After being diagnosed with sleep apnea, you may be wondering what you can do to resolve the issue independently. While changes to your lifestyle may not be a complete solution to your issues with sleep apnea, there are several things you can do to help reduce the severity of your sleep apnea symptoms and make your breathing easier.
How Can You Naturally Relieve Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is caused by the collapse of the airway as you breathe while you sleep. There can be many causes for sleep apnea, and related risk factors that you may not be able to control. However, there are things you can do to help yourself stop suffering and get a better, more restful sleep each night.
Reliving the symptoms of sleep apnea can help lead to a better quality of life. With more rest and fewer interruptions to your sleep cycle, you are likely to be in a better mood and better health. Some of the main ways you may be able to naturally relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea might include:
- Lead a more active lifestyle that incorporates more physical exercise. Regular exercise can help relieve the pressure that contributes to issues with the airway. Even a small amount of regular exercise can help increase the strength of the airways. This increase in activity can also help lead to weight loss over time. Losing weight can cause sleep apnea to resolve itself without treatment.
- Reduce your alcohol consumption and smoking. Drinking alcohol can cause the muscles in the back of your throat to relax, which can cause issues with breathing as you sleep. Smoking can also irritate the airway, leading to increased sleep apnea symptoms. You may also want to avoid muscle relaxants and certain medications that also cause the back of the throat to loosen.
- Change your sleep position. If you sleep on your back, sleep apnea symptoms can get worse. When you lie on your back, your tongue and soft palate rest against the back of your throat, increasing the likelihood of an airway obstruction while you sleep. Turning onto your side can help solve this issue and reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea.
- Improve the air quality in your home. The presence of dust, dirt and other allergens can cause irritations in your breathing and respiratory systems, which makes the likelihood of breathing problems higher. To improve the air quality you breathe every day, try using a better filter in your HVAC system, using an air purifier and cleaning more often to reduce the amount of dust you breathe in.
What Other Ways Exist to Reduce the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
In addition to these natural ways to decrease the effects of sleep apnea, the best way to get relief is to use a CPAP machine each night when you sleep. Regular use of a CPAP machine as you sleep helps to keep the airway open and decreases the chance of issues occurring. The pressure offered by a CPAP machine stops the airway from closing during the night, helping you get a more restful sleep. A CPAP can also relieve the issue of you snoring, which can be disruptive to your loved ones.
Perform Regular Maintenance to Keep Your CPAP Working
Once you begin using a CPAP machine on a regular basis, it’s important to clean the machine regularly. As you use the machine night after night, a buildup of dirt and moisture can start to form inside the mask, tubing or machine itself. The humidity that the machine uses can be enough to encourage mold growth that can be hard to reach and clean out. Using a CPAP cleaning machine is the most effective way to ensure that you keep the machine free of germs and bacteria. This will keep the machine working properly and make your breathing easier as you sleep.
If you lead a busy lifestyle and are looking for a CPAP cleaning machine that makes the process of cleaning as easy and effective as possible, VirtuCLEAN is the solution you have been looking for. With this easy to use the system, there is no scrubbing or effort required. The VirtuCLEAN system works to clean your CPAP machine, including the mask and tubing, at the simple push of a button. Without using any soap or cleaning solution, VirtuCLEAN eliminates 99 percent of the germs that may collect within the CPAP machine. To find out more about the VirtuCLEAN CPAP cleaner and sanitizer and get your own, contact us today.