Best Tips for Sleep Apnea Management

0
718
Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that affects millions of people around the world. The specialists at MindSet offer treatment for sleep disorders in San Diego, which includes treatments for sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is the condition whereby you are unable to breath for short periods when you sleep. The lack of oxygen causes you to gasp for air which causes body jerking that eventually wakes you from sleep.

Sleep apnea ruins your sleep and also the sleep of loved ones since it leads to snoring. It can also lead to more serious conditions like heart failure and mental health disorders.

The following is how to manage sleep apnea:

1. Manage Your Weight

Sleep apnea is very common in people who are overweight. The reason is that obesity in the upper body leads to obstruction in the airways which makes it difficult to breathe.

If you maintain a healthy weight, you should have open airways that allow you to breathe comfortably. If you don’t, you might have to undergo surgery to remedy your sleep apnea.

Weight loss can completely eradicate sleep apnea. However, if you gain back the weight, the condition might return.

2. Change Your Sleeping Habits

Changing your current sleeping habits can significantly help you reduce your sleep apnea. The most crucial change would be changing your sleeping position.

Research shows that most people’s sleeping positions affect their sleep apnea. Sleeping on your back, in particular, has been shown to worsen the effects of sleep apnea.

For adults, sleeping on your side is the best position if you have sleep apnea. However, some children may sleep better on their backs.

You should ensure you talk to your doctor about which sleeping position is right for you.

3. Use a Humidifier

A humidifier is a machine that adds moisture to the air. Dry air is one of the main triggers of sleep apnea because it negatively affects the respiratory system.

You can make a humidifier more effective by adding essential oils like peppermint or lavender. Such essential oils have been found to have anti-inflammatory properties and be very soothing.

Placing a humidifier in your bedroom will decrease congestion and open your airways, which will lead to better breathing. You should follow the manual on how to clean the humidifier as it can harbor bacteria and mold.

4. Use Oral Appliances

There are oral devices you can use to help with your sleep apnea which help keep your airways open while you sleep. They do so by keeping your jaw open or repositioning your tongue so adequate air flows down your trachea.

The two main types of oral appliances are mandibular advancement devices and tongue stabilizing devices. Both types of devices work to reduce the level of obstruction in your throat.

Most of these oral appliances have to be custom fitted by a dentist for them to work properly. However, there are devices that you can buy over the counter that also work well.

You should discuss the issue with your dentist to see if oral appliances are right for you.