Enjoy More Sleep With These Sleep Apnea Tips

You shouldn’t put off dealing with your situation if sleep apnea interferes with your nightly sleep cycle. Going through every day with bad rest can be dangerous and detrimental to your health. Please consider the following advice on improving your sleep potential, despite having sleep apnea and all its symptoms.

Do you smoke and drink? Quit these terrible habits. Both of these substances have a negative effect on your ability to breathe while sleeping. Smoking will cause your throat to swell, and alcohol will relax it too much. Avoid second-hand smoke and do not drink immediately before going to bed.

If your narrow airways are causing sleep apnea, get a mouth guard designed for sleeping. Narrow airways can be opened, jaws can be properly aligned and nasal passages can be opened up to allow more air into the lungs. Talk to your physician about a mouth guard you can wear during sleep to help you control your condition.

Don’t drink alcohol to excess. Alcohol is a natural muscle relaxant. This might be something you want to do but it can also exacerbate your sleep apnea. If you must drink, keep it to just a few, and stop drinking well before bedtime. This will keep your throat muscles from relaxing excessively. If you must drink alcohol, consume it sparingly and at least a few hours before heading to bed.

Give sleeping on your sides a try. Some sleep apnea patients lay on their backs. If you sleep on your back, you are more likely to have your mouth open and block your airways. It is best to sleep on one of your sides or your stomach. If you have trouble staying off of your back, sew a tennis ball into the back of your sleeping clothes. This will help you stay on your side while you’re sleeping.

Keeping a sleep log can help your doctor diagnose you with sleep apnea. You simply log the amount of hours you’re sleeping each night, and mentioning other symptoms too. If your sleeping partner is telling you that you snore or jerk in your sleep, you may have sleep apnea. This will greatly help your doctor in diagnosing your condition.

If you have chronic tiredness that lasts for months or possibly years, or someone you know does, try talking to a doctor. People really shouldn’t have to suffer without getting a proper diagnosis. Use what you have learned here and share it, and if you’re the one with sleep apnea, speak with a doctor soon.