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How To Live Successfully With Sleep Apnea

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  • Dennis Arnow wrote on 29.6.2013 - 17:18

    If you, or a loved one, is dealing with this ailment, then be sure to read through the tips found here.

    If you are suffering with sleep apnea due to having narrow airways, you should get yourself a mouth guard to use when sleeping. Devices like these can align your airways properly to allow you better sleep. It's best to see a medical professional to get fitted properly for a guard that will fit your individual situation.

    If you have just been diagnosed with sleep apnea and prescribed a CPAP, join a CPAP support group. It can be quite difficult to get used to sleeping with a mask on your face every night. Sitting in a room full of other people going through the same thing can be very empowering. You can learn from others who have had the same issues you are having and made adjustments to make it work.

    Alleviate you sleep apnea by loosing weight. Many studies have demonstrated that sleep apnea can be significantly improved or even eliminated when patients slim down. You can go to the gym, join exercise classes or just get out and walk. Taking off the extra pounds will help you sleep more soundly.

    Make sure to provide relief for your allergies. Congestion can make it harder to breathe through your nose and force you to take in air through your mouth. Allergies can cause soft tissues to swell and make apnea much more severe. Research the medicines you use to treat your symptoms and be wary of adding side effects to the mix.

    If you have sleep apnea and have been using your current CPAP machine for five years or more, see if it is time to get it replaced. CPAP technology is rapidly changing all the time. Many insurance policies allow for a new CPAP machine every five years. If yours does, consider upgrading to the newest CPAP so you can get the best treatment possible.

    Your physician might ask you to start and maintain a sleep log to get a better grasp on your diagnosis. You will record when you sleep and when you awaken and anything else that happens during your sleeping hours. Your partner can tell you if you snore loudly, quit breathing or jerk your limbs. That helps the physician determine whether your symptoms are, in fact, sleep apnea.

    Do you always sleep on your back? Try sleeping on your side instead. When you sleep on your back with a head propped on a pillow, your airways get narrower. Go to sleep on your side and use cushions to prevent yourself from rolling in your sleep. Your airways should remain open as long as you are on your side.

    Exercising your tongue can help with your sleep apnea. Try pressing your tongue to the top of your mouth and holding it there for a minimum of three minutes. You will make your muscles stronger, and you will have better results with your other treatments.

    Have you heard of this problem before? Is it possible that you actually suffer from this issue without knowing about it? Now that you have read through this article, you know the best ways to handle apnea if you, or a loved one, develop it later on in your lives.

     

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