Chronic snoring or gasping for breath during sleep, pauses in breathing, and feeling short of breath when you wake up in the middle of the night can really take a toll on your health and well-being. If you are undergoing sleep therapy or if you know someone who is, there are things you can do to help boost your results. Read on to find out more.
How To Improve Your Treatment Results
While you’re undergoing sleep apnea therapy, here is a reminder of certain daily activities and habits you can cultivate to improve the effects of your treatments.
8 things you can do to help with your Sleep Apnea:
- Exercise and a healthy diet: One of the conditions that worsens sleep apnea is obesity. Shedding weight and maintaining a healthy weight can contribute to better therapy results.
- Treat your allergies: Sleep apnea already makes breathing difficult. Being congested because of your out-of-control allergies just complicates things. Getting your allergies under control can give you some relief from your apnea symptoms as well.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking: Alcohol weakens the muscle tone in the back of your throat and cigarette smoke causes swelling in your upper airway. Both activities interfere with airflow, which increases breathing pauses and snoring.
- Limit caffeine and heavy meals: Caffeine alters your nervous system and keeps you awake. And heavy meals take longer for the body to digest. Make sure to avoid both within at least two hours before going to sleep to ensure entering deep, restorative sleep.
- Keep a regular sleep schedule: Aim to go to bed and wake up at the same hours every day to create a steady sleep routine and get plenty of sleep. This can help improve your sleep apnea.
If you have any questions regarding your sleep apnea treatment, we are just one phone call away, 519-900-1683. Until we see you again, have a great day.
For more information on Snoring and Sleep Apnea, please consult our website www.ortho-tmj.com.
Dr. Brock Rondeau and Team Rondeau
