Sleep apnea symptoms can be greatly decreased through a combination of lifestyle changes and professional treatment.
These are some of the most effective changes one can make, in order to improve sleep and breathe more easily:
- Exercise.
- Reduce Smoking.
- Reduce Alcohol Intake.
- Reduce Opioid Use.
- Establish a Regular Schedule.
- Change Sleep Position.
- Get a Humidifier.
- Use an Oral Appliance.
Work with our trained professionals to choose which adaptations are right for you.
Exercise
Regular exercise increases your energy levels, strengthens your heart and lungs, and improves fitness. All of this works to make your breathing easier and keep your airways clear.
Yoga is especially recommended as an excellent way to decrease both apnea symptoms and the stress that can contribute to poor health and difficult sleep.
Reduce Substance Usage
Studies show a positive correlation between sleep apnea and the use—and overuse—of substances such as alcohol, smoking, and opioids. Reducing your intake of these substances can improve sleep and breathing while potentially eliminating other symptoms of sleep apnea.
Establish a Regular Schedule
Difficult or restless sleeping can easily spiral into worse problems. Insomnia produces stress. Stress produces sleeping difficulties, making it even more difficult to sleep. Working hard to keep a regular sleep schedule, as well as making sure you have the proper amount of rest per night, can do wonders for reducing sleep-related difficulties.
Change Sleep Position
Instances of sleep apnea are much more common in those who sleep on their backs. This is due to a combination of gravity and jaw/tongue position. Shifting to a side position often reduces snoring and improves deep breathing.
Get a Humidifier
If you live in a dry area, breathing can be made much easier by the introduction of a little moisture in the air. Humidifiers reduce throat irritation, nasal congestion, and the dehydration of air passages. All of this improves the treatment of and recovery from sleep apnea.
Use an Oral Appliance
The use of an oral appliance is one of the most effective ways to reduce snoring, even when not caused by sleep apnea. This is the result of proper jaw positioning. When your jaw and tongue are both kept slightly forward, they don’t close off the airways by slipping backward or hanging open.
Contact Us About Your Apnea Treatment Today
Lifestyle changes can make a dramatic difference to your treatment and recovery from sleep apnea. If you have any questions about these changes or would like to work with our office to create an effective treatment plan, get in touch with us today!