How to Stop Sleep Apnea

Getting a good night's sleep is important for overall health. However, if you suffer from sleep apnea, sleep may be dangerous to your health. Sleep apnea is a condition where you stop breathing for 10 to 15 seconds while one slumbers. In extreme cases, this can happen up to 50 times every hour. The good news is that there are steps you can take to help stop this affliction.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Sleep on your side instead of your back. Sleeping on your back blocks airways more than sleeping on your side. Doctors have determined that blocked airways leads to sleep apnea.

2. Raise the head of the bed. Elevation also helps to keep airways unobstructed.

3. Lose weight, if you're overweight and suffer from sleep apnea. Less weight results in less strain on your body. Excess weight is a major factor in sleep apnea.

4. Use a breathing device to keep your airways from becoming blocked. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is worn while you sleep, feeding air through a mask to keep airways clear.

5. Undergo surgery to open up air passages. A common surgery is an uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, where tissue is removed from the back of the mouth and throat. It's successful in stopping sleep apnea in nearly half of those who undergo the surgery.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid drinking alcohol, particularly before bed. There is a direct correlation between sleep apnea and alcohol consumption.
• Surgery should always be a last option to stop sleep apnea, and you should utilize it only for extreme cases.
• Surgery of any kind is never without risk. Always talk to your doctor about all risks before undergoing any surgical procedure.

Resources

• Find out more about sleep apnea here.

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