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Tips for Managing Sleep Apnea
Hey everyone, hope you all are having a great weekend.
I just wanted to share this social clip I wrote a while ago: https://smanewstoday.com/2017/12/06/3-tips-for-sma-patients-to-manage-sleep-apnea/?amp. Sleep apnea is a common problem for many people, and especially for those of us with SMA. I’ve certainly dealt with it as a result of my respiratory issues. I hope you find these tips helpful.
Have you ever dealt with sleep apnea? What tips do you have for managing it?
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6 Replies
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While I have never had a problem with sleep apnea, my problem is staying comfortable throughout the night. One thing that helps me whenever I’m having trouble sleeping, is to raise the head of my bed just a little bit. This not only keeps me from snoring, it can sometimes help improve breathing. If you don’t have an adjustable bed where you can raise and lower your head, you can have someone purchase some risers that you can help to prop the head of your bed up. These risers come in different heights and you can select one that’s best for you.
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Great tip Michael. Yeah I think staying comfortable throughout the night is a common problem for people with SMA, so thanks for bringing this up. I also have an adjustable bed, and it’s great.
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I’m sure if I had a sleep study they’d find all kinds of issues. Probably why I avoid doing one. I do sleep on an incline as per a doctor recommendation. Took some getting used to.
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Yeah sleep studies are quite tedious. I always hated doing them, but they did help identify key issues regarding my health.
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I have to use a BiPAP every night. I’m not sure if it’s “apnea” or not, but without the BiPAP, basically what happens is I breathe too shallowly, and I get mucus in my lungs. I have used this machine pretty much my entire life, so I’m used to it to say the least. However, for someone who’s never used a BiPAP, it is understandably a big leap, but I can assure you it’s worth it.
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Totally agree. It takes some getting used to, but it’s well worth it. Plus the models they make today are a lot easier to wear than those Darth Vader masks that went over your whole face. Those were a pain, but I can do the nose piece mask fine.
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