Is sleep apnea keeping you up at night? This rather common condition affects many people and some people don’t even know they have it. There are some things you can do to make loving with condition a little more bearable. The following article will help you sleep better with sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can be connected to your weight. If you are overweight, consider going on a diet to lose a few pounds. Studies have shown that overweight people who suffer from sleep apnea were able to improve their symptoms by losing about 25 pounds in a year: give it a try!
If you suffer from sleep apnea, you should use a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine while sleeping. This will help you treat your sleep apnea and get you on the path to having a full nights sleep. This machine uses either a face or nasal mask to pump air while you sleep.
One way to improve your sleep apnea is to shed excess weight that you are carrying. Being overweight or obese places pressure on your neck, which can compress your windpipe as you sleep. Losing just 25 pounds can make a difference in your symptoms, and losing enough weight can eliminate the disorder altogether.
Get a CPAP mask that fits your face perfectly. If the mask that comes with your CPAP machine is too narrow or too loose, you will probably experience discomfort when you sleep and the machine might not work properly. Get a customized mask if you need to: the expense will be worth it.
Avoid using sleeping pills and do not be tempted to consume alcohol before bedtime. Both sleeping pills and alcohol are sedatives, which can interfere with your breathing, as they cause your throat muscles to relax. You should also avoid other types of sedatives, including some prescription painkillers and many street drugs.
Start sleeping on your side. When you sleep on your back and have sleep apnea, your airway gets block by your tongue and throat tissues. To avoid rolling onto your back once you are asleep, try sleeping with pillows cushioning your side. This helps prevent you from turning onto your back.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, it’s very important for you to sleep on your side. Avoid sleeping on your back at all costs, as this position does not allow enough air to get into your airways. To prevent yourself from sleeping on your back, put a tennis ball in the back of your pajamas.
Don’t drink a lot of alcohol if you have sleep apnea. Drinking alcohol can cause your throat to relax which can make sleep apnea worse. You should either quit drinking, or try and limit it to an occasional drink before going to bed. You will make sure that your sleep is not affected by the alcohol.
Sleep apnea can often cause anxiety; if this affects you, consider taking a bath before bed every night. Soaking in a warm or hot bath relaxes your muscle tension. You will find it easier to fall asleep and get a good night’s rest uninterrupted by sleep apnea.
Relieve you sleep apnea symptoms by keeping your nasal passages clear. A good nasal spray can keep you breathing freely and lessen the occurrences of sleep apnea. Using a neti pot to clear sinuses before bedtime can keep you breathing freely all night long. Both nasal spray and neti pots are available at any drug store.
You do not have to look at sleep apnea as something that will ruin your life or your sleep. There are several things that you can do to make sleeping at night a more pleasurable experience. Use the tips in this article to help you deal with this common condition.
