Are you or your loved ones suffering from sleep apnea? Is this sleep disorder taking a toll on everyone in the household?
It can be devastating to learn that you or your loved one has this debilitating condition. Sleep apnea refers to when the throat muscles close off the airway while the patient’s asleep, leading to nighttime breathing pauses.
This can rouse the sufferers up at night, making sleep difficult and causing a range of daytime symptoms including exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, and worsening productivity.
If you’re looking to help a loved one with sleep apnea, or are suffering from the condition yourself, it’s vital to observe it closely and seek medical assistance.
Here are six home ways you can help yourself or your family better deal with sleep apnea.
1. Undergo Weight Loss Treatment
Having too much weight can cause an accumulation of fat deposits near the airway. This, in turn, can contribute to an increased chance of tracheal narrowing, resulting in sleep apnea as one of the natural consequences.
To mitigate this issue, it’s important to let yourself and your family take proactive steps to maintain a healthy BMI. This starts by eating the right portions of food, developing a good exercise routine, and restricting your diet to only what’s necessary.
You can also work together with a physical therapist and nutritionist to help create a more structured weight loss plan. While weight loss can help clear the airway from fat deposits in obstructive sleep apnea patients, it won’t be as effective for central sleep apnea patients.
2. Purchase a CPAP Machine
If you’ve already gotten in touch with a doctor, they’ll likely prescribe a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device to control sleep apnea symptoms.
This machine is one of the most commonly-prescribed devices for sleep apnea patients. It works by delivering a constant stream of pressurised air to the patient’s throat, which prevents it from closing off during the night.
It’s important to purchase CPAP machines from trusted suppliers so you know they’re safe and effective. You can find many reliable suppliers like CPAP Direct through a quick Google search or by asking your local medical practitioner.
3. Avoid Harmful Vices
Can’t stop smoking or binge drinking? Be cautious, sleep apnea patients are prone to developing worsening outcomes if they partake in frequent vice use. In particular, drinking and smoking can significantly increase the risk of sleep-related complications.
Smoking cigarettes can cause swelling in the soft tissues of the throat, leading to airway narrowing and sleep apnea. Frequent alcohol consumption comes with its own share of problems too, as this sedative substance weakens the muscles in the throat, causing it to collapse.
Therefore, it’s important to limit vice usage on both yourself and your family members. If quitting cold turkey is proving to be difficult, it’s perfectly okay to break a bad habit slowly, like cutting your daily dosage by half every day.
Once you’ve successfully removed vices from your daily life, you can reduce the likelihood of sleep-related complications and potentially mitigate the effects of sleep apnea.
4. Use Nasal Decongestants
If your kid’s sleep apnea causes him to be agitated every day, you may find nasal decongestants as a handy tool to help them get over it.
Steroid nasal sprays help reduce the inflammation and mucus build-up in the airways, making it easier for them to breathe during sleep. It also reduces the sound of snoring for children.
There are many over-the-counter nasal decongestants available in the market that you can select from. That said, it’s best to obtain professional medical advice before administering any of these products.
5. Encourage A Better Sleep Posture
Sleeping soundly isn’t always a guarantee with sleep apnea, however, it’s entirely possible to lessen its flare-ups.
One way to do so is by sleeping in the right position. And for sleep apnea patients, sleeping on your side or stomach is the best way to do so.
Sleeping in the aforementioned positions is optimal since it prevents the airways from falling deeper into your airways. This makes it less likely to narrow.
If you haven’t formed the habit yet, try getting comfortable sleeping on your side or your stomach to lessen nighttime interruptions. If you’re using a CPAP machine, make sure that it’s suitable for your preferred sleeping position as well.
6. Get The Right Support
Let’s face it, even with all the protocols and remedies in place, sleep apnea is still a chronic condition that can be difficult to manage.
That’s why it’s important to get the right support system in place. If you are struggling with managing your own sleep apnea symptoms, or if your children or loved ones feel alone with their condition, reach out to a support system who they can share the burden with.
Many local and online sleep apnea support groups can provide much-needed emotional support to patients. Talking to people who understand the same struggles can lift a load on people struggling by making them feel less alone.
On top of that, it’s also important to keep in contact with your doctor or sleep specialist so they can help monitor your condition and offer relevant professional advice.
Sleep apnea is a troublesome condition, but by taking the right steps, you and the rest of your family can lead a healthier life. With the right habits and support system in place, no battle is too big to conquer.
Good luck!
Thank you for reading.
