The holidays may be over, but there are still a few months of winter to deal with. That means a few months of dealing with colder, drier air that dries out your skin, nose and the air you breathe. The winter also is a time when your respiratory system can be impacted by illnesses like colds and the flu.
CPAP Central wants to make sure that you are prepared for how your CPAP therapy can be affected by illnesses like the cold, because these conditions may make it harder to comply with your treatment.
Stopping Your CPAP Therapy
If your CPAP therapy is making you uncomfortable while you deal with a cold or the flu, try to continue treatment if possible. If you stop using your CPAP machine, it’s going to be more difficult to get back into your nightly routine. If you have to stop your therapy, start again as soon as your symptoms allow you to.
Remedies To Help You Deal With Symptoms During CPAP Therapy
Colds give you an uncomfortable feeling. Your nose is stuffed and you have to breathe through your mouth, but then your mouth gets dry and breathing almost feels unnatural. Here are some things you can try to continue your CPAP therapy during a cold.
- Use a Nasal Spray: Spraying your nose with a saline spray can help clear out your sinuses so that you can breathe through your nose.
- Take a Decongestant: This solution requires careful timing. You need to take the decongestant early enough in the evening so that it can take effect by the time you go to bed.
- Use a Full Face mask for CPAP Therapy: Many CPAP users have full face masks anyway, but if you have a cold they can be extra useful. A full face mask allows the air to pass through your mouth so that your CPAP therapy can continue to be effective.
CPAP Central is here to help you with all your CPAP supply needs, and can provide you with anything from a new mask to a new machine. Contact us so we can help you find the supplies to make your therapy as effective as possible.