Sleep apnea is not a condition one should take lightly. It affects your sleep, day-to-day life, and your future. Sleep apnea patients complain of a lack of energy, poor concentration, decreased productivity, slowed metabolism, and general loss of quality of life. In addition to the obvious disadvantages of lost sleep, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, and even sudden death. Diagnosis and treatment can have a huge impact on your life.
One form of treatment for sleep apnea is behavioral adjustments. Mild sleep apnea and snoring can be treated with a few small adjustments to your life. Recommended changes in behavior include: avoiding alcohol before bed, losing weight, moistening the air, not eating close to bedtime, quitting smoking, raising the head of the bed or mattress, increasing daily exercise, and sleeping on your side. It is also not a bad adjustment to go to bed at a reasonable hour. Sleep deprivation has been known to cause sleep apnea. Another good suggestion is to avoid taking sleeping pills and mood-altering drugs. A healthy lifestyle goes a long way as well. Having a healthy, well-balanced diet and exercising daily will do much more for your life and body than just helping to eliminate snoring and sleep apnea. These are all good recommendations to treat snoring and mild sleep apnea, and help you achieve a better life.
For moderate to severe sleep apnea, further measures are usually necessary. It is a good idea to explore other options such as alternative oral appliances, if you have moderate to severe symptoms of sleep apnea.
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