Snoring can keep you -- and others -- up at night, leaving you tired the next day. While going to sleep earlier may provide more opportunity for sleep, sleep apnea can interrupt breathing patterns if left untreated. Bogan Sleep Consultants offers healthy sleep solutions to the Columbia, SC, area and can get you back to restful sleep. Dr. Richard Bogan is here for your needs.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition that interrupts airflow during sleep. One of the hallmark symptoms of sleep apnea is loud snoring, often accompanied by pauses during respiration.
Here are some things you can do to treat your sleep apnea:
- Adjust your sleeping position: If you are a back sleeper, then try sleeping on your side. Sleeping on your back increases the chance of your muscles blocking the flow of air through the nose, causing more snoring.
- Reduce your tobacco and alcohol intake: Smoking and excessive drinking tend to dry the mucous membranes, which make it harder to breathe while sleeping. Smoking also leads to reduced lung function, leading to less air inhaled overall.
- Monitor your allergies: Hay fever may make you wheeze through your sleep and cause increased mucus production. These may interfere with airflow through the nose and mouth, contributing to your condition.
- Manage your weight: Obesity affects many systems of the body, and the nose and throat are no exception. Exercise causes you to breathe deeply, and eating well helps to reduce unwanted weight. Losing excess weight can reduce pressure on the tissues of the nose, chest, and mouth, making it less difficult to breathe at night.
- Wear a mask: For more serious cases of sleep apnea, you may want to ask your doctor if continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy or wearing an oral appliance while you sleep is right for you.
Bogan Sleep Consultants can help you overcome sleep apnea and rest better at night in Columbia, SC. Call Dr. Richard Bogan at (803) 251-3093 for a consultation today.
