6 Simple Lifestyle Remedies for Sleep Apnea

If you struggle with sleep apnea, you are among the 22 million patients in the United States whose lives have dramatically deteriorated due to this condition. This is because sleep apnea can affect your overall health and even your daily activity, which then negatively impacts your overall quality of life. To help you manage sleep apnea in Commack, Chase Dental SleepCare, which serves the people of New York and the greater metro area, can provide the proper treatment for your condition. The following are lifestyle remedies for sleep apnea:

  1.     Check on Your Weight

While always advisable to maintain a healthy weight to improve your overall well-being, losing weight if you are obese or overweight can often reduce sleep apnea symptoms, as the lost weight allows your airway to remain free from obstruction. Due to excessive weight, particularly in your upper body, the risk of narrow nasal passages and airway obstruction is increased.

Although losing weight will improve some of the sleep apnea symptoms, the conditions can reoccur if you regain your weight.

  1.     Do Some Yoga

Every provider will advise you to maintain a regular exercise program to optimize your overall health and well-being. This is because regular exercises strengthen your heart and boost your energy levels. If you are suffering from sleep apnea, you may find comfort in knowing some symptoms can be improved through exercising. Certain exercises, such as yoga, can specifically improve your respiratory strength by encouraging or facilitating increased oxygen flow. Because sleep apnea is associated with decreased oxygen saturation in your blood, the number of sleep interruptions you experience can be reduced through regularly practicing yoga.

  1.     Check and Change Your Sleep Position

How you sleep at night can worsen some symptoms of sleep apnea. Sometimes a small change, such as buying new pillows, can improve your sleep position which, in-turn, reduces sleep apnea. Just be sure to be open with your doctor in discussing your sleeping positions as your body positioning during sleep can exacerbate your condition. Minor alterations can often improve the symptoms, however.

  1.     Invest in a Humidifier

This is a device that moistens the air, as dry air can irritate your respiratory system and body as a whole. This device can help you decrease congestion, promote clearer breathing, and open your airways. You may also consider consulting your provider on essential oils, such as peppermint and lavender, as they can add some benefits to your humidifier.

  1.     Avoid Alcohol and Smoking

Limiting your alcohol intake can improve your sleep apnea symptoms, as your throat muscles tend to relax and cause snoring when you consume alcohol. Both alcohol and tobacco also cause inflammation in the airway which may result in your airway being blocked. Therefore, quitting such behaviors as smoking and alcohol intake can improve your health and sleeping habits.

  1.     Apply Oral Appliances

To keep your airway open while you sleep, there are oral devices you can use to reposition your tongue on your jaw. Your provider can recommend some of these devices, or you can access them at the nearest store. The oral appliances range from low cost OTC to custom-fit by a dentist.

These tips will not only help improve your sleep apnea symptoms and overall sleeping habits, they can also enhance the effectiveness of the treatment procedures your provider recommends. To learn more, please contact Chase Dental SleepCare.