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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 as they sleep.
Inadequate sleep is linked to many other health problems, including depression, moodiness, weight gain, and others. People with sleep apnea can do something to enhance medical treatment. The following home remedies may help reduce snoring, assist breathing, and keep a person with sleep apnea from waking during sleep.
==> Do not eat or drink anything two hours before going to bed.
==> Go to the restroom before going to bed.
==> Raise the "head" end of your bed approximately four inches. Bricks, a large book, or some wooden blocks can work if they are big and sturdy enough. Make sure the bed will not fall off the supports, causing 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 aggravate sleep apnea by causing your airway to collapse, obstructing your airway, and promoting snoring. Propping yourself up with extra pillows may help keep this from occurring.
==> Sleep on your side rather than sleeping on your back. If it is difficult to stay on your side, think about placing a pillow or something behind your back, keeping you from rolling onto your back. Hugging a pillow is another way to keep you on your side.
==> Nasal strips that stick on the outside of the nose, opening the nasal passages may assist some people suffering with sleep apnea. They may feel a little uncomfortable and may look a little strange, but they do help some people.
==> If you have allergies, change your bed linens regularly, removing allergens that may aggravate nasal passages and promote snoring. Many sufferers of sleep apnea also have allergies. Vacuuming the floor, curtains and anything else that can hold dust in the room will be of assistance, too.
==> Take a decongestant or antihistamine if blocked up before going to sleep.
==> Quit smoking. Smoking irritates 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 calm inflammation resulting from allergies.
==> Lose weight. Reducing your weight can lessen or even stop your snoring.
==> Eat and live healthily.
==> Place a tennis ball in a sock and attach it to the back of your nightclothes. If you turn onto your back during sleep, it will be uncomfortable and your natural response will be to turn on your side and off your back. After a time, muscle memory may keep you on your side. This may sound strange, but it is a useful home treatment for sleep apnea.
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