This site is dedicated to helping people searching for the best sleep apnea cures. If you or a loved one have been recently diagnosed with sleep apnea, you are not alone. It is estimated that there are more than 20 million Americans with this sleep disorder. It is a condition that occurs when one’s breathing pauses, stops or is reduced for a few seconds to as long as a few minutes. It happens more frequently with adults but also occurs in children, although more rarely. There are three different types of sleep apnea: central, obstructive and mixed or complex. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain does not signal your diaphragm muscles to contract so you can actually breathe. Obstructive sleep apnea symptoms occur when proper air flow is not maintained as when the airway in the throat becomes blocked, narrowed or floppy. Mixed or complex sleep apnea is a combination of both central and obstructive apneas. Episodes of sleep apnea can occur as often as five to thirty times within an hour. Obstructive sleep apnea is by far the most common type, followed by complex and most rarely central sleep apnea. For a brief demonstration of what happens during an episode of obstructive sleep apnea, watch this short video:
If you or a loved one has sleep apnea, here are the symptoms that you or the people around you may experience: noisy snoring, choking, gasping for air during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, breathing pauses, headaches in the morning, insomnia, frequent bathroom visits, loss of concentration, restlessness, getting easily irritated and having large mood swings. You are at greater risk of suffering sleep apnea if you are among the following: male, above the age of 65, overweight, smoker, of black, Spanish and/or Pacific Islander ancestry and especially if you have a family history of sleep apnea. If this sounds like you, read on to learn more about sleep apnea cures.
Common Symptoms and Sleep Apnea Cures
If you are suffering from this kind of sleeping disorder and are looking for the best sleep apnea cures, these treatments might be effective for you:
- Losing weight is one of the most commonly recommended natural sleep apnea cures and can be an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. When one gains weight, fat often accumulates in the neck, and that fat tissue can obstruct your air passages making it difficult to breathe. Individuals with a neck size greater than 17 inches are at greater risk. If you are obese, losing weight is often one of the most effective sleep apnea cures and losing weight has many additional health benefits as well.
- Smoking increases inflammation and also promotes fluid retention in your throat that could interfere with breathing. Also, many of the ingredients in cigarettes are stimulants and actually work to keep you awake. Again, smoking cessation has enormous health benefits in addition to its role in as a sleep apnea cure.
- Sleeping pills, sedatives and alcohol increase your chance of suffering sleep apnea as they relax the muscles and interfere with normal breathing. In addition, they can also retard your muscles reactivity to signals from your brain. If you regularly use sedatives or alcohol especially at night, they can exacerbate your sleep apnea. Reducing your utilization of these medications along with other lifestyle changes can be one of many sleep apnea cures. One word of caution; before you change medications, always consult with your medical provider.
- Any factors that contribute to quality sleep can be a sleep apnea cure. Refrain from heavy meals and caffeine a few hours before bedtime as they can cause sleeping difficulty and add to your sleep apnea suffering.
- Got to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Regular sleeping habits improve your sleeping, reduce the occurrences of sleep apnea and can be sleep apnea cures.
- Sleep apnea cures can be simple acts. Elevate your head when sleeping so that your airwaves are kept open. When you lie flat on your back, your jaw and tongue can slide back into the throat disrupting normal air flow. Sleeping on your side can also effectively reduce the incidence of blocked airways that are characteristic of sleep apnea disorders. Sometimes, something as simple as a change in sleeping position can effectively act as a sleep apnea cure.
- Some common over the counter products can act as sleep apnea cures. Try melatonin, the herb flower Vervain (also called Verbena) or the 5-HTP amino acid. These may calm the brain and relax you so you can sleep more soundly.
- A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP sleep apnea machine is an extremely common and effective approach for sleep apnea cures. By delivering air under pressure through a mask, the sufferer’s airways remain open during breathing, thereby preventing the blockages that cause sleep apnea. A CPAP or related sleep apnea machine such as a BIPAP machine can be one of the most effective sleep apnea cures.
- Surgery may be a last option for sleep apnea cures if your sleep apnea is severe or at its chronic stage. There are a variety of surgical options that are effective sleep apnea cures. For some sleep apnea sufferers, surgery may be performed to remove the excess tissue in the nose or throat to create a wider air passage. Surgery to realign the jaw so that it does not block the airway can also be effective. Another great sleep apnea cure is the Pillar Procedure. A doctor inserts small polyester rods into the soft palate which makes it more firm and reduces the vibrations that can restrict airflow and contribute to sleep apnea. Since it is minimally invasive and relatively minor surgery, this procedure is gaining in popularity as a sleep apnea cure. Finally, as a last resort, a tracheotomy can also be performed to completely bypass the blocked airways. Surgery is generally a last option so consult with your physician or a sleep expert before surgery to determine the best sleep apnea cures for you.
Sleep Apnea Cures That Work for You
If you suspect you or a loved one has sleep apnea, the first step is to see a physician. He may order a Polysomnography or sleep study to accurately diagnose the condition. Once properly diagnosed, a physician can determine the most effective treatment and sleep apnea cure. Not only will these treatments help your sleep apnea, they may also promote better overall health and energy. There are many sleep apnea treatment options available so no one has to suffer in vain any longer. Find the best sleep apnea cures for you and take action.
