Recognizing and Treating Sleep Apnea – Key Information You Should Know

One of the most agonizing things for people is a lack of sleep. It is a problem that many people around the world face, and it can lead to serious physical and mental problems. Sleep apnea is a common disorder that many people face nowadays. If you have it, you should look into different ways to treat it because it can change your life for the better.

Do I have it?

There are many symptoms that you can recognize if you have this disorder. Some of them you can detect yourself, while others your family can spot. During sleep, if you are snoring very loudly, gasping for air, or even choking, then it is highly likely that you have this disorder. If some of your family members mention that they cannot sleep because of your constant snoring, you should check on yourself. If you are someone who lives alone, then there are other symptoms that you can observe. One obvious thing is that you are always fatigued and sleepy. Also, frequent headaches can be caused by a lack of good sleep.

Have it checked

If you have it, the best way to treat your sleep apnea is to go to a specialist and have it looked at for you. This way, you do not have to think about whether you have it or not; they will just say what the case is. If they determine that you have it, then they can talk with you about the best way to treat it. They will try out different obstructive sleep apnea treatment methods, and if they do not work, then surgery is the last option. By looking for help from professionals, you will ensure that you are taking the right steps at the right time, as they will not force anything but treat you gradually. This is the easiest way to deal with this disorder because they will try proven methods that work on people all the time and have high success rates. All you have to do is follow their advice and hope for the best.

Are you obese?

If you are obese, there is a good likelihood that you have this disorder. Because you have more fat around your neck and throat, you are obstructing the airflow, which increases the number of pauses in breathing you have and makes them much shallower, which leads to disturbances in sleep. Also, it is well known that obese people have less capacity in their lungs, which hinders them from breathing properly. This will also affect their sleep and stamina. The best way to treat this problem in this case is to work on your obesity. Try to exercise as much as you can, eat healthier food, and get rid of junk food. Also, what you could do is try fasting, as there are many options out there that you can do. You do not need a lot of food in your system to operate well, as one meal is sufficient for your energy needs. What is important when you have this one meal is that you do not overeat, but look to eat one portion. Also, try to hydrate as much as possible, because increased water intake makes you sweat more, so you are losing pounds.

Do you drink or use drugs?

We all know that alcohol and drugs almost have no positive effects on your health and body and that is why you should avoid them at all costs and means. They can turn your life upside down but they can also cause harm to your health and cause disorders such as sleep apnea. By using drugs and alcohol, your muscles relax, which includes the muscles in your throat. When those relax, they obstruct the flow of air through your throat, which causes the disorder that we have been talking about. One of the best ways to treat any illness is to stop the one thing that may be causing it. There are many ways you can give up these vices. You can go to rehab, talk with your family about them helping you with it, and many other things. Something that has such a bad influence on your health should be stopped in its tracks. After all, no fun can replace your well-being and quality of your life.

Positional therapy

If you face troubles while sleeping on your back, then most likely your specialist will recommend you start positional therapy. When you sleep on the back, there is a possibility that your tongue and other muscles fall down due to gravity and obscure the passage airway. What can be done when this happens is that the specialist advises you to sleep in a different position. This treatment allows you to easily treat your disorder, but for some people, that position is the only one where they can sleep. In this case, some different treatments should be used. 

Inspire therapy

This is a form of therapy for this newer disorder and it is recommended by specialists for people who have not had success with other treatment options. This treatment involves the surgical implantation of a small device under the neck. This device has three parts: a pulse generator, a breathing sensor lead, and a stimulation lead. The breathing sensor monitors the breathing patterns during sleep. The stimulation lead controls the movement of the tongue and other muscles that are important for proper breathing. The pulse generator serves as the power source of the whole system, as it sends impulses to the stimulation lead, telling it what to do.

Regular check-ups

It is really important that whatever treatment you are doing, even if you feel better, you go to your specialist to see what your status is. Some treatments can cause some side effects that you are unaware of, ones your expert knows and can look out for.

Sleep apnea should not be something that you disregard lightly. The sooner you treat it, the sooner you will feel healthier and better, while not treating it can lead to more problems for your health in the future.

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