Diagnosed With Sleep Apnea? Here's What To Do Next

Have you heard the term sleep apnea before? It may be surprising, but many people who think they simply snore actually suffer from this advanced, dangerous form called sleep apnea. If you, or a loved one, is dealing with this ailment, then be sure to read through the tips found here.

If you have sleep apnea and use a CPAP when you sleep at night, do not neglect your filters. It can be easy to forget about this, but you need to make sure your machine operates at maximum efficiency. Wash your reusable filter at least every week, and replace your white pollen filter at least once a month.

If you have sleep apnea, try to use your bed for sleep and for sex only. This will train your brain that the bed is a place to relax and fall asleep. If you are in the habit of eating, reading, watching TV, or surfing the Internet in bed, you are likely to have a much more difficult time falling asleep.

Maintaining a regular sleep schedule can help anyone dealing with sleep apnea. Once you can get on a schedule and stick to it, you will notice that your symptoms will decrease as your body gets more sleep. Make a routine that works for your lifestyle, and do your best to stick to it.

Clear up your nasal passage before heading to bed. If you suffer from sleep apnea and have problems with a "stuffed up" nose, using a nasal spray or device can help clear your nasal airway. This is not a permanent solution, but one you can use when your apnea symptoms are the worst.

Make sure the pressure in the CPAP machine is working properly. If it is not, you will likely think the CPAP machine is not working, when in truth it simply needs to be adjusted. Talk to your doctor and consult the manual to be sure that the machine is working and that you are getting the right pressure.

Improve your sleep apnea by slimming down a bit. Recent research showed dramatic improvements in overweight men who shed 25 pounds over a period of one year to reduce sleep apnea symptoms. In some cases, the weight loss resulted in a cure of sleep apnea where no further treatment of the condition was necessary.

Avoid opiods and narcotics. These medications and drugs can cause a major problem for you if you have apnea. These drugs make your muscles relax, and in turn make your throat and tongue muscles relax. That can restrict your airway even more and make it difficult for you to breathe and sleep.

If you suspect you have sleep apnea, ask your sleep partner to listen to your breathing while you sleep. See if they detect loud snoring as you get deeper into sleep. In addition, ask if they notice any periods when you appear to stop breathing for a time and then suddenly let out a loud snort and start breathing again. If you sleep alone, consider tape recording yourself to listen for these breathing abnormalities.

After reading this article, you are prepared to face your bed once again. While you may continue suffering from apnea, you are now informed about what exactly apnea is and some of the best ways to reduce outbreaks of it. Remember to seek medical attention when you feel you have strong apnea.