At the end of the day, sleep apnea is an inherently “bad” condition. Anyone with a case of it will suffer some harm to their health. Even so, some parts of your life really can make sleep apnea worse. You should thus monitor your habits and actions, if only to ease your symptoms. As proof of these claims, here’s a primer on four factors that can worsen a case of sleep apnea.
Weight Gain or Obesity
If you put on too much weight, you’ll do more than hurt your heart. You’ll also end up worsening any sleep apnea symptoms you have.
It comes down to the “extra” mass on your body. As fat deposits around your neck build up, they can eventually block your upper airway when you rest. This blockage – combined with additional pressure on your abdomen – can make it hard to breathe at night, causing severe snoring and the like. That means you’ll want to watch your weight if you plan to manage your sleep apnea.
Alcohol Use
Of course, it isn’t just body mass that aggravates sleep apnea. Your use of alcohol (if any) can also make the condition worse than usual.
Alcohol is (among other things) a type of muscle relaxant, especially in moderate amounts. Drinking a lot of it can cause your airway to loosen too much, so much so that obstructions form. That being the case, people with sleep apnea should try to avoid alcohol use altogether. The other option is to at least not drink anything within a few hours of your bedtime.
The Aging Process
If you associate sleep apnea with old age, you’re picking up on a solid fact. Namely, growing older can often make it harder to snooze at night.
You see, your body loses muscle tone as you age. That loss applies just as much to your airway as to your arms, legs, and other bodily regions. Due to this fact, growing older can cause sleep apnea in some people despite their best efforts. Such individuals must often compensate by practicing healthier lifestyle habits.
Your Sleep Position
Last but not least, a poor sleep position is also known to worsen sleep apnea. That means how you adjust your body to snooze can leave a lasting impact.
The issue is once again related to your breathing. If you ever sleep on your back, you’re likely to shift your head in ways that block your airway and cause inferior nighttime rest. It’s actually better to snooze on your side, as doing so leaves your airway clear and unobstructed.
Clearly, the actions you take can potentially make sleep apnea worse. Keep that in mind as you pursue treatment and better rest!
About the Practice
Hooks Family Dentistry is based in Altavista, VA. Led by Dr. Gwen Hooks, our practice strives to make your dental care warm, caring, and customized. We thus offer a wide range of smile-related services, including oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea cases. No matter your grin’s problems, our team has what it takes to help you! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (434)-324-8241.