Coping With Obstructive Sleep Apnea



Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a person to stop breathing for brief periods during sleep. These breathing pauses are caused by an obstruction in the airway. Though a person may not remember it, sleep apnea results in frequent awakenings and therefore disruption of sleep.

While it is true that obstructive sleep apnea is a serious and sometimes fatal sleep disorder due to the many complications that come with it, it shouldnt be a cause of panic. There are ways to cope with it. If you are one of the millions of people with sleep apnea, here are some things you can do:

1. Use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) upon the prescription of your doctor. CPAP is used in providing air pressure to keep your airway open and therefore avoid sleep disturbances. It also diminishes the possibility of snoring, so your bed partner can equally have a restful sleep. CPAP is a bit uncomfortable to use though, but you can make some adjustments to get use to it. Use nasal pillows, for instance.

Nasal pillows are fitted into the nostrils and eliminate pressure on the nose. You can also use skin moisturizer or other skin products for CPAP users to avoid skin irritation. To keep your jaw locked and the air in, use a chin strap. Dont easily give up on CPAP; instead, ask your doctor for ways to make it more comfortable to use.

2. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused and aggravated by some habits or activities such as drinking and taking sedatives. Lessen your intake, if not totally get rid of them. Quit smoking as well. It will, of course, take some time. However, if you find it hard to kick the habits in the course of time, remind yourself that keeping a healthy lifestyle does not only allow you to sleep peacefully, it can also add years to your life.

3. Keep an open and constant communication with your doctor or specialist. This is so that he can monitor your improvements and can warn you of risks, if there is any. This also allows you to inform him of any problem that may arise. You must keep in mind that the success of treatment and management of obstructive sleep apnea lies partly in the doctor-patient communication.

4. Educate yourself. While you can certainly trust your doctor or specialist to inform you of everything you need to know about your condition, it is best that you research and study on your own. Find out more about the sleep disorder and the associated complications and risks, so you can learn how to live with it, be more tolerant to the treatments, and monitor your own improvements. The supplemental knowledge you obtain can also help you evaluate treatment options.

5. Find and join a support group. In the United States alone, 12 million are estimated to have sleep apnea. It would, therefore, not be too hard to find people who share what you feel and what you have to go through. Support groups not only provide you with moral and emotional encouragement, they can also impart substantial information about obstructive sleep apnea.

However, if you find it rather hard to look for one in your area, you can do your search online.




Comments

*Name:
*Email:
Website URL:
Title / Subject:
Hide my email
*Comments:
*
 



Menu


Articles

Sleep Apnea Device Options
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Symptoms And Manifestations Of Sleep Apnea
Breathing Devices As Treatment For Sleep Apnea
Causes Of Sleep Apnea
Dealing With Sleep Apnea
Risk Factors And Causes Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Diagnosis Of Sleep Apnea
What Sleep Apnea Is
Sleep Apnea And People Who Are At Risk
Lifestyle Changes For Treatment Of Sleep Apnea
What You Must Know About Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgery: The Solution
What Are The Sleep Apnea Tests?
Treatment For Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea In Children: The Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments
Key Points About Sleep Apnea
Brief Overview About Sleep Apnea
Effective Sleep Apnea Treatments
Bits Of Information About Sleep Apnea
Coping With Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The Dangers Of Sleep Apnea: A Rundown
Ways To Handle Sleep Apnea Conditions





Articles


Risk Factors And Causes Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea It is during sleep that people are supposedly having the most..


Causes Of Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is one of the more common types of sleep disorder...


Bits Of Information About Sleep Apnea If you are suffering from any ailments, you must not feel..


Sleep Apnea And People Who Are At Risk It is estimated that in the United States alone, over 12..



Related Videos:

Related News:

 
Sleep Apnea Linked to Silent Strokes - WebMD

    

Daily Gossip

Sleep Apnea Linked to Silent Strokes
WebMD
1, 2012 -- A common sleep disorder is associated with an increased risk of symptomless but serious strokes called “silent strokes,” German researchers report. Sleep apnea, a condition marked by periodic interruptions in breathing during sleep, ...
Sleep Apnea Common in StrokeMedPage Today
High Rate of Sleep Apnea in Patients With Silent StrokesMedscape
Sleep Apnea Raises Silent Stroke RiskDaily Gossip
AARP News (blog) -Science Daily (press release)
all 138 news articles »



90 Million Americans Will Be Snoring This Valentines Day - San Francisco Chronicle (press release)

    

90 Million Americans Will Be Snoring This Valentines Day
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
Sleep Group Solutions, a leading airway management company focusing in dental continuing education, teaches dentists how to screen and treat sleep apnea and snoring. This Valentine's Day, couples across the US will be indulging in chocolates, ...

and more »