Sleep Apnea: The Ultimate Guide How To Manage And Treat Your Sleep Apnea (Sleep Apnea Machine, Sleep Fix

Sleep Apnea: The Ultimate Guide How To Manage And Treat Your Sleep Apnea (Sleep Apnea Machine, Sleep ->>> https://geags.com/2tpsZE

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. A CPAP machine uses a hose connected to a mask or nosepiece to deliver constant and steady air pressure to help you breathe while you sleep.

Next, try holding the mask with the attached hose on your face, without using the straps. Turn on the CPAP machine, perhaps with the ramp feature turned on. Next, do this using the straps too. Finally, try sleeping with the mask and machine on.

Using a CPAP machine can be frustrating as you try to get used to it, but it's important that you stick with it. The treatment is essential to avoiding complications of obstructive sleep apnea, such as heart problems and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which a sleeper temporarily stops breathing Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. See Full Reference throughout the night. There are two main types of sleep apnea. People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) experience breathing pauses due to the airway briefly collapsing. Central sleep apnea (CSA) involves a disconnect with how breathing is regulated in the brain. Some individuals have a combination of the two, or mixed sleep apnea.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include excessive snoring or snorting during sleep and daytime sleepiness. Some people with sleep apnea may also experience restless sleep, fatigue or grogginess in the morning, and low energy throughout the day.

Treatment of sleep apnea aims to reduce or eliminate these symptoms. It is important to treat the disorder because the resulting lack of alertness can increase the risk of accidents while driving or errors in high-risk situations. Untreated sleep apnea also raises the risk for heart problems or stroke.

There are a number of medical and at-home treatments for sleep apnea. People with mild sleep apnea may find that home remedies, such as lifestyle changes, help decrease their symptoms Trusted Source National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) The NHLBI is the nation's leader in the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders. See Full Reference . However, people with moderate to severe sleep apnea typically need medical interventions Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. See Full Reference to relieve symptoms. Lifestyle changes are often made in addition to receiving medical treatment.

At-home treatments are appropriate for people who are working with a health care provider to manage their disorder and who have discussed these approaches with a health care provider. Home remedies may also be appropriate for people who do not yet have symptoms but want to lower their risk of developing sleep apnea.

Lifestyle and behavioral changes can help treat sleep apnea symptoms Trusted Source National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) The NHLBI is the nation's leader in the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders. See Full Reference . A number of steps are recommended by health experts as a first-line treatment for sleep apnea, such as changing sleep positions, avoiding alcohol and certain medications, and exercising regularly. Other approaches may be less common or their effectiveness may be unclear, such as acupuncture and herbal remedies, though some individuals find them helpful Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference .

Before beginning at-home treatments for sleep apnea, be sure to consult with a health care provider. Your doctor can help determine which home remedies are appropriate based on the severity of your sleep apnea. Your doctor can also advise you regarding treatments that may interfere with your existing conditions or the current medications you are taking.

Changing from back sleeping to side sleeping can reduce the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. Over 50% of people Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference with the disorder find their symptoms worsen when they sleep on their backs. This increase in symptoms may be caused by the tongue sliding back and blocking the airway and making it difficult to breathe Trusted Source Medscape Reference Medscape is on online destination for healthcare professionals worldwide, offering expert perspectives, drug and disease information, and professional education. See Full Reference . Side sleeping helps prevent the airway from being blocked.

People who cannot change to side sleeping or who prefer sleeping on their back may find sleeping at a propped angle of 60 degrees can improve their sleep apnea symptoms. A thick pillow or series of pillows supporting the head and neck can help achieve this angle and keep the airway open.

Experts recommend avoiding alcohol because of its negative impacts on sleep apnea symptoms. Alcohol is a depressant that slows down activity in the brain, impacts mood Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. See Full Reference , and relaxes muscles in the body. Muscles in the airway may be relaxed after alcohol consumption, which can cause excessive snoring and disrupt breathing Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference during sleep. Alcohol can also increase the frequency and length of stopped breathing events. People who do not yet have sleep apnea but snore during sleep may experience sleep apnea when they drink alcohol.

A meta-analysis of studies on the relationship between sleep apnea and exercise found that exercise reduces disrupted breathing events Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference during sleep as well as associated sleepiness. A large study with self-reporting participants found that various types of exercise, from walking to high-intensity exercise, decrease the risk for sleep apnea Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference . Additional research with larger, controlled trials can offer more insights on the best types of exercise for treating sleep apnea.

If you are currently taking medication to address other health concerns, your doctor should closely monitor your treatment plan. It is important to tell your doctor if you believe your current medications are worsening your sleep apnea symptoms. They will be able to assess your current treatments, evaluate your dosage, and consider alternatives.

Oral appliances can reduce snoring and relieve sleep apnea in mild cases. An oral appliance is a device worn in the mouth to move the jaw forward and prevent the airway from being blocked during sleep.

Mouth exercises have been shown to reduce symptoms Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference of sleep apnea, including snoring. The purpose of mouth exercises is to improve the muscles in the airway and decrease snoring. Repetitive muscle training can involve the tongue, facial and airway muscles, and lips. Other exercises may focus on breathing through the nose rather than the mouth to reduce stopped breathing events.

For some people with sleep apnea, a humidifier in the bedroom may reduce the dryness Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. See Full Reference experienced while breathing at night. Humidifiers increase the moisture in the air, which decreases the risk of dry air irritating the airway and nose.

In theory, dry air can potentially worsen sleep apnea symptoms Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. See Full Reference . However, studies have not found that the humidity of a room impacts sleep apnea events.

Although some people with sleep apnea may find acupuncture helpful in treating their symptoms, high-quality research needs to be conducted to determine if acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment. The current research on the subject is low in quality. Many of the existing studies are at risk for bias in favor of supporting acupuncture as a treatment for sleep apnea.

People with mild sleep apnea or who worry they are at risk for developing sleep apnea may begin with lifestyle changes to treat their symptoms after consulting with their doctor. Those with more severe sleep apnea likely need medical treatment to manage the disorder. Even if a person requires medical treatment, lifestyle changes can still help improve symptoms. 1e1e36bf2d