Many people do not understand what sleep apnea is and how it can be treated and managed. Sleep apnea is much more than snoring, it is a serious medical affliction that can have a number of negative health consequences. This article contains information on sleep apnea meaning and several tips on how to best treat it.

Sleep apnea can be connected to your weight. If you are overweight, consider going on a diet to lose a few pounds. Studies have shown that overweight people who suffer from sleep apnea were able to improve their symptoms by losing about 25 pounds in a year: give it a try!

You have to get rid of a few vices to get through sleep apnea. Smoking and drinking are some of the biggest offenders. Drinking can overly relax your respiratory system and may cause breathing problems. Smoking damages all parts of your airways. When you stop doing these things, your sleep apnea symptoms should be reduced.

Try your best to lay off tobacco and nicotine products. Cigarette smoke can irritate your upper airway causing it to swell up, subsequently hindering your ability to breath during the night. Quitting smoking could therefore, significantly improve your sleep apnea symptoms and will also improve your body's overall health and your feelings of well-being.

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and prescribed a CPAP, work hard to get in the habit of using it every time you sleep. While it can be a struggle to get used to sleeping with a mask on your face, your health and your life depend on it. Work with your sleep center to get everything adjusted just right so that you can use CPAP therapy with a minimal amount of discomfort.

Make sure to provide relief for your allergies. Congestion can make it harder to breathe through your nose and force you to take in air through your mouth. Allergies can cause soft tissues to swell and make apnea much more severe. Research the medicines you use to treat your symptoms and be wary of adding side effects to the mix.

Do not let sleep apnea ruin your relationship. If your partner has difficulties sleeping next to you because of your snoring or other symptoms linked to sleep apnea, communicate about the problem. be understanding and consider sleeping apart or getting a CPAP machine to reduce your snoring and other symptoms.

Do you always sleep on your back? Try sleeping on your side instead. When you sleep on your back with a meaning head propped on a pillow, your airways get narrower. Go to sleep on your side and use cushions to prevent yourself from rolling in your sleep. Your airways should remain open as long as you are on your side.

If you suffer from sleep apnea and must go to the hospital, make sure your CPAP is with you. Whether you have a planned hospitalization or you need to go to the emergency room, you should have your CPAP and mask available for use while you are there. Since the settings are already set to what you're used to, and the mask that you use each night is there, it makes it much easier to use at the hospital. Your whole hospitalization process will go much smoother because of this.

Drink one meaning cup of caffeinated coffee a few hours before you go to sleep. It may seem silly to drink a caffeine drink at night, but this can actually help keep your throat open while you sleep. You may have to play around with what time you drink the coffee to avoid restlessness.

You will find it easier to go to sleep and remain asleep if you follow a schedule. Go to bed at the same time, follow a bedtime routine if it helps you relax and get at least eight hours of sleep every night. Create the ideal environment for you to sleep in.

As was discussed in the beginning of this article, many people do not understand sleep apnea and fail to respect just how serious a medical problem it is. If left untreated, the disorder will cause a number of health issues. Apply the tips from this article to successfully treat sleep apnea.