Many people who are sleep deprived may not know that their tiredness is, in fact, being caused by a certain sleep condition. Sleep apnea cases are going up every day; it isn’t that uncommon of a disorder anymore. If you are not continually getting restful sleep, then it may be that you are suffering with sleep apnea.
Do you sometimes drink or smoke? If the answer is yes and you have sleep apnea, you need to stop both habits. Both of these things affect your airway negatively and compound your sleep apnea problem. Alcohol relaxes your airways, making them more prone to collapse, and smoking can cause them to swell, restricting airflow. If you can’t completely eliminate these habits, try avoiding them prior to bed.
Do you partake in a drink or smoke? Drop these unhealthy habits. These items can harm your airways. Alcohol use will lead to over-relaxation of your airways, making sleep apnea symptoms worse, while smoking can have a similar effect by constricting them. Eliminate drinking or smoking before bedtime if you can’t avoid them entirely.
Regular practice on a wind instrument can minimize some of your sleep apnea symptoms. Researchers in Germany have found playing a didgeridoo can make your throat muscles stronger. It helps to strengthen the muscles in the throat, which collapse during sleep apnea episodes. Therefore, getting involved with an instrument like this can help you sleep better.
Many people find that using a mouth guard while sleeping helps their sleep apnea. Guards like these are specifically made for assisting sleep apnea patients. It’s a good way to get around having to use a CPAP machine, and feels better to wear throughout the night. Invest into a mouth guard instead of having a loud machine keep others up at night.
Try to sleep on your side at night. Sleeping on your back makes your airway more prone to collapse. Be sure to go to sleep sideways and find out if that helps you to sleep tonight.
After you figure out if you have sleep apnea, it is wise to follow up with a treatment plan that works for you. Getting enough sleep at night is important to maintaining good health. Use these tips to help you enjoy much better sleep.