Obstructive Sleep Apnea

If you have obstructive sleep apnea it can be difficult to adjust to living with the types of treatments that are required to relieve the symptoms.  Learning to manage and live with the symptoms and treatment for obstructive sleep apnea can be very manageable and necessary to prevent it from getting worse.  Obstructive sleep apnea can be very serious if left untreated but the good news is there is a lot you can do to make living with obstructive sleep apnea easier which will help you to enjoy a better quality of life.

Live a Healthy Lifestyle

Anyway you look at it, living a healthy lifestyle is a must for any type of health issue you may have including sleep apnea.  If you are overweight then do whatever it takes to lose the weight.  Obesity is a major contributor to obstructive sleep apnea and makes the condition worse.  When symptoms of sleep apnea worsen it makes the treatment harder to live with.

If you smoke, find a way to quit.  Even if it means seeking the help of others in addition to your healthcare provider, work on kicking the habit. Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include air blockage which can be twice as dangerous if you smoke.

If you drink alcohol in moderate amounts consider cutting back or quitting altogether.  If you like to enjoy that one glass of wine then enjoy it during dinner instead of right before your bedtime.

Eat a well balanced diet and cut out processed and prepared foods that you find in the frozen food aisle in the supermarket.  Although it may be tempting on a busy schedule these types of foods are laden with ingredients that can fuel allergies which interfere with breathing.  Instead, stick with fresh produce, fruits, whole grains, and organic foods.  This type of diet is cheaper, it is a whole lot healthier, and it can make living with obstructive sleep apnea much easier.

Exercise helps to strengthen the heart and the lungs and helps you to maintain energy and vitality. It also helps with the reduction of stress which can significantly improve the symptoms of sleep apnea. Make it a point to exercise at least four times a week even if it means starting out with only a few minutes each day.  If you stick with the plan on a consistent basis you will eventually realize the results and benefits that exercise adds to your daily life.

Maintain Ongoing Healthcare

Many patients that have obstructive sleep apnea often find that the devices you need to get a restful night’s sleep uncomfortable or the changes in lifestyle overwhelming and impossible to achieve.  They stop using the sleep devices and forget the goals they set for lifestyle changes and then continue to suffer with obstructive sleep apnea.

The reality is that you do not have to go it alone.  If the devices that have been recommended to relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea are uncomfortable, tell your health care provider.  They will work with you until you come up with a system that works for you and provides you with a better night of sleep. 

In the case of obstructive sleep apnea the common treatment requires using a CPAP or ‘continuous positive airway pressure’ which requires you to wear a mask over your nose and mouth while you sleep.  This treatment can create discomfort and actually prevent you from sleeping however; if you communicate with your healthcare provider on a regular basis they will work with you to come with a solution that allows you to achieve restful sleep.  Although CPAP is a common treatment there are many different methods for this type of treatment that can be used if you are losing sleep due to device discomfort.

If you are using a mouthpiece to promote better breathing during sleep, it is important to seek ongoing health care to ensure the device is working at optimum level at all times.  This is a device that you insert into your mouth at bedtime that helps to prevent air blockage that can be caused by problems which are related to lower jaw structure.  To ensure optimum comfort it may be necessary to schedule routine visits with your dentist or orthodontist who designed the mouthpiece to ensure the device is working properly and is providing you with optimal comfort.

Finally, schedule routine appointments with your healthcare provider to monitor any health issues you may have that are related to obstructive sleep apnea.  By scheduling routine appointments it will help your healthcare provider to identify an issue before it is allowed to get worse.  It will also be beneficial in helping you to live with obstructive sleep apnea by keeping any health issues under control.