Monthly Archives: December 2015

Foods to avoid with CPAP

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It’s the holidays, which means lots of goodies are around the house. But, before you leap out of bed for a midnight snack, CPAP Central wants to warn you that some foods can have a bad impact on your sleep, especially if you are a CPAP or BiPAP user.

Be especially careful of what you eat right before bedtime. Eating spicy foods and rich foods can rev up your metabolism and make your body work harder. It may take your body longer to digest these foods and interfere with your comfort and sleep. Those same spicy and fried foods can also cause indigestion and trigger heartburn or acid reflux, especially when you lay down to sleep. These foods should be consumed in moderation and not in the late evening.

The amount of food you eat can also affect your sleep apnea therapy for many of the same reasons. Even if the dinner you had was not fried or spicy, quantity can hurt you too. That all-you-can-eat buffet may have seemed like a great idea at 6 o’clock, but will seem less great at 10, 11 and 12 o’clock when you can’t sleep.

Watch your liquids, especially the caffeinated and sugary ones. Drinking the recommended eight glasses of water every day is good for the body, but drink them early, stopping no later than dinner time or you’ll be making trips to the bathroom instead of sleeping. Learn your caffeine limits too. For many people, even one cup of coffee after a certain hour of the day can keep them wide awake at bedtime. Caffeine sometimes has a reverse effect on people too. It can still keep you awake, but a little drowsy in the process; your body can’t decide whether to fall asleep or stay up.

CPAP Central offers products from some of the biggest names in sleep apnea equipment. Take a look at our online catalog today!

Could Rhinitis be affecting your sleep apnea therapy?

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Have you been dealing with cold-like symptoms since starting your sleep apnea therapy? It might not be the CPAP machine’s fault—you could have a condition called Rhinitis!

Approximately 10-30 percent of adults are affected by this each year, but many people have never heard about it. It’s common as we age, but can also be hard to diagnose. As we grow older, our septal cartilage and the nasal columella can weaken and sag, leaving the airways more congested. Mucus in the sinuses also thickens and can increase congestion. If you have untreated sleep apnea or use a CPAP, these nasal issues can create even more problems.

Rhinitis is the medical term for the irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose. Symptoms include a stuffy nose or runny nose and post-nasal drip. It can also include coughing, headache, watery eyes, sneezing and nasal itching, fatigue and a general mental fog. Many people wrongly assume that they have a cold and try to treat the wrong problem.

Keep notes on when the symptoms started and how long you’ve had them. Colds only last a short period of time and Rhinitis can go on indefinitely. Talk to your doctor. They can tell you if you have a cold or if Rhinitis is to blame. They can then prescribe the right medications.

If you use a CPAP or BiPAP, keep using it and clean and replace the filter, mask and tubing frequently. Use your CPAP or BiPAP device as usual until you talk to a doctor or respiratory therapist. Your sleep apnea therapy may be even more beneficial to your health since you are congested and you will probably require more and better sleep to recover.

Let the experts at CPAP Central help you breathe healthy every day! We carry a wide range of CPAP Masks, CPAP and BiPAP Machines and CPAP Accessories.

Finding the right CPAP mask for you

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“You want me to wear what??”

Those who are new to CPAP often have this reaction when it comes to the comfort of their CPAP mask. It’s part of the adjustment period that everyone goes through. CPAP Central wants you to be comfortable while you sleep with your CPAP mask and offers some hints on what to do to get used to wearing a mask at night.

You may need to try a few different styles of masks before you settle on one that works for you. This may be a full-face mask if you’re a nose and mouth breather or a simple nose mask if a full face mask makes you feel claustrophobic. A proper fit goes a long way for comfort.

Another trick to making your mask more comfortable is to soak it in warm, soapy water to loosen up the straps and soften the edges of the mask. Also, don’t forget to wash the straps and mask to clear off any facial oils after using it. Try different strap positions and tensions to find ones that allow the mask to seal while also being comfortable for you.

If it’s purely getting used to the therapy itself that isn’t allowing you to sleep at night, try wearing your mask while you’re awake. Put your mask on and turn on your machine for 30-45 minutes in the evening as you watch television to get used to it. You can even increase the time the more used to it you get.

Your CPAP mask and therapy are supposed to help you sleep, so if it is keeping you up initially, just think about the payoff from complying with the therapy and how that will help you in the long term. If you have any questions or concerns about your equipment or how to make things more comfortable, feel free to reach out to us here at CPAP Central. Our Live Chat is available 8:30-4:30 Monday through Friday.

Central Vs. Obstructive Sleep Apnea

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Did you know that there’s more than one type of sleep apnea?

Most people who shop with us are familiar with obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. But there are less common forms of sleep apnea that are just as important. Let’s find out more about central sleep apnea, or CSA.

Central sleep apnea, or CSA, is present in only five percent of sleep apnea cases. It occurs when the brain misfires and doesn’t send the correct signals to the muscles that control your breathing. The reaction of the body is the same, with the person waking up suddenly with a gasp for air, although they may not remember it happening in the morning. It can happen many times throughout the night and even many times per hour.

Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is the most common form of sleep apnea, characterized by heavy snoring and periods of no breathing because the airway has become blocked. Most of our customers and sleep apnea patients in general have this form of the disorder.

There are certain other identified factors for CSA. People who have suffered from heart failure and stroke, and those with neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s are more at risk. Sleeping at high altitudes, especially if your body has not adjusted to the altitude (like on vacation) can raise your risk.

Is central sleep apnea preventable? Yes and no. There is no fool-proof way to prevent CSA, but managing certain factors can help reduce your risk. Like OSA, obesity raises the risk of having CSA and will make symptoms worse.

If you think you may have OSA or CSA, talk to your doctor about a sleep test. If the sleep test determines that you have either form of sleep apnea, contact the professionals at CPAP Central. We carry a wide variety of CPAP Accessories that can help you sleep and breath better.

Donating to your Community During the Holidays

Find out what you can do to help people in your community during the holiday season.

There’s a lot to love about the holiday season. While it’s great to spend time with our loved ones and receive gifts, there may not be a more rewarding experience than putting your talents to work to help the communities you call home. CPAPCentral.com wants everyone to have a great holiday season, and offers these ideas that can help people in your community during tough times this winter.

Make food and dish it out- cookies and casseroles can be great gifts this time of year. You can provide them for those who don’t have the means or are short on food, as well firefighters, police officers and other public servants.
Pack stockings for the homeless- pick out some stockings and fill them with practical items. These can range from food and drink (granola bars, bottles of water, etc.) to gloves, socks and hygiene items.
Donate old toys- kids’ toys and games can get pricey in a hurry. Purge your kids’ old toys to donate to families who are less fortunate.
Pay a visit to a local nursing home- the holidays can be hard on elderly people living in nursing homes. A short visit or gift from a stranger could brighten their day, or even make their entire week.
“Adopt” a family- there are many ways you can support families in your community, and your local food pantry would be a good place to start. Find out about families in need and support them throughout the winter, the toughest time for families in need.
Donate to the food bank- winter is a difficult, and more expensive, time for many people. Oftentimes, local food banks see fewer donations during winter months, when people actually have a greater need. You can help by donating.
Have family members make a donation in your name- replace one thing on your Christmas list with the wish that in lieu of a present, a donation is made in your name to the charity of your choice.

There’s no wrong way to make a donation to help the less fortunate. CPAPCentral.com encourages you to give anything you can to help out your local community. No matter how you choose to help, we wish you a happy holiday season.