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Monthly Archives: April 2015

Reduce Your Risk for Sleep Apnea

There are several ways to reduce your chances of dealing with sleep apnea that also improve your overall health.

For millions of Americans, sleep apnea causes difficulties every night that limit their ability to get a proper amount of sleep. While many factors contribute to an individual’s likelihood of developing sleep apnea, there are some things you can do to limit your chances of dealing with the disorder.

There are several small, simple changes you can make in your everyday life that will not only reduce your risk for developing sleep apnea, but can also help you feel better and live healthier. CPAPCentral.com is here to offer tips that will improve your overall health while reducing your risk for sleep apnea.

Don’t Use Drugs

This may seem obvious, but using drugs has a serious impact on your sleep. But this goes beyond the drugs you might think of. You also need to think about how drinking alcohol and taking sleeping pills affect your sleep. While these may help you fall asleep or unwind from a long day, they also lead to your throat muscles becoming relaxed. This makes you a prime candidate for developing obstructive sleep apnea.

Make Better Health Decisions

By doing simple things like cutting back or quitting smoking and making the decision to eat healthier can help reduce your risk for developing sleep apnea. Smoking causes inflammation in your throat, making it more likely for your airway to collapse during sleep. Quitting smoking lowers your chances of developing inflammation. And by eating healthier and exercising regularly, you’re less likely to become obese, a leading risk factor for sleep apnea.

Develop a Regular Sleep Schedule

Let your circadian rhythms do what they’re supposed to do, help you sleep better. When you set a regular sleep schedule that involves going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, your body automatically adjusts to your schedule. A regular sleep schedule keeps you calm and improves your sleep.

At CPAPCentral.com, we believe in helping you sleep better. If you do have sleep apnea, we have the CPAP machines, masks, humidifiers, and comfort accessories to make sure you can sleep comfortably so you wake up refreshed.

Reducing Stress to Help you Sleep

Finding healthy ways to deal with your stress can not only help you relax, but also improve your sleep.

We all deal with forms of stress every day. Whether it’s at work, at home, or somewhere else in your life, stress has a big impact on your sleeping pattern. When you can’t sleep and you’re stressed, it becomes a catch 22. You need sleep to help yourself feel less stressed, but because you’re stressed, you can’t sleep.

Stress is one of the factors that makes the symptoms of sleep apnea worse. CPAPCentral.com wants to help you find ways to manage your stress during April, which happens to be Stress Management Month. Using these techniques, you can reduce stress and help yourself to a better night’s sleep.

Identify The Source of Your Stress

We’ve all had the feeling at one time or another; you have so much to do that you start to feel overwhelmed, which leads to you not getting anything done. If you’ve had this feeling, you know what it feels like to be stressed. Try making a list of all your stress triggers. Some stress triggers may be obvious, such as health or financial concerns, but routine commitments such as commuting or arranging childcare can contribute to your stress level. Even positive life events, such as planning a wedding or starting a new job can be stressful. Once you have identified the sources of your stress, you can find proactive ways to deal with them one at a time.

Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help

Because we all deal with stress, everyone can relate to being stressed out. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and support. Another perspective may help you to manage your many demands. Friends and family members may be able to lend you a hand or give you suggestions of stress relief techniques that work for them. Help manage your stress by spending time with your friends and family in a relaxing setting. You’d be amazed how taking a night off from the daily grind can help you refocus, providing relief and clarity to help you deal with your stress.

Eat Healthy and Exercise Regularly

Exercise is a great way to reduce your stress level. Not only does it take your mind off stressful situations, it increases your production of endorphins, making you feel better overall. Exercise also can increase your self confidence and reduce levels of depression and anxiety. Regular exercise improves sleep patterns as well. When you are well rested, you are better prepared to manage stress. Coupling exercise with a healthy diet, one that’s high in fruit and vegetables and low on caffeine, alcohol, and sugar, can help give you the boost that you need to tackle your stress.

Using these tips, you can help get your stress under control and get more rest every night. To help you out even further, CPAPCentral.com is here to provide you with the leading CPAP machines, masks, and comfort accessories to help you sleep.

Traveling with Your CPAP Machine

There are several things you need to consider when traveling with your CPAP machine.

Spring Break season may be over, but travel season has just begun. Your next trip could be a vacation with your family, a weekend getaway for yourself, or a business trip. No matter your reason for traveling, CPAPCentral.com wants to make sure you’re prepared.

If you have sleep apnea, you will likely be traveling with your CPAP machine. This means going through some extra steps, especially for air travel. We don’t want you to be held up or miss your flight because your CPAP machine is being checked by security screeners. With that in mind, CPAPCentral.com brings you these tips for flying with your CPAP machine.

Be Prepared: Get to the Airport Early

Because of your CPAP machine, it’s going to take you longer to get through security than many other air travelers. Your machine goes through not only a visual inspection by airport security, but will also be x-rayed. If you want to make sure to keep your CPAP machine clean, you can place it in a clear plastic bag when it is being x-rayed. You can also request that the security screener wear gloves during the inspection. While it is not required, it can be helpful to have a note of medical necessity from your doctor, as well as your CPAP prescription on hand, for easier passage through security. To ensure that you’re not late for your flight, arrive at the airport at least two hours early. It’s also wise to call the airline you’re flying with in the days leading up the flight to let them know you will be flying with your CPAP machine.

Carry Your CPAP in Your Carry-on

There are several small, lightweight CPAP machines that are manufactured specifically for travel. These machines are small enough to store in your carry-on luggage, guaranteeing you always know where your machine is. This eliminates the worry of your machine disappearing if your other luggage is lost or misplaced. If your CPAP machine is in a checked bag that gets lost, contact the airline directly.

Using Your CPAP Machine During The Flight

We’ve all been on those long flights. Whether it’s a cross-country flight, an international flight, or you’re catching the red eye, there are times when you need to sleep on a plane. Because it is medical equipment, you are permitted to use your CPAP machine during the flight, but you’ll need a special adapter to connect with the plane’s outlets. You may also need to be seated in business or first class, in order to have access to these outlets. Check with you airline to be sure. You can also use battery-operated travel CPAP machines like the Z1™ Unplugged Travel CPAP System.

CPAPCentral.com wants you to be prepared for flying with your CPAP machine. We carry several models of travel CPAP machines, along with masks and other accessories to make sure you’re comfortable in the air.

Recycling & Donating Your CPAP Equipment

Recycling your gently-used CPAP equipment can help other people who have sleep apnea get the equipment they need.

If you’re planning on doing some spring cleaning, it may be a good time to evaluate your needs for your CPAP therapy. If you are in need of new equipment, CPAPCentral.com is here to help you fill all your needs, but you still have to think about what you want to do with your old equipment. Luckily, there are several ways you can help others continue their own CPAP therapy with your gently-used CPAP supplies.

Donate Your CPAP Equipment to the Reggie White Sleep Disorders Research & Education Foundation

Named after former NFL champion and Pro Bowler Reggie White, the Reggie White Sleep Disorders Research & Education provides equipment to those in need of CPAP equipment. White passed away in 2004 due to heart complications caused by sleep apnea. After his death, his wife started the foundation in his name to help other CPAP users. Donated machines cannot be more than 5 years old, and masks and tubing can’t be outside of their original packaging.

Donate Your CPAP Equipment to the American Sleep Apnea Association

For more than 20 years, the American Sleep Apnea Association has been providing used CPAP equipment and supplies to people in need. If you’re donating a machine, it can’t be older than 8 years old, it must have less than 10,000 hours of use, and must be from brands like ResMed, Phillips Respironics, Fisher & Paykel or Puritan Benet.

Send Used CPAP Equipment to Secondwind CPAP

Our final organization, Secondwind CPAP, is based in Minnesota. This organization accepts your equipment, and in some cases will pay you for your donated supplies. Secondwind CPAP then shares your donated supplies with the American Sleep Apnea Association or the Kihogora Initiative.

If your old equipment meets the requirements to be donated to one of these organizations, CPAPCentral.com encourages you to think about making a donation. We are here for when you need new CPAP machines, CPAP masks, and other CPAP accessories.