Sleep apnea is a type of condition in which the patient may stop breathing for brief durations during their sleep. People with sleep apnea are not able to inhale enough oxygen, which results in them waking up and gasping for air. This results in an obstruction in their sleep. In most cases, the affected people are not even aware that they cannot breathe. They are under the impression that their sleep cycle is quite normal. To others, sleep apnea may even sound similar to snoring.

Apart from leaving you tired in the morning, it can even cause mental health problems, while leading to poor immunity. It may also result in memory loss. This also increases the risk of heart failure. Hence, sleep apnea needs to be treated on time. The conventional treatments comprise of taking medicines and taking help of breathing devices. However, the good news is that certain lifestyle changes and some alternative treatments can drastically help in the betterment of sleep apnea for you:

• Maintain the normal weight One of the biggest advice given by doctors to patients with sleep apnea is to lose weight. People who are obese, especially those who have a lot of fat on the upper body may be at a higher risk of having their airways obstructed along with nasal passages, which were narrow. These obstructions can add to the increasing effects of sleep apnea. In some cases, with weight reduction, you will also get rid of sleep apnea.
• Try out yoga Yoga is gaining a lot of popularity in recent times. Regular exercise is quite helpful. It not only increases the energy level but also helps in strengthening the heart along with improving your sleep apnea. There are plenty of exercises in yoga, which help in enhancing the oxygen flow while strengthening the respiratory system of the affected person. The increased oxygen flow will really help in alleviating sleep apnea and reduce the obstructions that you face while sleeping.
• Reconsider your sleep position This solution may initially cause certain discomfort, especially if you are habituated to sleeping only in a certain position. However, it is good to try out multiple positions. There is a chance, that the position you are sleeping in is causing an obstruction in the airway. A study conducted in the year 2006 indicated that most cases of sleep apnea may be a result of the sleep position of the patient. Hence, consult a medical advisor and find out about the best position to sleep.
• Try using a humidifier for better breathing Humidifiers add moisture in the air, which makes it more conducive to breathe. When the air is too dry, it may make it difficult for the respiratory system to breathe properly. Hence, using a humidifier may help in clearing the obstructions in the airways, which may be the direct cause of your sleep apnea.

Additionally, avoid smoking and intoxicating yourself as it may result in obstructed sleep patterns causing your sleep apnea to aggravate.