Sleep Tips

Taking good care of yourself and your sleep is very important in the total picture of treatment for sleep apnea. Here are some tips.

• Lose excess weight.  A small loss of excess weight may help decrease the obstruction in your throat.
• Sleep on your side.  Sleeping on your back can cause your tongue and soft palate to rest against the back of your throat, thereby obstructing your airway.
• Avoid alcohol, sleeping pills and tranquilizers.  These substances will relax the muscles in the back of your throat, increasing chance of obstruction.
• Keep your nasal passages open at night.  You may use a saline nasal spray to help keep your nasal passages open, try two sprays in each nostril before going to bed and in the morning.  Call your sleep physician about using nasal decongestants or antihistamines, these medications are for short term use.