Our team at Jubilee Dental Centre in Summerland understands how challenging day-to-day life can be for patients suffering from the negative effects of sleep apnea. Today we share few tips that may help you to sleep better each night, and get the most out of each day, when dealing with sleep apnea.
Tips For Reducing Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that requires professional diagnosis and treatment. If you think that you might have sleep apnea, it's important to visit your doctor for diagnosis and a treatment plan. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to a number of negative physical and psychological side effects.
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea you're likely familiar with the ways that this condition can disrupt sleep, and negatively impact your daily life. Fortunately, making a few lifestyle changes could help you to improve the quality of your sleep, and help you to feel better throughout the day.
Although lifestyle changes may not work for everyone, if you're looking to reduce your sleep apnea symptoms, there are a few things you may want to try. (Be sure to speak to your doctor before trying out these lifestyle changes).
Weight Loss May Help Reduce Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Carrying extra weight increases your risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea. If you are overweight, and suffering from sleep apnea, studies have shown that losing as little as 10% of your body weight could significantly reduce symptoms and allow you to sleep better.
Weight loss helps reduce sleep apnea symptoms because people who are overweight are more likely to have extra tissue around their throat. During sleep, this extra tissue could cause the airway to become obstructed and restrict airflow to the lungs. Reducing the amount of extra tissue around your throat may help to keep your airway open so that you can breathe more freely.
Avoiding Alcohol Might Help You To Sleep Better
Alcohol can disrupt sleep for anyone but for those suffering from sleep apnea, alcohol can make symptoms more severe. Alcohol can cause the muscles in your throat to relax, increasing the risk of your upper airway collapsing. This can lead to snoring or obstructive sleep apnea. If you're looking to improve the quality of your sleep, why not try skipping alcohol for a couple of nights a week to see if your symptoms improve? Achieving a better sleep may make passing on that glass of wine a little less of a chore.
Daily Exercise Could Help Improve Your Mood
Increasing your daily exercise can be an inexpensive way to help improve your mood, overall health, and sleep! If you tend to avoid exercise, you may be surprised at how good it can make you feel. Many studies link weight loss and exercise, but exercise can do much more than just burn calories!
Benefits of exercise can include:
- Reduced feelings of depression and anxiety
- Reduced risk of heart attack and stroke
- Less tension
- Increased energy
- Improved endurance
- Faster weight loss
- Better muscle tone
- Improved sleep quality
- Improved circulation
- Lower blood pressure
Quit Smoking To Help Improve The Effectiveness of CPAP
While there are no proven direct links between smoking and sleep apnea, quitting smoking can help to improve your breathing overall, and help to prevent nasal congestion which can prevent you from getting the most out of C.P.A.P.
We know that patients who smoke are already aware of the countless health reasons to quit, helping you to get a good night's sleep might just be another good reason to add to the list.