If you’re suffering from sleep apnea, you might have considered taking sleeping pills to help you get rest. However, this can worsen the symptoms as a result. These supplements can unintentionally disrupt your sleep, which would trigger your sleeping disorder more and potentially worsen it. Read on for more information on the effects of sleeping supplements on sleep apnea.
How Sleeping Pills Affect Sleep Apnea
Sedative hypnotics, commonly referred to as sleeping medications, are used to assist patients to fall and remain asleep. Since both insomnia and sleep apnea can coexist in one patient, this can cause a slew of problems. While sleeping pills can help with insomnia, it can worsen sleep apnea. If you currently have sleep apnea, using sleeping supplements for extra physical relaxation is the last thing you need.
Sleeping medications work by calming the mind and body, which also affects the muscles and tissue in the mouth. The soft palate and tongue muscles relax when you sleep and muscular tone is lost, causing your airway to get smaller. Using over-the-counter sleep aids, especially the ones that include the sleep-inducing chemical diphenhydramine, can worsen sleep apnea.
The Better Solution for Sleep Apnea
You should hold off on using any form of medicine until you have been evaluated and diagnosed if you believe you have sleep apnea. You should also stop using sleeping pills if you are experiencing insomnia but are unsure of the cause. The best way to address sleep apnea is CPAP therapy or using an oral device that repositions the mouth and stops soft tissue and muscles from collapsing which impedes airflow. Having enough sleep each night is essential to maintaining good health, so some lifestyle changes and some sleep apnea treatments can save you from poor-quality sleep. Doctors may advise lifestyle changes such as sleeping on your side, losing weight, and avoiding alcohol at night to assist in managing your symptoms.
Get Help for Your Sleep Apnea Today
Although taking prescription medicine is frequently the most efficient way to treat health issues, this can seriously disrupt you from having a good sleep. If you are suffering from sleep apnea, The Center for TMJ and Sleep Apnea has state-of-the-art treatments that can help. Reach out to our doctors for more information.