How on Earth Can a Didgeridoo Help Sleep Apnea?

Still unsure about whether the didgeridoo is the right treatment for you? Here are some other alternative treatments patients can use to improve their symptoms with sleep apnea. Remember, before trying any alternative method to reduce symptoms, be sure to consult your physician to see which is right for you.

• Lose weight: Those who are overweight have extra tissue in the back of their throats. This extra tissue can fall over the airway and block the flow of air into the lungs. So, even a loss of 10 lbs. can help open up your throat and have a slightly larger airway to help breathing.
• Stop smoking: Smoking increases inflammation and fluid retention in your throat and upper airway, which blocks off the air into your lungs.
• Before bedtime, avoid alcohol, sedatives, and sleeping pills: These items relax the muscles in the throat and interfere with breathing.
• Exercise regularly: Regular exercise can have a significant effect on the quality of your sleep. Aerobic and resistance training reduces sleep apnea symptoms. Also, try yoga, as it is good for strengthening the muscles in your airways.
• Don’t drink caffeine and eat heavy meals within two hours of bedtime.
• Stick to a steady sleep schedule: A schedule will help you relax.
• Sleep on your side: Sleeping on your back makes it more likely for your tongue and soft tissues to obstruct your airway.
• Open your nasal passages by using a nasal dilator, saline spray, neti pot, or breathing strips.
• Tighten the muscle that keeps the mouth closed: Chew gum or hold a pen between your teeth for 10 minutes before going to sleep.
• Prop your head up: Elevate the head of your bed by about six inches. You can also elevate your body from the waist up by using a foam wedge.
• The tennis ball trick will help you from slipping onto your back while you sleep. Place a tennis ball into the pocket on the back of your pajamas. You can also wedge a pillow stuffed with tennis balls behind your back.