Achoo! It’s spring, which means the onset of seasonal allergies. Many people are pretty miserable during spring allergy time anyway, but if you’re a CPAP user on top of that, you could be looking at a trifecta of stuffy noses, sleepless nights, and difficult sleep apnea therapy.
Luckily, there are some things to combat seasonal allergies. CPAPCentral is here to help you get through springtime allergies and still remain compliant in your CPAP therapy:
1) Become a neat-freak: This means keeping your CPAP supplies as clean as possible. For hints and tips on this, see the previous two blogs
2) Switch to a full-faced CPAP mask: Many people prefer the nasal CPAP pillows because it gives them a clear line of sight and puts less pressure on their face, but a full-face CPAP mask works better if your nose is clogged.
3) Use hypoallergenic filters: These can work wonders in helping you combat the allergens in the air.
4) Wash your pillowcases: Wash or change your pillowcases more often than you usually do throughout the year. Consider purchasing a hypoallergenic pillowcase.
5) Close the windows and doors: I know it’s really unfair this time of year, since it’s so nice and warm, but leaving the windows and doors open is how the pollen gets in.
6) Use decongestants: Make sure you check with your doctor before you try this, but using overthe- counter decongestants can make a big difference in how well you sleep.
7) Don’t smoke: If you’re having to use a CPAP machine already, this can make things worse.
Combine it with seasonal allergies, and you’re in for a bad time.
8) Leave your plants outside: If you have a lot of plants in the house, they can harbor mildew and make seasonal allergies worse. Put them outside while you sleep.
These are just a few things you can do to make it through allergy season. CPAP Central is here for you to make sure your sleep apnea therapy goes well. Visit our online catalog for a full list of all the supplies we carry.