How to deal with sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that can be very serious. Those that have it do not get enough air in their lungs during sleep, resulting in snoring, choking and disrupted sleep. There are certain things you can do to deal with sleep apnea.

• Just because you snore does not mean that you have sleep apnea.
• If you have sleep apnea you are not sleeping well at night and not getting enough oxygen to your brain.
• Sleep apnea can lead to people falling asleep during the day. It causes an inordinate number of car accidents.
• Sleep apnea can lead to heart attack and stroke.

Causes

• Pinpointing what is causing your sleep apnea is the first step to preventing it.
• Some causes of sleep apnea are sinus problems, allergies, acid reflux disease and being overweight.
• Other causes can include the length and position of your neck, your tongue position, the uvula closing off your airway or a blockage in your nose.

Treatment

• Sleep studies can help determine the severity of your sleep apnea.
• Addressing the conditions that may be contributing to sleep apnea, such as sinus problems, allergies, acid reflux and being overweight, is a good start.
• CPAP can be very beneficial for people with sleep apnea.
• CPAP is a mask that you wear over your face when you sleep that blows air to relieve the obstruction. It blows oxygen directly into your lungs and keeps you oxygenated.