One of the most annoying things when attempting to fall asleep is the sound of someone snoring. While most people believe that snoring is just a common occurrence with many people, it is actually a sign of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder in which your breathing repeatedly starts and stops throughout the night. While you might not notice this because you are fast asleep, sleep apnea does greatly affect the amount of quality sleep you get. People with sleep apnea will often report feeling like they got no sleep even if they went to bed early. While you might not notice that you stop breathing because you do not wake up, your brain realizes what is happening and has to leave deep sleep stages to make your body breath again.
Once you are out of these deep sleep stages, you cannot just get back into them right away. Your body undergoes sleep cycles which build up to these deep sleep and REM sleep periods. It is during these periods that your body fully rests, and if your body is never able to reach these stages, you will feel like you got no sleep. Here are some remedies for sleep apnea to help get you that good night’s sleep:
Changing Your Sleep Position
Some cases of sleep apnea can easily be avoided by analyzing how you sleep and making the necessary changes. Certain positions are more prone to snoring and sleep apnea than others. Sleeping on your back, according to the experts from Sleep Authorities, puts your body in a position where the throat begins to close more, and therefore your body has to work harder to get air.
This is what causes your snoring, and eventually, your body struggles to pull air into your lungs. This then causes your brain to become alert and correct the issue, at the loss of the sleep stage you were in. Sleeping in a ball or the fetus position, is a great way to keep your airways clear when sleeping.
It is important to note that this is not a complete solution to sleep apnea. While this might work for some, others have issues that are rooted in much deeper problems. There is no harm in attempting to change your sleep position, as if it is the solution, you are possibly saving on thousands of dollars in treatments to fix your problem. If you notice that you are not getting any sleep at all and suspect you might have sleep apnea, try switching up your sleeping position and see if that helps.
Stay Healthy and In Shape
Doctors have proven that those who are heavier in weight are more likely to have sleep apnea. This is due to the large amount of stress the body is carrying the weight during sleep periods. By eating healthy and losing weight, you can relax your body and make things easier for it. Take a look at what you are eating throughout the day and count your calories.
If you need to lose weight, consume less calories each day. Along with this, make sure you head to the gym, as fitness not only will help you lose weight, but it will also help strengthen your lungs. By keeping your lungs strong and healthy, you can equip your body with the tools necessary to combat sleep apnea.
CPAP Machines
While there are natural remedies to sleep apnea, at times there is no solution and you must turn to a doctor for assistance. A CPAP machine is a machine with a mask that you sleep with. When it is time to go to bed, simply turn the machine on and put on the mask. This machine will help keep your airway clear and assist in breathing, helping you to get to the deeper sleep stages. While these machines are proven to work and will definitely help severe cases of sleep apnea, they can be rather expensive.
Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you try other methods before resorting to a machine, as you could find yourself spending thousands of dollars on one of them. If all else has failed you, go see a doctor and inquire about a CPAP machine to help deal with your sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can be detrimental to your daily life as you might find yourself struggling to complete even the most basic tasks. Not only that, but your work life might suffer as you lack the energy to focus. Avoid putting yourself in these positions by taking the steps necessary to curb your sleep apnea. Change your sleep position to see if that makes a difference, keep your weight down and stay in shape, and finally, if all else fails, inquire about a CPAP machine to fix your breathing. Try these tips out, and get that sleep you surely deserve.
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