Anyone who has been diagnosed with sleep apnea is well aware of the frustration and worry that comes along with the search for a successful treatment. The best way to remedy the situation is to research the topic thoroughly. When you learn the contents of the following paragraphs, you are going to have a greater opportunity of discovering the treatment regimen best suited for you.
Do you smoke or drink? Break these unhealthy habits right away. These substances can really harm your airways. When you smoke it causes swelling in your airways, and when consuming alcohol, your airway muscles tend to relax. That causes the symptoms of sleep apnea to worsen. If you must continue with these habits, avoid doing them before bed.
When you have sleep apnea you can find out about it from tests your doctor will run. Also, your doctor may want to try a sleep study on you. Depending on the results, you may be referred to a specialist.
Are nicotine and alcohol a part of your life? Drop these unhealthy habits. Both of these substances have a negative effect on your ability to breathe while sleeping. Alcohol relaxes your airways, making them more prone to collapse, and smoking can cause them to swell, restricting airflow. If you cannot get rid of these habits for good, make an effort to avoid smoking or drinking before you go to bed.
If your doctor has prescribed a CPAP machine, try to wear it for about 4 hours every night. Some find that it can be uncomfortable to use at first, but the point is to use it and ward off trouble. Four hours of use every night is the minimum necessary time you need to realize the benefits of CPAP therapy. Using it for the minimum of four hours a day will allow yourself to slowly transition to full time use.
If you are not sleeping with a partner, then it’s almost impossible to determine if you’re suffering from sleep apnea on your own. You might consider video recording yourself asleep. Whatever video system you set up also need an audio component, since your physicians are going to need to hear the sounds you make.
Hopefully, you now know more about how this terrible condition can impact those who suffer from it. It’s not possible to go it alone. Seek the help of your physician.
