Millions of people across the country and world have to deal with sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can be very frustrating. While the best ENT hospital in the United States can certainly work with you to find the right treatment for your specific needs, there are also many things that sufferers can try on their own.
Some of these tips may be what you need to get a little relief in the meantime before you are able to visit the best ENT hospital in the United States.
Lose Weight
There is a misconception that everyone who has sleep apnea suffers from being obese or overweight. However, only about half of the sufferers are. If you suffer from severe sleep apnea, losing just a little bit of weight could help to ease your symptoms. Those with type 2 diabetes would also get relief from losing weight by joining either a weight loss group or a diabetes management group.
Limit Drinking Alcohol And Stop Smoking
Both smoking and alcohol play their parts in some people who suffer from sleep apnea. Most people already know that smoking and alcohol have a lot of negative health affects. However, they can also cause and make more severe the symptoms of sleep apnea. Smoking cigarettes can cause swelling within your upper airway. This can aggravate your apnea and can lead to increased snoring. Alcohol can interfere with your breathing because it decreases the muscle tone at the back of your throat.
Make Better Food Choices
For those that suffer from sleep apnea, it is almost a given that they generally choose unhealthy foods and snacks over healthy ones. When you do not get enough sleep, your body will ultimately crave more carbohydrates. Research completed at places such as the best ENT hospital in the United States has shown that those who are not getting enough sleep have changes in the hormones of ghrelin and leptin. Both of these hormones are necessary to control feelings of fullness and hunger. All in all, people who don’t sleep well end up eating more. The more unhealthy foods you eat, the worse your sleep apnea can get. It is a vicious cycle.
Get Allergies Under Control
It is no surprise that having a stuffed nose can make it difficult to breathe while sleeping. When your allergies are not under control, the tissues in your nasal passage become swollen and your airway becomes more narrow. The less space you have in your nasal passages, the harder it will become to breathe.
Sleep Routine
One last thing you can try before your visit with the best ENT hospital in the United States is building a good sleep routine. Many people who suffer from sleep apnea love to sleep on their backs. Many doctors try to warn against this sleeping position because it makes breathing more difficult.
Getting sleep is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Sleeping when you suffer from sleep apnea makes it that much more difficult. Try a few of these listed tips to ease your symptoms.