those that need to know about it, and don’t feel uncomfortable using your CPAP around those close to you. They want you healthy. Remember that a CPAP machine is helping you, and if others make fun of you, they aren’t your friends.

Extra weight is a primary cause of sleep apnea. Should this be the reason, weight loss should be the rule of thumb. Make sure that you stick with a plan that makes sense and combine a low calorie diet with an exercise regimen. It may be worth it to look into diet plans that reduce the amount of carbohydrates that you eat.

The lifestyle one leads can definitely lead to sleep apnea, which causes one to lack sleep or sleep poorly. In a lot of cases, sufferers were able to lessen the symptoms of the sleep apnea by making a few smart changes to their lifestyles. If you are making bad and unhealthy choices in your life, this can lead to you developing sleep apnea.

TIP! Sleep apnea is a significant disorder. If you feel some of the symptoms, then you need to consult a physician as quickly as you can.

Choose only one, flatter pillow to sleep on each night instead of fluffy pillows. Using more than one pillow, or one that is too large, can make you sleep in an odd position. This actually causes you to have more breathing difficulty based on your position. Because of this you should only use one pillow for easier sleeping.

Those who are diagnosed with sleep apnea understand that finding an effective treatment can be difficult. It is vital that you learn all you can to help you deal with the discomfort of this life-threatening sleep disorder. Follow the advice in the article above and find the right path to treating your sleep apnea

Talk to others who share your condition. Your doctor may know of local groups or support options for your condition. The Internet is also a good source for finding others who share your affliction. It is helpful to talk with others who understand and have experienced the same problems you have.