A diagnosis for sleep apnea is alarming, but stay calm. Even though there are serious consequences to your health from sleep apnea, you can treat the situation and lead a full life. You just have to concentrate on your treatment options and education, and this article focuses on just that.

Losing some harmful vices to fight off sleep apnea. Few things are worse for sleep apnea than drinking and smoking. Your respiratory system will not be happy with you if you drink all the time. Cigarette smoke is full of cancer-causing chemicals which are bad for your lungs. Dropping these habits can help ease your symptoms.

Use a fitted sleep apnea mouth guard. Guards such as these were designed for someone who suffers with sleep apnea. These mouth guards are more comfortable than a CPAP. You will find that this mouth guard stabilizes the soft tissues and allows the airways to be more open.

Eating healthier foods can help you deal with sleep apnea. It’s surprising how much an unhealthy diet can affect sleep apnea. People who eat unhealthily tend to have sleep apnea more often than those who eat healthier.

Sleep while on your side. A lot of people that suffer from sleep apnea lay down in bed at night on their backs. If you sleep on your back, you can cause your throat and mouth tissues to block the airways. It’s easier to breathe when looking to the side. Use pillows to force yourself to sleep sideways if you have a problem with rolling over once you are asleep.

Sleep apnea is diagnosed through a medical exam and consideration of your and your family’s medical history. Your PCP may ask for a sleep study to be done by a sleep specialist.

If you do not have a partner to let you know how you sleep at night, it can be difficult to assess if you have sleep apnea. One way to see is to set up a video camera to record yourself as you sleep. The video needs audio too so that the doctors can hear the noises you make.

If you have sleep apnea, never take sleeping pills. Sleeping pills can make your throat relax which prevents your airways from functioning properly. If your sleep apnea is bad, these pills are even more dangerous. They may be tempting to use but you’ll be better off staying away from sleeping pills.

If you are using a CPAP, always have a medical ID on you. Upon need for help and medical attention, your condition must be known. Your ID should clearly state all information relevant to your sleep apnea, including what pressure level setting you use for your CPAP.

If you have sleep apnea, consider dropping some weight. Getting rid of those extra pounds can help you with your sleep apnea. You can have relief from sleep apnea symptoms by losing as little as 10 pounds.

If left unchecked, sleep apnea can wreak havoc on your health. Thankfully, many helpful treatments exist. Share this article with your physician and discuss the ways in which this information and other helpful information may change your life.