Sleep Apnea - 7 Tips To Help You Sleep

By Donald Saunders

Do you keep your partner awake at night with your snoring? Are you often tired during the day? Do you sometimes find yourself suffering from morning headaches, being a bit forgetful, unable to concentrate and irritable? If so, you may be suffering from sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a very common and often undiagnosed sleep disorder that, according to some estimates, affects five percent of the adult population. Characterized in particular by loud snoring and daytime tiredness, sleep apnea occurs because you stop breathing during sleep. This can occur literally hundreds of times each night and your breathing can be interrupted by up to a minute or more on each occasion.

Your breathing is interrupted either by a physical blockage to your airway (for example, loose skin in the back of your throat, or perhaps your tongue, blocking your airway), in which case you are said to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, or by a failure on the part of your brain to send out the necessary signals to the muscles of your body that control breathing, in which event your condition is described as central sleep apnea.

It is also possible to suffer from mixed sleep apnea which, as the name suggests, is a combination of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Both men and women suffer from sleep apnea, although the condition is more commonly seen in men and, in particular, men who are over 40 and overweight.

The main consequence of sleep apnea is that, because your sleep is very light, fragmented and of poor quality, you also suffer from insomnia, or excessive daytime tiredness. Your partner would probably disagree and say that the main problem is your snoring, but that’s a different story!

There are a range of treatments available for sleep apnea (including surgery in particularly severe cases), but in the vast majority of cases your quality of life can be improved considerably with a few simple lifestyle changes and natural remedies. Indeed, in mild cases, this is often all that is needed.

Here are 7 simple tips to offset the effects of sleep apnea related insomnia and restore some of that lost daytime ‘get up and go’.

Tip 1. Look at your weight.

If you’re overweight then this is undoubtedly contributing to your problem. Losing just a few pounds can make a significant difference.

Tip 2. Avoid alcohol.

Alcohol relaxes your throat muscles and this makes it much easier for these muscles to ‘collapse’ during sleep and block your airway. There’s no need to cut out alcohol altogether, but you should restrict your intake and certainly cut out alcohol in the three or four hours before going to bed.

Tip 3. Avoid sleeping pills.

Sleeping pills can also relax your throat muscles and cause similar problems to those seen for alcohol. Sleeping pills, however, can also cause a variety of other problems as well and there use is not recommended in cases of sleep apnea.

Tip 4. Avoid tobacco.

Smoking inflames your nasal tissues causing them to swell and restrict your nasal airway. Ideally, you should give up smoking altogether but, if this is too high a fence to jump, then try to cut down and, in particular, reduce your smoking during the evening.

Tip 5. Sleep on your side.

If you’re typical of the majority of sleep apnea sufferers you sleep on your back, making it far easier for the tissues in your throat, and for your tongue, to block your airway. Even if you go to sleep on your side, you probably roll onto your back shortly after falling asleep.

Try propping yourself up with pillows or cushions so that you sleep on your side. If this doesn’t work then sew something like a tennis ball into the back of your pajamas. You’ll find that rolling onto the tennis ball will be quite uncomfortable and it will soon condition you to sleep on your side.

If you can’t sew, find a shirt or tee-shirt with a breast pocket. Pop the tennis ball into the pocket and then wear the shirt back-to-front.

Tip 6. Improve your nasal breathing.

If you suffer from a ‘stuffed up’ nose, then try using a nasal spray to help open up your nasal airway. Nasal sprays should not however be used regularly or for prolonged periods, as they can cause damage to the tissues of the nose.

As an alternative, pop along to the drug store or chemist and buy yourself one of many very cheap devices that are available today to help keep your nose open while you sleep. Your pharmacist or chemist will be happy to show you what’s on offer and to help you to make the right choice.

Tip 7. Avoid sleep deprivation.

Make sure that you are getting enough sleep and that you’re following a regular bedtime routine. Also make sure that your bedroom conditions are set for sleep (the right temperature, quiet, dark etc.) and that you’ve dealt with the worries of the day and are relaxed and ready for sleep each night.

One of the major consequences of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea is insomnia, and curing the insomnia associated with sleep apnea is a major step in the management of the condition.

These are just a few simple tips but you’ll be amazed at just what a difference they can make.

Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related publications including: "How To Get A Good Night's Sleep - Simple Solutions To Help You Rest" Pick up your free copy today and discover the key to curing sleep-apnea

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Sleep Apnea Treatment: Foods that Aid sleep

By Jasdeep Singh

The benefits of a sound sleep is not a state secret. We know how sleep can effect our productivity, our decision making capability, functioning of our brain. According to Ayurveda, people who are most vulnerable to sleep disorders have dry hair, suffer hair fall, sensitive digestions, are usually restless, prone to smoking and have DRY SKIN too. In the nutshell, a good night's sleep is essential to good health.

Studies say over 100 million Americans suffer from some form of insomnia. But the good news is, you can easily improve your sleep with better sleep habits. For sound sleep tips, click here.

Also, it has been proved now that some food have the power to affect our sleep. The affects can be positive as well as negative. Some foods cam increase our nervous simulation and prevent us from sleeping. Drinking caffeinated beverages or xanthine in tea before bed time are egample of such foods. Also fizzy drinks and cigarettes have the same effect. Basically, these foods stimualte neurochemicals that perk up the brain. Other major factor responsible for a disturbed sleep is eating a heavy dinner before bedtime. it results in snoring, heavy breathing and reflux esophagitis.

Myth: The most common myth found among mass is, they believe alcohol helps in the sleep. But the fact is, alcohol may initially act as sedative but it interupts normal sleep patterns in the long run.

Now, lets look at the other side of the story. There are certain foods which improve our sleep. These foods are rich in trytophan. Tryptophan is the amino acid that the body uses to make serotonin, the neurotransmitter that slows down nerve traffic and lulls us into restful sleep. Eating carbohydrates rich in trytophan makes this calming amino acid more available to brain.

Foods containing trytophan that aid sleep are

. Milk

. Cheese

. Curd

. Potato

. Wheat

. Seafood

. Beans

. Sesame seeds

. Oatmeal

. Apricots

. Bananas

Tip: Avoid eating junk food and highly refined food at night because fibre-rich food increases serotonin availability, but processed carbs over stimulates insulin, which leads to disturbed sleep.

Other Bed time snacks can include:

. Whole grain cereal with milk

. Ice-cream

. Seasame seeds

. Oatmeal or rasin cookies

Tip: Lighter meals are more likely to give you a good night's sleep.

About the Author

Jasdeep Singh

For http://weightloss-health.com/ your complete and most comprehensive family guide on Health.

Also get free tips and advice on various health issues at Natural Health Care, Tips and Advice

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Sleep Apnea Treatment: Tips to Ensure Sound Sleep

By Jasdeep Singh

Ever wondered, how easily we wish our family, friends or relatives "Sweet Dreams", but at times the so called "Sweet Dreams" don't come so easily to us. It really gets ironic. May be because money can buy you designer beds bot not sound sleep. We all know the benefits of sound sleep but still many of us long for it. How to ensure sound sleep then becomes the biggest problem and may be the biggest mystery too.

Here are some valuable tips one can follow to ensure Sound Sleep. But before mentioning it, lets have a peek-a-boo on the benefits of sound sleep.

Benefits of sound sleep.

. The first and the foremost, sleeping is the time when our muscles relax. They get rest so that they can work efficiently next day. Also, while sleeping our breathing rate and heartbeat slow down too.

. An adequate sleep is a must for maintaining a balanced biochemical state. It is well known, many enzymes and hormones work only at night.

Now we come down to the valuable and effective tips which ensure sound sleep and sweet dreams!

. Avoid drinking coffee or tea before going to bed.

. Dont go to bed with over-stressed mind. Resolve your issues before hand.

. Yoga or exercise before sleeping is really a smart option. It also ensures tight sleep.

. Avoid watching action-packed movies or horror movies before sleeping. This may harm give you nightmares.

. Reading before sleeping is good habit but once it gets habitual, you become dependent on it. You can also listen to some soothing music before turning off the lights.

. A balanced diet also helps in a great way to get to your goal.

. Last but not the least, avoid sedatives. If you are addicted to them, take some physician's advice.

There could be nothing like keeping your mind at peace. Though it is difficult to achieve but not impossible. Keep yourself calm and relaxed.

Besides, Sleeping apnea/apnoea, other conditions related to sleep are not serious and can easily be overcome. Sleeping apnea/apnoea is a disease where you stop breathing every now and then during sleep. The soft tissues at the back of your throat and your tongue fall back and obstruct the upper airways. This leads to the stopping of breathing. Sleeping apnea/apnoea can be cured with the help of doctor's advice. C pap, a portable machine is highly used to fight sleep apnea/apnoea.

Snoring is othe major problem with many of us. We, unconciously, affect our partner's sleep too which can get really irritating at times. Snoring can be because of the following reasons

. Exessive Day time Sleep

. Obesity

. Obstruction of the upper airways which further leads to sleep apnoea.

To avoid snoring, either have your dinner early or use a nose-guard that discourages snoring. It has also been found that sleeping on your back back encourage snoring too. So try sleeping on your sides. Also, alcohol and sleeping pills aggravate snoring. At times, allergies can also cause snoring.

Random Tip---> To know about foods which aid sleep, visit http://www.weightloss-health.com/sleep%20apnea%20treatment.htm

About the Author

Jasdeep Singh

For http://weightloss-health.com/ your complete and most comprehensive family guide on Health.

Also get free tips and advice on various health issues at Natural Health Care, Tips and Advice

If you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and LIVE link to our website.

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Sleep Apnea - An Extremely Common and Dangerous Sleep Disorder

By Donald Saunders

Sleep apnea refers to a sleep disorder characterized by the interruption of breathing during sleep, such that respiration stops for ten or more seconds, cutting off valuable oxygen supplies to the brain. This interruption of the body’s breathing cycle can recur hundreds of times each night, with potentially fatal results. Even more alarming, sleep apnea, the most dangerous of all sleep disorders, also represents one of the most commonly identified sleep disorders, affecting as many as eighteen million Americans each year.

This condition can be divided into two primary categories. “Central sleep apnea”, caused by a neurological malfunction in which the brain somehow disrupts the normal signal to breathe and “Obstructive sleep apnea”, characterized by the excessive relaxation or the collapse of muscles around the windpipe, which in turn causes windpipe obstruction. Both forms involve the frequent cessation of breathing and the temporary suspension of the oxygen supply to the brain, putting sleep apnea sufferers at a significantly greater risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

Diagnosing sleep apnea can be difficult. Snoring, one of the most common symptoms associated with sleep apnea (resulting in many people referring to this as “the snoring disease”), often leads to an erroneous diagnosis of the condition. In fact, snoring can be associated with a variety of other sleep disorders and conditions unrelated to sleep apnea.

When the brain senses a lack of oxygen, as a result of an obstructed windpipe, it reacts by waking the suffer sufficiently to start breathing again, often causing snoring or sometimes coughing. As a result, sleep apnea suffers enjoy a very poor quality of sleep and wake up feeling even more tired than before they went to bed.

Feelings of exhaustion, fatigue and an overwhelming desire to sleep during the day, known as excessive daytime sleepiness, characterize sleep apnea; especially if seen in conjunction with other symptoms such as morning headaches, noticeable lethargy, loss of interest in sex, forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating.

The ongoing exhaustion and physical fatigue brought on by undiagnosed or untreated sleep apnea can also lead to the onset of serious psychological symptoms such as depression, irritability and changes in mood and behavior.

If you suspect that you are suffering from sleep apnea, you should seek immediate medical guidance and, if necessary, arrange the appropriate tests.

There are a variety of effective treatments available for both obstructive and central sleep apnea. Most patients benefit significantly from one or more of these treatments, which primarily involve simple behavioral adjustments like changing or modifying your sleeping position. Sufferers of mild obstructive sleep apnea as a result of persistent nasal congestion may simply require a course of decongestants, while more severe sleep apnea may need the use of an oxygen mask to stimulate consistent breathing while asleep. In severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea, certain surgical procedures can help to restore effective and consistent respiration during sleep, although sufferers should proceed down this particular route with caution, as surgery can often lead to added complications.

One important point to note is that, because of the risk of potentially fatal respiratory arrest, sleep apnea sufferers should refrain from taking sleeping pills or artificial sleep enhancers because of the associated respiratory dangers.

Natural sleep remedies provide an effective complement to medically prescribed treatments and can certainly help sufferers to enjoy a better night's sleep. Herbal remedies designed to improve the quality and duration of sleep can assist patients in managing and even reducing the excessive daytime sleepiness otherwise brought on by sleep apnea.

Similarly, the use of aromatherapy, chromatherapy and guided relaxation and meditation can help to reduce the anxiety and insomnia sleep apnea patients experience as they learn to manage their sleep disorder.

Copyright © 2005 Donald Saunders

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Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related publications including: "Help Me To Sleep - A Guide To Natural Sleep Remedies", "Jet Lag - An Alternative Approach", "Shift Work Insomnia" and "The Art of Meditation - A Guide To Meditation, Breathing and Relaxation Techniques".
For further details please visit http://help-me-to-sleep.com

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Sleep Apnea - Dealing With This Common Sleep Disorder

By George Royal

One of the most well-known sleep disorders, sleep apnea is a fairly common condition. Marked by interruptions in breathing during sleep, sleep apnea causes the person suffering from this condition to wake up, or partially wake, several times during the night. Because of the frequency of these interruptions in breathing, a person with sleep apnea will have trouble getting a restful night’s sleep, causing them to feel the effects of sleep deprivation during their waking hours.

Two types of sleep apnea have been diagnosed: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea. OSA is caused by the soft palate becoming so relaxed that it actually blocks off the breathing passageway, while central sleep apnea is caused by the brain relaxing to the point that it does not remind the body to breathe. While both types can cause interruptions to breathing on their own, most people with sleep apnea actually have mixed apnea, which is a combination of both forms.

Sleep apnea is sometimes difficult to diagnose, simply because it only strikes while the person is asleep and won’t notice that it is happening. Because most people with sleep apnea awake only partially – not fully – so they do not actually notice that they have had their sleep cycle interrupted. Thus, if someone wants to determine if they have sleep apnea, they will have to look for the symptoms.

The most common symptom of sleep apnea is excessive sleepiness upon waking. Because the sleep cycle is being interrupted, the person is not refreshed during the night and will wake up feeling lethargic, fatigued, or even feel like they need to go back to bed for another round of sleep. Also, people with sleep apnea almost always snore; often very loudly. However, a person does not necessarily have to show these symptoms to have sleep apnea. In fact, a bed partner may be the only person to notice the interruptions in breathing during the night.

Additionally, people with sleep apnea are often overweight to obese, so treatment usually involves helping people to lose weight. Treatment can also include eliminating alcohol or other substances that help people relax, quitting smoking, using special pillows or other appliances that help keep the airways open, or even special apparatus that uses air pressure to keep the airways open. This last form of treatment, continuous pressure airway pressure (CPAP), uses a breathing mask to pressurize the airways and inflate them, almost like a balloon. Though this form of treatment is more than a little disconcerting at first, they quickly get used to the mask and find that they feel much more alert in the morning.

Sleep apnea is very difficult for a person to self-diagnose but, once the problem is found, there are treatments available. But for people who are overweight and have large necks, smoke, use sedatives or muscle relaxers, or just drink too much alcohol, lifestyle changes would be the best place to start either keeping sleep apnea away or treating it before it becomes a major health concern. After all, not breathing is a problem whenever it happens. So by treating sleep apnea now, sufferers can keep performing the one act they need to perform every day and every night.

Sleep HQ http://sleephq.com/ your guide to sleep apnea and getting a good night's sleep.

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Sleep Apnea - The Facts About This Important Sleep Disorder

By Leonard Mutch

Sleep apnea is a common problem in the adult population, and is characterised by a reduction or stoppage of breathing when someone is asleep. There are 2 main types - obstructive (which is more common) and central,but also a mixed type which is a combination of both obstructive and central. Treatment for sleep apnea can be nonsurgical or surgical.

What is apnea? In layman's terms it means that someone has stopped breathing for about 10 seconds or perhaps more. These episodes of apnea have a tendency to occur more often when a person is asleep, thus disrupting the sleep, and often wakening the sleeper up. Doctors use various indexes which measure the severity of the sleep apnea to decide on their treatment options.

What causes sleep apnea? In the case of central sleep apnea it happens when the brain fails to send signals to the respiratory muscles. This is most common in babies, and in adults with heart problems, but can also be caused by some medicines. In obstructive sleep apnea the message from the brain to the respiratory muscles gets through but breathing fails through an obstruction preventing the flow of air. Mixed sleep apnea is caused by a combination of these failures.

Obstructive sleep apnea affects more men than women,and is more common and has increased severity in obese people.

What are the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea? Not only does it disrupt sleep, it also causes heart problems and high blood pressure, and increased risk of stroke. Sufferers are also more likley no have accidents at work and on the road through lack of concentration related to not getting enough sleep.

How is obstructive sleep apnea treated? There are several non surgical options varying from behavioral changes to medications and dental appliances. Behavioral changes may simply involve getting the sufferer to change their sleeping position, as most apneas seem to occur whilst sleeping on the back. A change in diet and lifestyle with consequent reduction in obesity can also markedly reduce the severity of symptoms. However, these changes are easier to talk about than to implement. Dental appliances are sometimes used for mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea - these work by holding the jaw and tongue forward and the palate up to prevent airway closure. One of the best non surgical treatments is called CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure. This is a machine which delivers heated and humidified air under pressure through a mask to the sufferer whilst they sleep. The machine is light and portable, and most people quickly get used to the noise the machine makes, and to wearing a mask.

Surgical options for obstructive sleep apnea include palate implants, reducing the size of the tongue, procedures on the jaws, and surgery of the nasal passages. Surgery should not be undertaken lightly because of the underlying risks of anesthesia and complications from the surgery itself.

If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea or know anyone who does, then it is important that you seek qualified medical advice as soon as possible. Continuing your life without recourse to treatment leaves you open to much higher risk of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and even sudden death. Seek specialist help today.

Leonard Mutch writes extensively on medical and health related topics. Discover how you too can get the latest information on sleep apnea at his website. Go there now - http://www.sleepperfectsleep.com

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Sleep Apnea Symtoms - A Complete Overview of Sleep Apnea Symtoms

By John Spencer

The crazy thing about sleep apnea is that many of the sleep apnea symtoms can be misconstrued to be something that they aren't. For example, one of the classic symtoms of sleep apnea is depression. However, when you're feeling depressed you generally go to a therapist, not your primary care physician. As a result, the therapist will work with you to treat your depression, but no matter what he or she does, the root cause of it will be untouched. As a result, the sleep apnea will continue and you'll continue to experience the depression. Moreover, as the apnea progresses you'll start to feel more and more depressed, with no real hope of feeling better until you find someone who can make the connection to the sleeping disorder.

Unfortunately, depression is only one of the many sleep apnea symtoms that confuse doctors. Anxiety, irritability and other behavior changes all are signs of sleep apnea. However, when a psychiatrist is presented with these symtoms, he or she may reasonably think that the patient is bipolar or schizophrenic. Again, the treatment that will be given in these cases will have nothing to do with solving the actual problem. That said, how does one know whether or not they're really depressed or bipolar, as opposed to when they're just experiencing the side effects of sleep apnea?

The answer to this question isn't an easy one. The best way to go about answering it, however, is to look for these symtoms to be coupled with other sleep apnea symtoms. Signs to be aware of include decreased sex drive, getting up frequently in the middle of the night to urinate, headaches, loud snoring and esophageal reflux. Also, if you're sweating heavily at night it may not have anything to do with the temperature of your room. Heavy sweating is yet another symtom of sleep apnea.

To uncover the best remedies for snoring, visit http://www.StopSnoringSystem.com/ today! FREE sleep apnea symtoms mini-course!

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