| You could be suffering from sleep apnea and | | | | (rapid weight gain can be an associated |
| not even know it - since it happens only when | | | | symptom of sleep apnea), sleeping in a |
| you're sleep. And if you live alone, it is | | | | different position such as one side and not |
| even harder to detect.. | | | | on your back. |
| | | | |
| The symptoms of sleep apnea | | | | What to do about sleep apnea |
| | | | |
| While there may be no visible symptoms of | | | | Here are five other natural treatments you |
| sleep apnea, feeling tired an worn out all | | | | might try for your sleep apnea: |
| day and falling asleep during the day are | | | | |
| good indicators. This is because sleep apnea | | | | 1. Minimize your use of alcohol, |
| iliterally robs you of sleep as it can cause | | | | antihistamines, or tranquilizers. |
| you to stop breathing -- as many as 50 or a | | | | |
| 100 times during the night. And these | | | | 2. Develop regular sleep habits, and |
| interruptions take their toll. | | | | especially make sure you get enough sleep at |
| | | | night. |
| Diagnosing sleep apnea | | | | |
| | | | 3. Gargle with salt water to shrink your |
| If you do feel tired and fatigued all day, | | | | tonsils |
| you absolutely should see a doctor. He or she | | | | |
| will do a physical exam and take a medical | | | | 4. Don't smoke or expose yourself to other |
| history. This history typically ncludes | | | | irritants (such as dust or perfumes). |
| asking you and your family questions about | | | | |
| how you sleep and how you function during the | | | | 5. Try eliminating mucus-producing foods |
| day. You doctor will most likely check your | | | | (such as dairy and bananas) for two weeks. |
| mouth, nose, and throat for extra or large | | | | Then begin eating themn again and see if you |
| tissues. such as your tonsils, uvula, and | | | | notice any differences. |
| soft palate. | | | | |
| | | | Two other semi-natural treatments |
| Your doctor may also order a sleep test. This | | | | |
| test is often done in a sleep center or sleep | | | | What are the treatments if you have moderate |
| laboratory, which may be part of a hospital. | | | | or severe sleep apnea? |
| You will probably stay overnight., although | | | | |
| sleep studies can sometimes done in the home. | | | | There are two treatments available that do |
| The most common sleep recording used to find | | | | not require surgery. |
| out if you have sleep apnea is called a | | | | |
| polysomnogram or PSG. | | | | First, doctors often prescribe a Continuous |
| | | | Positive Airway Pressure (C-PAP) machine. |
| If you suffer from sleep apnea, would you | | | | This machine literally blows air into your |
| consider it to be a mild case? In other | | | | nose via a tube and mask, the aim being to |
| words, do you stop breathing for just a few | | | | keep the airway open by maintaining a |
| seconds at a time - for a few times during | | | | constant level of air pressure. |
| the night? | | | | |
| | | | Second, for really severe sleep apnea there |
| In this case, your doctor will most likly | | | | is another machine called the Bi Level |
| recommend behavioral changes, rather than any | | | | machine(Bi-PAP). This sleep apnea machine |
| serious medicine or surgery. | | | | does the same job but with two different |
| | | | pressures of air that help the body breath in |
| These changes typically include losing weight | | | | and out properly. |