Living & Coping with Sleep Apnoea

As sleep apnoea (also spelled 'sleep apnea') is more of a physical, than mental or environmentally caused disorder, it is more difficult to find simple suggestions to help cope with the condition. Changing your bedtime routine will unfortunately not do a lot for your disorder as it will not unblock your nasal airways

If you find that you are gaining weight, do try to eat more healthily and exercise, even though you are feeling fatigued. It is also important that you avoid caffeinated drinks, chocolate, junk and snack food as this will not help your breathing at night, it will only add to the increased risk of blocked airways during your sleep. Avoid alcohol as it can reduce activity in your airways and dilates muscles that may be blocking your airways. Avoid sleeping pills as they will also reduce activity in the airways. You nay be advised to stop smoking to reduce discharge built up in the lungs. These may all be helpful tips to reduce risk of snoring/paused breathing during the night.


It is important that you receive the right diagnosis for sleep apnoea, and do not just put it down to obesity, depression and so forth. If you do sufferer from disturbed sleep, be it something you noticed or something your partner notices, then you must begin to pay attention to your sleeping pattern. Try to analyse your sleep, and possibly keep a sleep diary to aid you in noting down these sleep patterns. If you feel concerned about your possible sleeping disorder and suspect that it is sleep apnoea, do not hesitate to contact your doctor.

Do not suffer in silence; if you are suffering from fatigue both mentally and physically during the day then get the ball rolling to recovery. There are treatments available (read Treatments for Sleep Apnoea & Surgery for Sleep Apnoea.) Equally, if you feel you are at risk from sleep apnoea and often feel like you do not sleep efficiently, do not presume it is just to do with your other health problems, e.g. overweight or hay-fever. Parents, if it is your child that is fatigued and tired and more importantly if you have noticed them snoring, try to monitor their sleeping patterns and consult a doctor.

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