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Sleep Apnea Home Treatments
Snoring may be a laugh in a cartoon, but in real life, it can be a sign of devastating sleep apnea. Snoring interferes with breathing and oxygen flow, causing the sleeper to wake numerous times during sleep.
Interrupted sleep is linked to many other health problems, including depression, moodiness, weight gain, and more. Sufferers of sleep apnea can do something to enhance medical treatment. The following home remedies may assist in reducing snoring, assist breathing, and keep a sufferer of sleep apnea from waking during sleep.
==> Do not eat or drink anything two hours before sleep.
==> Go to the bathroom before going to bed.
==> Raise the "head" end of your bed about four inches. Bricks, a large book, or some wooden blocks can work if they are large and strong enough. Make sure the bed will not fall off the supports, resulting in injury. If you do not want to raise your entire bed, just raise your mattress.
==> Elevate yourself with extra pillows. Laying flat on your back can worsen sleep apnea by causing your airway to collapse, obstructing your airway, and promoting snoring. Elevating yourself with extra pillows may help keep this from occurring.
==> Sleep on your side rather than sleeping on your back. If it is difficult to remain on your side, consider putting a pillow or something behind your back, keeping you from rolling onto your back. Hugging a pillow is another option to keep you on your side.
==> Nasal strips that are stuck on the outside of the nose, opening the nasal passages may be of assistance to some people suffering with sleep apnea. They may feel a little uncomfortable and may look a little silly, but they do help some people.
==> If you have allergies, change your bed linens regularly, removing allergens that may irritate nasal passages and cause snoring. Many sufferers of sleep apnea also have allergies. Vacuuming the floor, curtains and anything else dusty in the room will help, too.
==> Take a decongestant or antihistamine if congested before going to sleep.
==> Quit smoking. Smoking causes irritation in the throat and airway.
==> Gargle with peppermint mouthwash. This old-fashioned home remedy is supposed to shrink the nose lining, opening the airway.
==> Drink nettle tea to sooth inflammation caused by allergies.
==> Lose weight. Losing weight can reduce or even cease your snoring.
==> Eat and live healthily.
==> Put a tennis ball in a sock and sew it to the back of your nightclothes. If you roll onto your back during sleep, it will be uncomfortable and your natural response will be to roll on your side and off your back. After a while, muscle memory may keep you on your side. This may sound silly, but it is an effective home treatment for sleep apnea.
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