Sleep Apnea: What Is It And What Can You Do About It?
Sleep Apnea: What Is It And What Can You Do About It?
Sleep apnea is a medical disorder that affects a large number of people. The scary thing about sleep apnea is that, although the condition has a number of very serious health consequences, many people afflicted with it do not even know that they suffer from it. This article is packed with tips and advice on treating 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.
A reason that a lot of people have problems with sleep apnea is due to excessive weight. Should this be the reason, weight loss should be the rule of thumb. Following a reasonable weight loss plan and exercising is essential. It may be worth it to look into diet plans that reduce the amount of carbohydrates that you eat.
Adjust your CPAP machine. Most machines come with default settings that might not correspond to your needs. You should be able to regulate the airflow: try different settings and choose one that seems to work for you. If you feel like your machine is not working like it should, try changing the settings again.
Try your best to lay off tobacco and nicotine products. Cigarette smoke can irritate your upper airway causing it to swell up, subsequently hindering your ability to breath during the night. Quitting smoking could therefore, significantly improve your sleep apnea symptoms and will also improve your body's overall health and your feelings of well-being.
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and prescribed a CPAP, work hard to get in the habit of using it every time you sleep. While it can be a struggle to get used to sleeping with a mask on your face, your health and your life depend on it. Work with your sleep center to get everything adjusted just right so that you can use CPAP therapy with a minimal amount of discomfort.
If you are taking a great deal of medicines on a regular basis, sit with your doctor and discuss how they can be reduced. Side effects from prescription medication can be making your sleep apnea worse. Keep a dialog open with your doctor and make sure he is up to date on all your symptoms.
Sleep apnea is an all too common disorder that can have a variety of deleterious effects on an individual's health and well-being. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, it is crucial that you educate yourself on the best treatments. Study this article and apply what you learn to help improve your health.