Are you turning and tossing all night long? Cannot sleep because of a loud snoring problem your partner has? You are not alone as many people have the same problem. Some are not even aware they suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. In fact, latest estimated numbers show that over 5% of all Australians suffer from one of three types of sleep apnea, obstructive, central or mixed sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a condition known as a short pause in breathing. It occurs when posterior pharyngeal walls collapse blocking the airway. This usually lasts about few seconds, but in some cases can even be as long as one minute depending on when the brain registers the stop of breathing and sends signals after which a person wakes up. Such pattern may occur over 10 times a night which is why sleep apnea patients usually feel fatigue and irritation due to the lack of quality sleep. That’s why it is important to get adequate treatment as soon as possible. Untreated sleep apnea can seriously affect the cardiovascular system especially the heart.
There are few things you can do to ease your sleep apnea. First and foremost, make drastic changes to your lifestyle. For example, if you are a smoker, ditch tobacco today. Not as as soon as possible, but forthwith. Do not just lower the intake of a nicotine, but instead stop using it completely. Also, avoid consuming alcohol at least several hours before bedtime. Alcohol triggers apnea and pauses in breathing occur more often. Another thing that triggers apnea is extra weight. Watch what you eat, avoid junk food and exercise regularly.
To prevent snoring, the best thing you can do is avoid sleeping on your back. The easiest way is to use special pillows designed to prevent turning on the back or simply sew a tennis ball on the back part of your top pajama. Once you turn on your back, the ball will make it pretty uncomfortable and you’ll be forced to turn to the side. But the best non-surgical way to treat sleep apnea is with sleep apnea machines – CPAP or BPAP. Of course, the most effective treatment for sleep apnea is surgery. The type of surgery depends on severity of sleep apnea and its causes. It is a very simple surgery with minimal side effects, worst being the pain in the throat for one or two weeks.
If you suffer from sleep apnea you need to treat it as it can lead to many complications such as high blood pressure (hypertension), certain heart problems such cardiac arrhythmias which can lead to heart attack, stroke and even to heart failure. Consult your doctor if you believe or were told that you snore loud during sleep or if you often wake up with shortness of breath during night. Do a little research online also as you will finds many reputable Australian companies which offer high quality sleep apnea machines for sale which will help you with your sleep apnea problem.
