Managing Obstructive Sleep Apnea Effectively
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common condition that causes a person to stop breathing multiple times throughout the sleep cycle. During these bouts, the brain is deprived of oxygen. Sleep apnea can cause or worsen other health conditions such as blood pressure and can contribute to the development of other health conditions, like Type II Diabetes.
Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Better Health Habits
There are several steps you can take to improve your sleep apnea through behavior and lifestyle changes.
Lose weight. Being overweight is a double-edged sword with sleep apnea. Not only does being overweight contribute to the condition but it can also be the cause of additional weight gain and obesity. To improve your overall health and your sleep apnea, develop a lifestyle that includes exercising and eating right. Studies have demonstrated that If you exercise 3-4 times per week, you can improve your cardiovascular health.
Improve sleep habits. For some people with obstructive sleep apnea, adapting to a new lifestyle can help minimize or reverse symptoms. You can adjust your bedtime routine to be more accommodating. Disconnect your devices early, have ambient noise, use natural light.
Reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol is a significant contributor to sleep apnea. Cutting down how much alcohol you consume or eliminating it altogether can have a big impact on your condition.
Sleep position. If you sleep flat on your back, you may be inadvertently making your obstructive sleep apnea worse. By changing position, you can alleviate the obstruction and open your airway.
CPAP Is Not the Only Answer
If you’ve been avoiding seeking treatment for your obstructive sleep apnea because you are worried your doctor will prescribe a CPAP machine for treatment, please don’t avoid getting help. There are many other options on the market to help treat obstructive sleep apnea that don’t require the use of a mask.
If you have been struggling with sleep apnea and are looking for ways to manage it, contact eos dental sleep to set up an appointment. We can help determine the cause of your sleep issues, recommend, and provide our best treatment options.