Secrets Of Sleep Apnea; Living With This Dangerous Disease


There are many people waking up every day feeling exhausted who have no idea that they're suffering from a condition they can treat. Sleep apnea, a disorder from which many people suffer, is severely under diagnosed. Learn about sleep apnea from this article.

If you have narrow air passages, consider a mouth guard. Through the use of a mouth guard, airways will be kept open. Talk to your doctor about whether or not a mouth guard can solve your sleep apnea problem.

Are you a drinker or a smoker? Stop these bad habits. Both of these substances have a negative effect on your ability to breathe while sleeping. Smoking swells up your airways while alcohol relaxes them. Both of these things can result in sleep apnea. If you can't quit, at least don't drink or smoke right before going to bed.

Giving up smoking and drinking can help to improve your sleep apnea. Both of these habits are bad for the muscles in your air passage and can worsen apnea. Giving up these habits can save you a lot of money as compared to expensive surgical procedures that might be needed later if you continue.

Taking up a musical instrument (especially a wind instrument) can have a positive effect on your sleep apnea. Researchers in Germany found that playing a didgeridoo can train and strengthen the muscles of the upper airway. You'll have better control over your airway's dilation and the stiffness of the surrounding tissues if you exercise these muscles. These are great reasons to take up playing this instrument and easing the symptoms of sleep disorders.

Avoid drinking alcohol very often. Your muscles get relaxed too much. Although you may think this improves your sleep, it actually just worsens it. Alcohol will relax the throat muscles, which ends up making it harder for the body to control the airways. While you might still drink, limit yourself and avoid it at bedtime.

Sleep apnea can occur in adults or children; there is no age limit. If a child in your home shows symptoms like low grades in school, hostility, irritability, hyperactivity, inattention or mouth breathing, you should consider sleep apnea as a possibility to investigate. Oftentimes these symptoms cab be associated with ADHD, but first you should consult with your doctor to see if the problem is sleep apnea.

Many people don't realize that sleep apnea is not something to ignore and can be potentially dangerous if left untreated. If you notice some of the warning signs, you need to talk to your doctor as soon as possible. With an official diagnosis, you will have to see a sleep specialist and possibly a home based sleep test with a portable monitor to fully assess the condition.

Sleep apnea is usually diagnosed by a doctor after he looks at your family history, medical history, and you have a comprehensive physical exam. Also, there may be a sleep study performed and even a sleep specialist recommended if the doctor treating you feels that your condition is severe enough to get it looked at further.

If you, or a loved one, is suffering from sleep apnea, you should get a doctor's appointment scheduled. Don't continue to suffer with this condition. Knowledge should be openly shared, and if you don't trust this information, confirm it with a physician.

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