It can be overwhelming to hear your doctor inform you that you are afflicted with sleep apnea. However, sleep apnea is an extremely common condition and, while serious, has many treatment options available. This article is loaded with sleep apnea health care tips, so read on to learn more.
Drop some of your vices to fight against sleep apnea. Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are a big problem for people who have sleep apnea. Drinking causes respiratory depression, which makes it more difficult to breathe. Smoking can cause swelling in the throat, which also restricts the airway during sleep. Losing these terrible habits will help a great deal when it comes to alleviating your sleep apnea symptoms.
Excessive weight can be a major contributor to sleep apnea. Losing even a few pounds can make a big difference. Try changing your diet and ramp up your activity level. Taking carbohydrates out of a diet is something that studies show helps people lose weight.
Do you smoke or drink? Quit these terrible habits. They may hurt your air passages. Smoking swells up your airways, while drinking depresses your nervous system and muscles into excess relaxation. This can both cause and exacerbate sleep apnea. If you are unable to completely eliminate these habits, try to at least refrain from them in the hours directly before bed.
Taking up a musical instrument (especially a wind instrument) can have a positive effect on your sleep apnea. A German study has shown that playing wind instruments such as the digeridoo will help your sleep apnea. These muscles are responsible for dilating your airway and causing the walls of the airway to stiffen. For this reason, playing regularly helps you get a good night of rest by limiting the symptoms of sleep apnea and snoring.
Fighting back against sleep apnea often involves eating healthier and losing weight. Not everyone equates bad and good food with sleep apnea, but many people have found out that it does play a role. It has been shown in studies that those who eat unhealthier foods face more severe sleep apnea than their overweight, yet healthy-eating, counterparts.
Attempt sleeping on the side. Some sleep apnea patients lay on their backs. Your airway can become obstructed if you sleep on your back. Breathing is much simpler when you sleep on one of your sides. A large body pillow can help keep you from rolling to your back in the middle of the night.
To help you figure out if you suffer from sleep apnea, you may be asked by your doctor to keep a log of your sleeping. Sleep logs are records where patients write down the length and quality of their sleep. If you have a partner, you can find out about snoring issues, breathing issues or flailing limb issues. This diary will help a medical professional see patterns in your sleep habits.
It can be scary to realize that you have sleep apnea for the first time. However, it is a very treatable disorder. Take the information you learned here to help you deal with your sleep apnea disorder. If you get the correct treatment, your life will be healthy and more fulfilling even with your condition.
