You may have taken a vow at the start of this new year to exercise more and get in better shape. CPAPCentral.com applauds any step you take towards better health, and would like to suggest a few exercises to add to your new daily routine. These exercises are for your throat muscles and may help alleviate sleep apnea symptoms.
As you may know, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are a result of weak muscles in the soft palate and upper throat, where the pharyngeal muscles are. If you’re diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, it can cause you to stop breathing during sleep and severely diminish sleep quality.
What are some ways you can help with your sleep apnea? Take a look at these two options to consider helping with your sleep apnea treatment.
Singing
Yup, belting out a tune can be helpful, according to a clinical trial performed by Exeter University, United Kingdom. Try singing in the shower or on your way to work. It will help strengthen your throat muscles. Serious singers improved their tone and strengthened their muscles by practicing certain vocal exercises.
Focused exercises
Other exercises can strengthen certain focused areas of your throat, such as:
- Exercising your tongue – Your tongue is still a muscle and even though it cannot build muscle, exercising it can help reduce your snoring at night. Press your tongue against the roof of your mouth and hold it for five seconds. Repeat 10 times.
- Throw a birthday party – Help blow up balloons at your next birthday party.
- Open up – Simply open your mouth and say “Ahhhhh” like you’re at the doctor’s office. Try holding for as long as possible.
- Smile wide – Stretch out the 40 muscles in your face by working out your cheeks.
Try these tips sometime when you’re awake. When you’re ready to sleep, Make sure you’re using the best sleep apnea therapy products from CPAPCentral.com. For all of your CPAP accessories and machines, please contact us today!