Understanding Sleep Apnea: What You Can Do After Receiving A Diagnosis
Did your physician recently diagnose you with sleep apnea? You may have received the diagnosis after participating in a sleep study where medical professionals monitored you while you slept for several hours. Unfortunately, sleep apnea is a severe condition that can put your life at risk. Those who receive this diagnosis have difficulty breathing properly at night. People with sleep apnea tend to feel exhausted, even after they have slept for extended periods. They continue to feel tired because their sleep is continuously interrupted throughout the night, preventing them from getting quality rest. After finding out that you have sleep apnea, it is vital to understand the condition a bit more and what you can do to treat it.
Why Do Some People Suffer From Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea can occur for various reasons. While people who are overweight have a greater risk of receiving a sleep apnea diagnosis, excess weight is not the only contributing factor. Those who smoke cigarettes, consume lots of unhealthy foods, and have other family members with the disorder are at a much higher risk of suffering from sleep apnea. Many people have this sleep disorder and do not realize it until they get a sleep study done when trying to figure out why they feel exhausted despite going to bed early.
What Are Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances?
Different types of oral appliances exist and may get put to good use by sleep apnea sufferers. These appliances work to keep the airway open, allowing individuals to breathe with ease while they sleep. If your airway is not obstructed while you sleep, you can get a better night's sleep. The oral device temporarily adjusts the jaw's position, leaving it open to help with the airflow. Besides improving airflow, the oral appliance will keep you from snoring loudly. While you may not notice your snoring, others in the home may hear it throughout the night. Using the oral appliance will protect you at night while preventing your loved ones from listening to loud snoring that can keep them up at night. You can wear the oral appliance each night before going to bed. If you plan on using the oral device while you sleep, make sure to wash it after using it at night to keep it clean and in good condition.
What Can an Individual With Sleep Apnea Do to Get Better Sleep?
When you want to get better sleep but suffer from sleep apnea, you can take different steps to improve your sleep quality while protecting yourself. Your physician may recommend making some lifestyle changes. For example, if you currently smoke cigarettes, your physician may encourage you to quit to improve your condition. Besides quitting the cigarettes, your doctor might recommend exercising more often, eating healthier foods, and using an oral appliance at night to open the airways. You can purchase a sleep apnea oral appliance online or ask your physician for recommendations on the specific device that they believe is best for you to use to help you get relief from your sleep apnea symptoms.
Receiving a sleep apnea diagnosis is serious. People with this condition have trouble breathing throughout the night, which prevents them from getting the quality sleep they need to feel well-rested during the day when they need to work and do other things. If you just found out that this is why you always feel so tired, know that you can improve your condition. Living a much healthier lifestyle and using an oral appliance made specifically for sleep apnea sufferers will help you breathe better at night, stop snoring, and stay asleep for hours at a time before getting up and getting the day started.
