Sleep apnea is a serious health problems which deprives people of restful sleep and make them more susceptible to accidents and fatigue. If you want to be healthy and happy, you have to get enough sleep. Luckily you can learn about some ways to help you get through sleep apnea. You’ll find a lot of potentially useful sleep apnea advice presented in the following article.
Excess weight is an issue that plays a negative role in many sleep apnea sufferers’ conditions. Should this be the reason, weight loss should be the rule of thumb. The best way to lose weight is to become physically active with exercise at least four times per week and eat less food calories than are burned off each day by activity. Reducing carbohydrate intake can help greatly, as well.
If you want to find relief from sleep apnea, pick up a wind instrument. Playing this kind of instrument strengthens your muscles in the upper airways. These muscles control the dilation of your airway and the stiffening of the airway walls. Because of this, playing it regularly can help you breathe better when you sleep.
Avoid alcohol before bed as much as possible. Your muscles are relaxed by drinking alcohol. While this is often considered a desirable effect, it can lead to sleep apnea. Your muscles will relax and collapse, which will make you snore and possibly cough through the night. Reduce the frequency of your alcohol if you do continue to use it, and never drink close to bedtime.
Don’t underestimate the potential health consequences of sleep apnea. If you suspect you may have it, it is important to see your doctor right away. If the doctor determines you are suffering with sleep apnea, you should consult with someone who specializes in this disorder in order to effectively treat the condition.
Normally sleep apnea is diagnosed after getting a physical exam, but it also helps to study your family’s medical history to see if it’s prevalent among your relatives. Also, there may be a sleep study performed and even a sleep specialist recommended if the doctor treating you feels that your condition is severe enough to get it looked at further.
Your doctor may suggest keeping a sleep journal to help pinpoint if you have sleep apnea or not. You simply log the amount of hours you’re sleeping each night, and mentioning other symptoms too. If you have a partner, they may be able to help document your snoring, jerky body movements and stoppage of breathing. This diary will help a medical professional see patterns in your sleep habits.
If you will be away from home and you’re suffering with sleep apnea, always remember to bring along the CPAP machine with you. You don’t want to sleep a single night without your CPAP after a sleep apnea diagnosis. The original packaging should have included a convenient carrying case for travel. Use it to bring your CPAP machine with you, no matter where you are sleeping.
Many methods can be used effectively to treat sleep apnea. Apply all that you have learned from the preceding paragraphs, and you can begin benefiting from a sound slumber. Once you’re able to get enough sleep, you’ll have a better quality of life in a lot of ways.