Customer Service and Live Chat available M-F from 8:30AM - 4:30PM EST

Free Shipping on orders over $99

Category Archives: Sleep Apnea

Foods to avoid with CPAP

Blog(FoodToAvoidWithCPAP)

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!

Finding the right CPAP mask for you

Blog(FindingtheRightMask)

“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

Blog(CentralVSObstructive)

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.

The Connection between Diabetes & Sleep Apnea

Studies have shown that there is a connection between sleep apnea and diabetes.

At first it may be tough to see how a disease that affects your blood glucose levels can be connected to a disorder like sleep apnea that affects your breathing while you sleep. But, once you think about it for a little longer, the connection starts to become clear. CPAPCentral.com wants you to know about the connection between diabetes and sleep apnea, and what you can do to manage symptoms for both disorders.

The Importance of Weight

Obesity is a leading risk factor for sleep apnea, as excessive weight gain puts more pressure on your body. This is especially true when excessive weight is gained in the trunk and neck region, resulting in compromised respiratory function. As the soft tissues and neck muscles relax during sleep, the airway closes and this leads to sleep apnea. Obesity is also among the top risks for developing type 2 diabetes, which results in increased blood glucose levels and reduces the body’s ability to produce insulin. A healthy diet and regular exercise can help reduce your risk for developing either disorder.

How Sleep Apnea Can Lead to Diabetes

Sleep apnea is a disorder that, when left untreated, wreaks havoc on your sleep patterns. You may not be aware of it if you haven’t been diagnosed, but sleep apnea prevents you from getting into the deepest levels of sleep where you can recharge which leaves you feeling tired all day. This can lead to an increased heart rate and decreased energy levels. All of this can throw your body off and effect the production of hormones that help manage fat levels and muscle mass in the body, which can lead to the development of diabetes. Researchers have also found connections between sleep apnea and insulin resistance. Additionally untreated sleep apnea often leads to unhealthy eating habits, frequent snacking to combat the daytime fatigue and exhaustion.

CPAPCentral.com encourages all of our customers to live healthy. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, CPAP therapy can help you sleep better and decrease your likelihood of developing diabetes. We have CPAP machines, masks and accessories for people with sleep apnea. We encourage you to consult your doctor to learn more about your risk for developing diabetes.

Sleep Apnea and Seniors

Sleep Apnea is becoming more common among older adults. Here’s what you need to know.

September is Healthy Aging Month. At CPAPCentral.com, we know that sleep plays a huge role in your overall health. Getting enough sleep can give you the energy you need to get through the day and improve your body’s overall performance. Sleep becomes even more important as we age, because our bodies naturally lose the energy that was once so abundant with younger age.

Sleep disorders like sleep apnea affect people of all ages, but can have a more profound impact on seniors. In fact, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recently conducted a study showing that 20 percent of older adults are affected by sleep apnea. There have even been studies showing a possible link between sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s disease. To help seniors with sleep apnea, CPAPCentral.com brings you these management tips.

Know What Symptoms to Look for

While there is no one symptom that automatically indicates sleep apnea, there are signs to watch out for. Chief among these symptoms is snoring, especially snoring that is accompanied by gasping or long periods between breathing. Other symptoms to watch out for include daytime drowsiness, a lethargic attitude, mood changes, and waking up frequently at night.

See a Doctor

No one likes going to the doctor, but if you’re experiencing symptoms associated with a sleep disorder, it’s time to make an appointment. Be honest about your symptoms so your doctor has as much information as possible to make a diagnosis. You may be asked to complete a sleep test, which can be conducted in a lab or at home, to get a more definitive diagnosis.

Embrace CPAP Therapy

Sleep apnea treatment has become much more effective in recent years, thanks in large part to advances made in CPAP therapy, which helps make sure air is passing through your airway while you sleep if you have sleep apnea. CPAP therapy can help relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea and make sure you’re well-rested so you have the energy to do the things you love.

CPAPCentral.com is here for patients of all ages who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. We offer a wide variety of CPAP machines, CPAP masks and other accessories to make sure your treatment is effective. Contact us to learn more.

Presidents with Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can be made worse by stress. And being President of the United States is about as stressful as it gets.

Sleep apnea can be made worse by stress. Being President of the United States is about as stressful as it gets.

There may be not be a more stressful job in the entire world than that of the President of the United States. For the individuals who serve as president, sleep is a need that often goes unmet. In fact, there are several presidents that experienced sleep disorders, which makes their job even more difficult. Today, CPAPCentral.com is going to focus on the Commanders In Chief who lived with sleep apnea.

William Howard Taft

William Howard Taft served as America’s 27^th president, and was the heaviest man to hold the office. The stress of the job, combined with his excessive weight, made Taft a prime candidate for sleep apnea, specifically obstructive sleep apnea. Obesity is among the leading risk factors for sleep apnea. Despite his sleep apnea, Taft served as president for four years and eventually returned to public service to become the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Theodore Roosevelt

While best known for his service in the Spanish-American War and building up the National Park System, Teddy Roosevelt was also likely to have suffered from sleep apnea. While he was never officially diagnosed, the 26^th U.S. president showed several of the tell-tale symptoms associated with sleep apnea, including loud snoring and weight gain.

Grover Cleveland

Serving as both the 22^nd and 24^th U.S. President, Grover Cleveland is the only president to serve two terms that weren’t consecutive. Like Teddy Roosevelt, Cleveland was never diagnosed with sleep apnea, but showed many symptoms associated with the sleep disorder, including loud snoring, obesity, and having a thick neck.

These former presidents didn’t have the benefit of modern medicine or living in an era where CPAP machines were around to help treat their sleep apnea. Luckily, we’ve come a long way over the years. CPAPCentral.com has PAP machines, masks and comfort supplies to make sure that your sleep apnea is treated effectively, and with greater success than these former leaders of the free world.