Sleep Apnea

4 Tips To Cope-Up With Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a pretty common issue which people suffer from. It mostly goes unnoticed as the problem occurs during sleep. In this blog, we are going to talk about the home remedies that can help you resolve sleep apnea. Also, going through this blog will help you gather a clear idea about other aspects related to this problem. 

Sleep apnea can be defined as a situation in which your breathing is interrupted repeatedly while you sleep. These breathing pauses often last 10 to 20 seconds and occur anywhere from 5 to 100 times each hour.

The lack of oxygen jolts you awake during a sleep apnea episode, generally so briefly that you don’t remember it. As your natural sleep cycle has been altered, you are spending more time in light sleep and less time in the deep, restorative sleep that you require to be energetic, mentally sharp, and productive the next day. Sleep apnea can lead to a number of health problems, including death in extreme cases. As a result, it’s vital that you pay attention to it. If you or your bed partner thinks you or your companion has sleep apnea, make an appointment with a dentist straight away.

What Lifestyle Changes Can Aid in the Treatment of Sleep Apnea?

Minor forms of sleep apnea may be treated with lifestyle changes alone. Your doctor will let you know if that’s the best place to start. Even if you’re on a medical treatment plan, the following changes can improve your sleep and reduce your sleep apnea episodes.

It is important to lose weight:

If you are overweight, losing weight might have a significant impact. It can help you reduce the number of breathing episodes you experience, regulate your blood pressure, and sleep throughout the day, though it is rarely a total cure. Sleep apnea symptoms can be relieved and your throat can be opened up with even a small amount of weight loss.

Sleeping on your side is a good option:

 Lying on your back is the worst position for sleep apnea because it pulls your jaw, tongue, and other soft tissues back toward your throat, limiting your airway. Sleeping on your stomach isn’t much better because sleeping face down or moving your head to the side makes breathing difficult. Lying on your side, on the other hand, keeps your airway open. If you find side sleeping difficult or roll onto your back after falling asleep, using side pillows or body pillows may help.

It is advisable to not smoke:

Smoking contributes to sleep apnea by increasing inflammation and fluid retention in the neck and upper airway.

Certain things should be avoided:

Avoid alcohol, anti-anxiety drugs, and other sedatives, especially before going to bed. The reason for this is quite simple. These substances relax the neck muscles, making breathing difficult. This includes benzodiazepines (like Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, Ativan), antihistamines (like Benadryl, Claritin), opiates (such morphine, codeine, Vicodin, Percocet), and sleeping pills.

You need to realize that incorporating all such measures can sometimes not be enough to get rid of the problems related to sleep apnea. In that case, do not hesitate to consult a dentist immediately. 

Know The Prominent Differences Between Snoring And Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea does not affect everyone who snores, and not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. How can you tell if you’re snoring normally or if you have sleep apnea?

How you feel during the day is the most evident indicator. You’re less likely to feel weary and sleepy during the day because regular snoring doesn’t interfere with the quality of your sleep as much as sleep apnea does. You can learn a lot about yourself by the way you snore. You may have sleep apnea if you’re gasping, coughing, or making other unusual sounds while sleeping.

Even if you don’t have sleep apnea, snoring can disrupt your bed partner’s sleep and impair your own. Though, there are several recommendations and treatments that can help you stop snoring.

See Us Today

We hope that you now have a better understanding of how sleep apnea can be treated at home. If you have any further questions related to this topic, do not hesitate to contact Red Oak Family Dentistry. Our team of dentists and other professionals are here to provide you with an answer to all queries along with top-quality dental care in McKinney, TX. Give us a call today.