If your sleep quality is in jeopardy due to sleep apnea, be aggressive about solving the problem. It's difficult (not to mention unhealthy!) to struggle through life without getting proper, natural sleep. Use the advice below to get better sleep and treat your sleep apnea.
Play a woodwind instrument. You can help your apnea by learning something like the clarinet or flute. Playing such an instrument will strengthen your airways and help you control your breathing. After time, your muscles will start to improve and your condition will start to get better.
If you are requiring a hospital visit, don't leave the CPAP machine behind. Your CPAP machine should be with you whether you're admitted to the hospital or visiting the emergency room. It already has your pressure settings dialed in, and your mask is something your used to wearing at night. Even if you are hospitalized, you can seamlessly continue using your CPAP in this manner.
Sleep on your side, as it can help lessen your sleep apnea symptoms. By sleeping on your back, you'll notice that your throat and nasal passages may become obstructed. Try to fall asleep in a side position, and discover if that relieves your sleep apnea tonight.
If you sleep alone, you may have sleep apnea and not know it. Therefore, record yourself sleeping at night by putting a video camcorder in your room. The video should also have audio to listen for any noises.
Sleep apnea begins in the throat, and exercising the throat muscles can help prevent apnea. Specific exercises and the regular use of your throat muscles may strengthen them and help relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea.
To get a diagnosis for sleep apnea, your doctor may have you write a sleep log. You will write down how many hours you sleep throughout the night, and any other symptoms you experience. Ask your partner for more specific information on how loud your snoring is, the quality of your breathing and even how restful you were. This diary will help a medical professional see patterns in your sleep habits.
Alcohol should be avoided, especially before going off to bed. Alcohol can worsen sleep disorders, like sleep apnea. Alcohol affects the central nervous system and makes it less likely you'll be able to be woken up if you stop breathing. Therefore, combining sleep apnea and alcohol can be deadly.
You can curtail the symptoms of this affliction by doing tongue exercises. For example, try this: press your tongue up against your upper palate, and hold it for about three minutes. This will strengthen your throat and tongue muscles and reduce the chances of them relaxing while you sleep and blocking your airways.
It is unnecessary to suffer through each day while being tired and not in full control of your life. That is why it's important to get sleep apnea treated. Print this article out and keep it with you so that you can ask your doctor questions about what you have learned here. Talk to him or her about different types of treatments that will help move you toward a well-rested life again.