How to Deal with Sleep Apnea

Many people are big on leading a better and healthy lifestyle today. However, few of them recognize the place of sleep in it. Goodnight sleep is paramount for leading a healthy lifestyle. The body and the brain require ample rest time to rejuvenate, refresh and prepare for more activity in the day.

The brain is wired to associate night time with sleep, which is why sleep apnea treatment in Philadelphia, PA, includes recommendations for sleeping at night instead of during the day.

Several things can interfere with the quality of sleep you get. One common way to disrupt healthy sleeping patterns is low breathability in your sleep. If you are to understand how to deal with the disorder, you must first know what it is about:

What is sleep apnea?

It is a condition that disrupts healthy sleep patterns by causing shortness of breath during sleep. Ideally, a patient suffering from this condition will stop breathing for short periods as they sleep. For most patients, they are not aware of the condition because it sounds a lot like snoring at night.

The disorder may not be very alarming to you until it becomes severe. If you do not watch out for the signs of sleep apnea, you stand the risk of several health complications. Some of those complications include: memory loss, fatigue, and mood swings, increased risks of heart failure to mention a few.

All the dangers of this sleep disorder happen because it interrupts sound sleep. Instead of enjoying up to 8 hours of rest every night, you may only catch proper sleep for half the time or so.

Causes of sleep apnea

You may wonder what some of the sleep apnea causes are, given that the condition sounds a lot like snoring. It is not everyone who snores that suffers from this condition. However, if you snore a lot at night, it is wise to consider getting a sleep apnea test from a professional.

This sleeping condition can be caused by several reasons, all of which cause an obstruction to the airway. The obstruction then reduces the oxygen flow in your system, which is how the health complications happen. Some of the causes of this sleep disorder include enlarged tonsils or adenoids, obesity, a tumor or growth in the airway, Down Syndrome, to mention a few.

• Does sleep apnea have a cure?

Finding out about sleep apnea cures can help you enjoy more quality sleep at night. Depending on the underlying cause for your strained breathing while sleeping, it can be treated. For some people, it may just call for change in their lifestyle, while others have to consider a more permanent solution. Do not be surprised if you have to visit a dentist in Philadelphia, PA, to cure your sleeping disorder. Here are some of the remedies to the condition:

• Change your sleeping position

Changing your sleeping position is the easiest way to improve your breathing during sleep. Some patients have found that sleeping on their sides improves their breathing instead of sleeping on their back. This solution works best for mild sleep apnea.

• Keep a healthy weight

Your weight can increase heavy snoring in the night. When you are too heavy, chances are that fats are obstructing your airways and cutting off the oxygen flow. This is common for obese people.

• Check your tonsils

If you never snore at night and suddenly you are, there may be more to the story. Check with a dentist office near you to see whether your tonsils are causing an obstruction to your airways.

• Exercise

Exercising is not only useful for losing weight. Putting your body through regular exercise goes a long way in increasing your energy levels. It also does great in improving the health and strength of your heart, along with oxygen circulation to all parts of your body.

• Consider oral appliances

Oral appliances can be useful in improving airflow in your airways. The appliances help you in repositioning your jaw or tongue when you sleep. This way, your airway is open as you sleep. This is especially helpful for people with Down syndrome.

This sleeping disorder is not a life sentence. There is always something you can do to get control over your sleep.