Tips For Dealing With Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition that causes irregular breathing while a person is sleeping. When a person has sleep apnea, he or she will randomly start and stop breathing. This can be a potentially serious sleep disorder becaues sleep apnea disrupts a person's sleep and will wake him or her up throughout the night. Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a medical professional after a sleep study is conducted. If you suspect that you have sleep apnea, the following things may help alleviate the symptoms:
Sleep Position
People with sleep apnea should avoid sleeping on their back, as this sleep position is more likely to cause the airway to collapse while you are sleeping. If you have sleep apnea and sleep on your back, you will likely notice that you wake up multiple times each night as your breathing stops. It is much better to sleep on your side if you have problems with sleep apnea.
Work on Losing Weight
Being overweight plays a big role is sleep apnea. Extra weight makes sleep apnea much worse. In most cases, losing weight and being close to your recommended BMI can go a long way towards better sleep. In addition, exercise and a healthy diet can greatly increase the quality of your sleep and the amount of hours that you sleep.
Don't Drink Alcohol
Alcohol is a depressant, and it is well known to make many sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, much worse. If you think that you're suffering from sleep apnea, it is important to avoid drinking alcohol. Anti-anxiety medications and narcotics can also cause problems if you have sleep apnea; if you take narcotics or anti-anxiety medicine and are also experiencing sleep apnea, talk to a doctor about your options.
Schedule a Sleep Study
In some cases, sleep apnea can be severe and can cause extreme disruption to your life, since your body is incapable of getting enough rest on a regular basis. In this type of situation, it is essential to see your doctor and have a sleep study scheduled. During a sleep study, you will be observed by health care professionals while you sleep. They will be able to evaluate your breathing and determine the severity of your sleep apnea.
Depending on the results of your sleep study, your doctor may recommend various sleep apnea treatments, like using a CPAP machine at night while you sleep. A CPAP machine includes a mask that fits over your nose and mouth and continuously blows air to help keep your airway open and prevent your breathing from stopping.
