Cup of Joe. Afternoon tea. 2 p.m. pick-me-up.
In whatever form you take it, caffeine is the most consumed drug in the world, with some 90 percent of adults partaking in it. While there are a number of benefits to regularly consuming caffeine, it has been linked to some negative side effects, including insomnia. Since we specialize in helping people sleep, we thought it would be good to take a moment and look at some of the facts surrounding it:
- It can actually help with sleep apnea.
Some studies have shown that caffeine can actually help those with sleep apnea, by improving their cognitive function and helping better breathing at night. However, other studies have shown that it’s the way you consume it that affects your condition. While coffee and tea seemed safe, sugary soft drinks appeared to exacerbate the condition.
- 400 Milligrams is the recommended amount
That adds up to about 4 cups of coffee a day, but that depends on how strong you make yours. And that 400 milligram amount is a guideline—some people have higher sensitivity to it than others. Taking too much for you can have negative side effects. Some of these include migraines, fast heartbeats, upset stomach, nervousness, anxiety, irritability and insomnia.
- It stays in your system for a while.
You might come across the term “half-life” when you Google how long caffeine stays in your body. This term refers to how long it takes for the caffeine to reach half its effectiveness. For the average person, that’s about 5-6 hours. That means to be totally eliminated out of your system, your body may take up to 12 hours. That lunchtime latte may be the reason you’re up later than you want to be, which could undermine some of the gains you’ve had with CPAP therapy.
- There are numerous benefits.
In spite of the side effects, there are numerous other benefits. It’s been shown to increase memory, decrease kidney stone risk, prevent type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and liver disease. It’s also been shown to increase cognitive function and decrease fatigue. It’s also been linked to weight loss. If you’re struggling with your weight as a result of sleep apnea, this could actually help.
Finding the right balance with caffeine to aid in your sleep apnea journey is all about listening to your body. If you want to use this as a way to address your condition, write down how much caffeine you had that day, and how your sleep was that night, as well as how you functioned the next day. This scientific approach should hopefully give you the tools you need to optimize your sleep and overall well-being.
For everything else sleep apnea related, see the experts at CPAPCentral.com! We have all the equipment necessary to combat this condition and are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., EST.