How Sleep Apnea Really Affects Your Life

I am sure most of us have a family member who has woken us up in the dead of night by their loud snoring. If you think you don’t have a family member that snores loudly, chances are that you are that family member. All jokes aside, snoring can be a sign of a possibly dangerous condition. Snoring or pausing and gasping for breath while an individual sleeps are symptoms of a condition known as Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea is a very serious condition that can sometimes even be life-threatening.

It sounds scary, but the fact is that I have personally known a person who was suffering from Sleep Apnea in Idaho Falls and had gone through a series of incidents before he was formally diagnosed with the condition. My friend, John, was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea in Idaho Falls when he found himself bewildered by his sudden sleep. One moment he would feel refreshed and filled with energy, and the very next, he would be told that he was found sleeping. In the beginning, he did not believe what people were saying and sometimes was not even aware that he was asleep after he had been in a deep sleep. He became more worried after one major incident occurred due to sleep apnea.

John used to drive to work every day; he took the same route to and from work every single day; therefore, he was very accustomed to driving on this way to work and back home. He was a guy full of energy and often enjoyed music while he was driving. On this day, John fell asleep at the wheel. He was only asleep for a matter of seconds, but in that time, he had traveled to the other lane and was driving towards oncoming traffic. His only saving grace was the cars honking all around him, waking him up from his sudden sleep. When he realized what had happened, he knew that he needed help. He wasn’t even aware that he had fallen asleep and hadn’t even felt that sleepy on his drive to work. He was fortunate that he didn’t hurt himself or someone else that day. He decided to get ahold of a specialist in Sleep Apnea in Idaho Falls to understand what was happening to him and how to make sure that it didn’t happen again.

Before he had time to see the doctor, he had another incident caused by Sleep Apnea. John had made a trip to go to his Aunt and Uncle’s large farm. This time was different. While the time before John hadn’t even realized he had fallen asleep, this time, he felt like he fell into a deep sleep and almost ran into the side of his Aunt and Uncle’s brick home. After this incident, John visited the doctor and was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea in Idaho Falls, where he was given effective treatment.

If you or your partner are having issues like sleep deprivation, irregular sleeping problems, trouble breathing at night, or snoring, you may have Sleep Apnea. Since the body is not able to relax at night, many issues can arise. One problem that can occur without proper rest is falling asleep in the middle of the day without any warning.

Lifestyle Changes to Alleviate Sleep Apnea

After the self-assessment, the doctor would be able to tell you whether or not you have a mild case of Sleep Apnea Idaho Falls or if you need more testing done to see what is the best way to treat Sleep Apnea Idaho Falls. If you are a mild sufferer, then even minor lifestyle changes can make a vast amount of difference. Few of the lifestyle changes which are recommended and are highly useful are as follows:

Weight Loss – if you are overweight or obese, losing weight is one of the best things you can do for yourself. The risk of sleep apnea decreases when you lose weight. In the meantime, you may want to use a breathing machine until the weight falls off.

Limit caffeine – Limit your intake of tea and coffee; these should only be taken in moderation.

Limit alcohol consumption -Alcohol should be consumed in moderation.

Changing your sleeping position – Sleeping on your back can cause the throat muscles to collapse, which increases pauses in breathing and snoring. By switching to sleeping on your side, you decrease the chance of the air passages closing up.

Ease your nasal passage – There are many antihistamines and nasal sprays that are available over the counter. These help in resolving congestion, thus helping in trouble-free breathing.

If your symptoms are more on the severe side of Sleep Apnea, then doctors would treat you with a variety of therapies for treating Sleep Apnea Idaho Falls. Some of the treatments below are some of the treatments and medications which are prescribed.

Sleep Apnea Treatment in Idaho Falls

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). CPAP is a machine that distributes air pressure via a mask. This mask is placed on your nose while you are asleep; this helps in clearing the airway and makes it easier to breathe.

Other airway pressure devices. If CPAP doesn’t work, then AUTO CPAP is good for patients. It has an automatic pressure device which adjusts as per the exhalation and inhalation.

Oral appliances. If CPAP is problematic to use, then the best device is the oral appliance that helps in keeping your mouth open.

Is Surgery Necessary for Sleep Apnea?

Surgery opens up the airway by enlarging the throat and nose so that more space for breathing is created. Before the operation, the patient remains under monitoring for at least 3 months. Contact our skilled specialists at Comfort Sleep Solutions to set up a consultation in Idaho Falls.