No matter who you are or what you go through in a day, you need a restful night’s sleep to function properly! Sleep apnea can cause such continuous interruption of sleep that life becomes impossible. Consider the following tips that can help you get control of your sleep apnea and get a better night’s sleep.
Try playing a wind instrument. Playing the trumpet or a similar musical instrument should help you strengthen your throat and help you control your breathing. Your upper airways should become stronger and remain open throughout the night, which would make the symptoms of sleep apnea disappear or at least reduce them.
It may sound silly, but taking up a music instrument may improve your sleep apnea. When subjects in Germany were taught to play the didgeridoo, their sleep apnea symptoms were reduced. The researchers believe that practicing the instrument improved the tone of the muscles in the upper airway, which are responsible for airway dilation.
Did you know that sleep apnea is more than just snoring? Your breathing may actually stop, or it may become very shallow, and this could happen upwards of a hundred times or more each night. If you feel you may be suffering from this affliction, you should see a doctor and be properly diagnosed and discuss a treatment that works best for you.
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 and have a problem with your mouth opening while sleeping with your CPAP, a chin strap may be able to help. This inconspicuous piece of cloth will keep your chin up when you are asleep and your mouth from gaping open. If your mouth falls open when you sleep, your CPAP therapy won’t be effective. Use this device to try and solve the problem.
Try to avoid sleeping at high altitudes. High altitudes can worsen sleep apnea. The air in high altitudes is much thinner and, consequently, more difficult to breathe. Sleep apnea is already causing your body to take in less oxygen at night. A high altitude environment can only exacerbate your condition.
Make sure your CPAP comes with you when you need to go to the hospital. Your CPAP and your mask should be with you for both planned stays and trips to an emergency room. This is preset to your breathing pressure. In addition, you’ll be using the same mask you’ve been accustomed to using each night. Having your equipment close by will make it easy to continue your treatment and improve your prognosis.
If you are searching for ways to prevent sleep apnea, try sleeping on your side as back sleeping lets gravity take over. This causes your tongue and other soft tissues in your throat to drop, which could obstruct your airway. Try putting a tennis ball in the neck of your pajamas to discourage rolling onto your back. You could even stuff a pillow with tennis balls and wedge that behind your back.
If you have sleep apnea and use a CPAP, try to replace your mask and hose every six months. Most insurance policies allow for a new mask and hose every six months, and some allow you to replace them every three months. The mask can stop fitting well after several months of use, and the hose can develop small cracks or holes that let air leak. Replace these items to keep getting the best CPAP therapy possible.
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, do not be shy about telling your friends and family. Sleep apnea is an extremely common condition. It is very possible that someone you know and love has it too and has not been diagnosed yet. By sharing your experience, you could help someone else realize they have a problem and encourage them to seek treatment.
Taking the time to exercise your jaw and stick out your tongue may seem like children’s play. In a recent scientific study, people who performed jaw and tongue exercises daily were able to relieve some of their sleep apnea symptoms. It may not work for everyone, but could be worth a try for a good night’s rest.
There are many simple solutions people suffering from sleep apnea can use to get better quality sleep. Stick to a regular, set schedule and go to bed at the same time each night. Make sure your environment is suitable for your sleeping arrangement. If your room is not, insomnia might set in.
If you have sleep apnea, do not use sleeping pills. These medications work to relax the throat muscles, which is not what you need to cure sleep apnea. They can also cause a lot of other problems, so it is best to stay away from them. If you have a hard time falling asleep at night, try learning some natural ways to rest your body.
In some more extreme cases of sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend a CPAP machine. This machines function to continually force your airway to remain open while you are asleep. While they can be a hassle, they often times are life savers. If you think this may be necessary, speak with your physician.
Make sure your CPAP mask fits properly. You may be reluctant to use the CPAP at all, but the mask could be the reason for your problems. Talk to your doctor about how you feel with the CPAP machine, and he or she may be able to recommend better masks for you that fit well and feel better.
Quality sleep is important to your health and ability to accomplish nearly everything you’ve got going in life. Hopefully this article has provided you with some very useful information you can put to good use, beginning tonight. Take charge of your life by getting control over sleep apnea and putting it to bed, once and for all.
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