Category Archives: Sleep Apnea Risks

Maintaining a Healthy Weight

Week 2

Did you make a commitment to lose weight at the start of this year? You’re not alone. It’s one of the top resolutions made every New Year, according to a Nielsen study. While CPAPCentral.com encourages you to take an active role in your health, we would like to talk today about what a healthy weight looks like.

As you already know, being overweight can have a negative impact on your sleep apnea and increase the importance of your CPAP machine and equipment. While being overweight is not recommended, having a healthy weight where you are neither over nor underweight is very important too. Remember, just because a person may be skinny is no indication of health.

Start your commitment to losing weight by just changing your habits for one week. That’s it. One week. Focus on healthier meals in that time. Start with a healthier breakfast and a healthier evening meal. See how you feel after seven days.

Learn about portion size and serving size. Most of the meals we eat, especially meals out, are way above the recommended serving size. You may be shocked to see the right portions on your plate.

Go online and search for obesity-related health problems. Besides sleep apnea, being overweight can impact the heart, joints, brain and increase your risk for developing diabetes.

Do something healthy just for today. Don’t sabotage your plans by setting huge goals or resolutions that you won’t keep, just go for a walk today. Worry about tomorrow when it gets here and then make a plan for that day. One day at a time is the key.

CPAPCentral.com is here for you in your quest to reach a healthy weight, and reminds you of the role your weight can play not just in your sleep apnea, but in your overall health. We have the equipment and supplies that can help you manage your sleep apnea symptoms.

Surgery and Sleep Apnea

Be sure to tell you doctor if you have sleep apnea before any surgical procedure involving general anesthesia.

There are millions of people out there that live with a form of sleep apnea. With proper diagnosis and treatment, most commonly with CPAP equipment, those individuals can find relief and manage the symptoms of sleep apnea quite effectively.

However, at some point in our life, most of us will go through a form of surgery that will require us to go under general anesthesia. For the millions of people with sleep apnea, there are potential risks beyond the scope of the surgery. CPAPCentral.com wants to make sure you’re prepared for your surgery and that your sleep apnea doesn’t lead to unnecessary complications.

Tell Your Doctor About Any Sleeping Issues

Your doctor has your best interest at heart, so it’s essential that they have as much information about your health as they possibly can. If you believe you may be experiencing sleep apnea, even if you haven’t been diagnosed, you need to inform your doctor of any symptoms you are experiencing. If you’re regularly tired during the day, wake up suddenly at night feeling short of breath, or snore regularly, you could have sleep apnea, and your doctor needs to know about it.

Pre-Operation and Operation Procedures

Your anesthesiologist will help make sure your surgery goes smoothly. You will be given a pre-operation assessment and examination. During the surgery, your anesthesiologist will monitor your airway to ensure you’re breathing properly and that the sedatives are not affecting the muscles of your airway.

Post-Operation Procedures

Patients with sleep apnea need special monitoring after surgery because the effects of the sedatives can have an impact on your airway for several hours after the last dosage is administered. In many cases, you may be intubated, where a tube is submitted into your airway until you are completely awake following surgery. Because of this, patients with sleep apnea often aren’t a good candidate for same-day, or outpatient, surgeries.

Once you are back at home, try to get back into a normal sleeping routine. For those with sleep apnea, that means using your CPAP machine, mask and other supplies. If you need more CPAP equipment, contact CPAPCentral.com to replenish your supplies.

Summer Allergies and Sleep Apnea

Summer allergies can lead to a number of symptoms, including making sleep apnea worse.

Summer means a lot of different things for everyone. From sunny days, later nights, grilling or camping out, and so much more, there is a lot to love about summer. One of the drawbacks to summer however, is the increase in allergens, which leads to summer allergies. With ragweed and pollen in the air, summer allergies can reduce your ability to breathe effectively.

If you have sleep apnea, it’s important to know how you are affected by summer allergies so that you’re ready to make adjustments to your CPAP therapy. CPAPCentral.com offers you these tips to help you understand how summer allergies impact you and how you can continue your therapy effectively.

Impact on Symptoms

Obstructive sleep apnea has been linked to allergies, and studies have shown symptoms like snoring and difficulty breathing while sleeping are made worse by summer allergies. Additionally, these allergies can cause runny noses, watery eyes, and sore throats, making you feel uncomfortable and making it difficult for you to sleep. This leads to an increased feeling of daytime drowsiness and fatigue. Summer allergy symptoms combined with a potential worsening of your sleep apnea can take a serious toll on your health.

How to Help Yourself

Many symptoms related to summer allergies can be treated with over-the-counter medications. These alleviate symptoms and can help you sleep. To prevent allergen-loaded air from passing through your CPAP machine every night, remember to clean your CPAP machine every day. Make sure your air filters are changed regularly and that you wipe your machine with a damp cloth, and wash your humidifier chamber, mask, and tubing every day. Products like cleaning wipes, tube cleanings systems, and the SoClean 2 CPAP Cleaner and Sanitizer are a great way to start a daily routine of keeping your CPAP supplies clean.

You can also make sure your CPAP therapy is as effective as possible by making sure your equipment is up-to-date. CPAPCentral.com has all the CPAP machines, CPAP masks, and other CPAP supplies to make sure you’re able to sleep comfortably.

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.