It’s vacation time! If you’re not up for a road trip, chances are you’ll find yourself on a plane, cruise ship or a train. Vacationing with CPAP machines isn’t as hard as you think.  Don’t think because you have one, it limits you to your home or commutes around town.  It is very common to see people carry their CPAP machines and supplies just like any other bag.

Keep in mind, if you are traveling internationally and you have a newer machine, it will be compatible with different voltages you might come across.  Make sure to pack those universal power supplies. If not, you’ll have to run off the available power system.

Make sure whether you are on a plane or train to reserve a seat that is handicap accessible or has enough room to compensate for the CPAP machine.  Make sure to tell the airline, cruise ship or train company that you’ll need to use it if you travel overnight. They may ask for a doctor’s note and prescription information. Be sure to explain any special regulations or accommodations you’ll need on the trip.

Keep in mind while traveling to get to your check-in or security check-in at least two hours before departure.  This allows enough time to have security check through your CPAP machine bag. CPAP machines can be checked in and classified as checked luggage or carry-on items.

Security will more than likely inspect your machine and supplies and remove the machine from the travel case, while not un-hooking the face mask or tubes. They will also be checked for explosive traces. For everything to expect during a TSA examination of your CPAP machine, check out our previous blog on the topic.

CPAP Central offers a wide selection of CPAP equipment, including travel-sized CPAP machines. Please feel free to contact us with any questions!

Depression and sleep apnea are two very distinct and different illnesses that can be tied together for many people. Sleep disorders like sleep apnea and depression may both share biological factors, and treating the sleep apnea may go a long way in treating the depression.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, results from one study showed that close to 73 percent of sleep apnea patients had clinically significant symptoms of baseline depression. That number was cut down to 4 percent after participants spent three months being CPAP compliant.

One of the biggest similarities in the two disorders is how often they go undiagnosed and untreated. Studies show that as many as half of all people that have clinical depression are undiagnosed. If you are struggling with depression as well as the following symptoms, you might want ask your doctor about being screened for obstructive sleep apnea:

• Daytime fatigue
• Irritability and difficulty concentrating
• Sleep that never feels like “enough”
• Trouble falling asleep
• Trouble going back to sleep after waking up during the night
• Waking up at all hours of the night
• Waking up before the alarm clock goes off

Aside from showing depressive symptoms, those with obstructive sleep apnea are also at risk for a number of other health risks, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Getting a good night’s sleep can go a long way towards managing your depression.  That’s where we come in. CPAP Central offers a wide variety of CPAP machines, CPAP masks and CPAP supplies that are a great way to treat sleep apnea and sleep better.

Using a CPAP mask been proven to significantly reduce or even eliminate the symptoms of depression while also treating sleep apnea. Medication and counseling are also recommended and should not be stopped without talking to your doctor.

We tend to think of the classic sleep apnea patient as an overweight, middle-aged man. While that may be true in many cases, they are certainly not the only group that suffers from sleep apnea. What about children?  That’s right; sleep apnea doesn’t just affect men and women, it also affects children.

Like all sleep apnea, it can go undiagnosed for quite a while. The main thing to notice in a child who may have sleep apnea is their behavior. Lack of concentration and disruptive behavior are two of the most common results, but these may often be diagnosed as other problems like ADHD or ADD. Being overly tired, crying easily, exaggerated moods (mainly bad ones) and trouble staying awake in school are all potential signs. Many parents and grandparents may just see these behaviors as kids being kids, so look more carefully.

There are other red flags for pediatric sleep apnea besides behavioral changes. They can include weight loss or not being able to gain weight, snoring and mouth breathing, a sore throat in the morning and restless nights.

If you suspect that your child has sleep apnea, a pediatric sleep study can be done to help confirm the diagnosis.

Should the sleep study come back positive for sleep apnea, your doctor will probably first recommend an adenotonsillectomy, tonsillotomy or a tonsillectomy. Having enlarged tonsils and adenoids are a common childhood problem, and their removal can aid in OSA treatment. In the past, doctors were much quicker to have the tonsils removed than they are today. If surgery is not an option, the next line of treatment will often be CPAP.

No matter what age a patient is, CPAP Central has CPAP machines to fit your needs. You will find the right size and style of CPAP masks and CPAP supplies by visiting our website today.

It’s the hot time of the year, which means you may find yourself tossing and turning at night. CPAP Central would like to offer some tips on getting a good rest sleep no matter how hot it gets this summer:

1. Keep the house from heating up during the day by keeping the house dark during the day. Close your blinds and pull your curtains or drapes in the morning and leave them closed during the heat of the day, especially on south and west sides of the house. Look into lined curtains that are built to keep light and heat out. Before drapes were decorative, they were used to keep heat in during the winter and out during the summer months. This will help you from having to run the air conditioning as much during the day too.
2. Keep windows closed. Letting in the hot, moist air of an open window will heat your house. A hot breeze is not a good breeze.
3. Change your sheets. Choose breathable cotton sheets for the best feeling of coolness. Look for a higher thread count and replace bedding that has worn too thin. Cotton will feel cooler against your skin and keep you from sweating as you sleep.
4. Lose the big, fluffy pillows. Think about it; when most of your head is surrounded in a pillow, your head will be hot and you can only flip to the cool side of the pillow so many times!
5. Run the air conditioning when you sleep. You won’t need to set it as cool as you would when you are awake and moving around because our bodies are more susceptible to feeling cold when we are asleep.

If you use a CPAP machine from CPAP Central the rest of the year, keep using it in the summer. If your device has a humidifier, continue to use it. It may be humid outside, but you need to worry about the humidity on the INSIDE of the house. Remember, sleep apnea doesn’t look at a calendar.

Who cares if you didn’t get enough sleep? There’s always coffee, right?

If only it were that easy! As we mentioned in an earlier blog this month, a lack of sleep can be downright deadly. However, rather than talking about all the BAD things that will happen when you don’t get enough Zs, today we’re going to talk about the positive side effects of a good night’s rest:

• It can improve memory- your mind is surprisingly busy while you snooze. During sleep you strengthen memories or “practice” skills learned while you were awake.

• It can help you live longer- too little sleep is bad, but so is too much sleep. Strike a balance.

• It curbs inflammation- research indicates that people who get less sleep—six or fewer hours a night—have higher blood levels of inflammatory proteins than those who get more.

• It spurs creativity- researchers at Harvard University and Boston College found that people seem to strengthen the emotional components of memory during sleep, which may help spur the creative process.

• It sharpens your attention span- a lack of sleep can result in ADHD-like symptoms in kids (and some adults).

• It helps you maintain a healthy weight- researchers at the University of Chicago found that dieters who were well rested lost more fat—56 percent of their weight loss—than those who were sleep deprived, who lost more muscle mass.

• It lowers stress- sleep can definitely reduce levels of stress, and with that people can have better control of their blood pressure.

• It can help you avoid accidents -the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that being tired accounts for the highest number of fatal single-car run-off-the-road crashes due to the driver’s performance — even more than alcohol!

• It reduces depression- a good night’s sleep can really help a moody person decrease their anxiety. You get more emotional stability with good sleep.

If you have untreated sleep apnea, getting a good night’s sleep may be impossible. Talk to your doctor about a sleep test. Should you be diagnosed with sleep apnea, CPAP Central is here for you. We carry all the CPAP equipment you need in our online catalog.

Are you groggy? Drinking more coffee than you should? Wishing for a nap? Bottom line: you’re tired and you need more or better quality sleep.

That may sound simple, but for many people, getting the right sleep is almost impossible. As we mentioned in earlier blogs this month, inadequate sleep can lead to some of the diseases that are the top killers of men in the United States! That’s why for today’s blog, we’re going to talk about tricks and techniques to getting the right amount of quality sleep. This is what’s known as good sleep hygiene:

• Make sleep a priority by keeping a consistent bedtime and wake schedule including
  weekends.
• Create a bedtime routine that is relaxing. Experts recommend reading a book, listening to soothing music or soaking in a hot bath.
• Avoid eating, drinking alcohol, and using nicotine and caffeine close to bedtime. These can lead to poor sleep, keep you awake or disrupt sleep later in the night.
• Create a room that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool for the best possible sleep.
• Keep work materials, computers and televisions out of the bedroom.
• Exercise regularly, but complete workouts at least one to two hours before bedtime.

If you try those things and still wake up throughout the night and are tired in the morning, you may have untreated sleep apnea. Sleep apnea has many negative health effects, the most basic of which is being tired throughout the day. What can you do? Talk to your housemates, kids or bed partner. Ask them if you snore or startle when you sleep. They see things you don’t. Ask them to record you on their phone if necessary.

If you suspect you might have sleep apnea, talk to your family doctor. They can help you get a sleep test. It’s painless and may change your life. If you are diagnosed, you’re doctor can prescribe several options including a CPAP or BiPAP machine. CPAP Central is an expert in all things CPAP and BiPAP. Visit our online catalog and find the key to getting a better night’s sleep.

We’ve all seen the Blondie cartoon where Dagwood is sleeping on the couch, the comical “SNNNKK” indicating that he’s snoring loudly. Maybe the joke around your house is that Dad is Dagwood because of all the noises that he makes at night, or that he’s dreaming that he’s a motorcycle or a chainsaw.

Jokes aside, snoring is no laughing matter. All too often, snoring is a direct result of sleep apnea, a disease that can become deadly if left untreated. As we mentioned in last week’s blog, June is Men’s Health Month, and the CDC listed more sleep as the number 1 way men can live healthier.

It’s no wonder the CDC would say that—as we mentioned before, inadequate sleep has been linked with a number of top killers of males in the United States, including heart disease, diabetes and accidents. However, we think there may be another reason why the CDC flagged bad sleep as a top health concern for men—men are twice as likely to have sleep apnea as women.

Men can often be reluctant to go to the doctor, but when it comes to sleep apnea, they shouldn’t avoid having a sleep test done. Besides snoring, other symptoms include persistent daytime sleepiness, mood changes, forgetfulness, insomnia, headaches and high blood pressure. If you or a loved one are experiencing a combination of these signs, it might be time to have a talk with your doctor.

Luckily, sleep apnea is treatable through CPAP treatment. We here at CPAP Central specialize in sleep apnea therapy treatments. We carry the top brands in CPAP machines, CPAP masks and CPAP supplies. Additionally, our Education and Resource Center is filled with helpful information to help guide you through a sleep apnea diagnosis. If you have any other questions, we are always happy to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today!

Here at CPAP Central, we’re all about helping people live healthier, happier and more productive lives. That’s why we want to focus today’s blog on Men’s Heath Month.

It’s no surprise that the CDC lists getting a good night’s sleep as the top way that men can keep themselves healthy. Inadequate sleep is associated with a number of diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression. Poor sleep can also lead to vehicle and on-the-job accidents.

Of the things listed above, three of them—cardiovascular disease, diabetes and accidents—are among the top 10 killers of men in the United States. That makes lack of sleep one of the deadliest conditions to have!

Besides getting a good night’s rest, the CDC also recommends men stop smoking (kudos to you if this doesn’t apply to you), get more exercise, eat healthier, cut back on stress and see the doctor regularly. Easier said than done, right?

So, start with the top thing the CDC recommended: getting a good night’s sleep. This can be accomplished through good sleep hygiene practices, such as:

• Avoiding caffeine at least six hours before bedtime.
• Avoiding alcohol at least two hours before bedtime.
• Turning off all screens (cell phones, laptops, TVs) an hour before bedtime.
• Avoiding tobacco an hour before bedtime.
• Keeping a cool temperature in your room
• Keeping your room completely dark—face digital clocks away from you, and charge your cell phones in another room.

However, if you have sleep apnea, even these practices won’t guarantee you a good night’s sleep. That’s where CPAP Central comes in. We specialize in connecting you with the right CPAP and BiPAP equipment, including CPAP masks, CPAP machines, CPAP supplies and more. You can even order some supplies even if you don’t have a prescription! View our full catalog here.

There’s some bad news for women with sleep apnea. Recent studies by from the University of California, Los Angeles show that women who have sleep apnea experience more damage to their brain cells than men.

The link between sleep apnea and brain cell damage in men is not new. But more recent studies show that women experience more damage than men to certain brain cells.  These cells are in the part of the brain that is involved in the regulation of moods and decision-making.

How common is sleep apnea?

• 4 to 9 percent of middle aged men experience obstructive sleep apnea.
• 2 to 4 percent of middle aged women experience sleep apnea.

If you thought that the numbers would be higher, you’re not alone. Research shows that as many as 90 percent of people with obstructive sleep apnea have not been diagnosed.

Even after diagnosis has been made, 10 percent of newly diagnosed women had not received treatment. That’s still better than the 20 percent of men who had not received treatment.

In addition to finding a higher severity of brain cell damage in the women with sleep apnea than the men, they also found that the women with the sleep condition had more symptoms of depression and anxiety than the men.

Do you think you may have sleep apnea? Ask your significant other or your family if you snore or wake often during sleep and don’t be embarrassed by the answers. Keep a sleep diary to record how you feel in the morning and throughout the day. Ladies, please get tested for sleep apnea. Husbands and families, please encourage a woman in your life to get tested if you even suspect she may have the disorder. We have amazing treatment options, but you’ll need to be tested first.

There’s a good night sleep waiting, just for you!

Remember the Princess and the Pea? No matter how many mattresses she piled up, she could still feel that pod at the bottom. How about Goldilocks and the Three Bears? That blonde little girl tried out all of the bears’ beds.  One was too hard, one was too soft, and one was just right.

What about your bed and mattress? Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether it’s time to buy a new mattress and box spring/foundation. It may be time to get a new sleep set if:

• Your mattress is five to seven years old
• You wake up with stiffness, numbness, or aches and pains
• You had a better night’s sleep somewhere other than your own bed (such as a hotel or friend’s guest room)
• Your mattress shows signs of overuse (it sags, has lumps, etc.)

Evaluate your pillow too. In general, pillows should be replaced every year.

How big should your mattress be? There is no one answer for that, just suggestions and guidelines. There are many things to consider like the ability to get a large bed up the stairs and if it will fit in the room without taking up all of the space.  If you sleep with a partner, your mattress should allow each of you enough space to move easily. A queen mattress is ideal for two people sharing a mattress.

Keeping in mind the space you have available in your bedroom, here’s a basic size chart of modern beds:

• A California King is 72” x 84”
• A standard King is 76” x 80”
• A Queen is 60” x 80”
• A Full size or Double is 53” x 75”
• And a Twin is 38” x 75”

If you have sleep apnea, the right CPAP or BiPAP machine will make even more difference than the right mattress.  CPAP Central has experts in sleep apnea therapy, and we carry the best supplies from the best manufacturers.  Visit our website and find the key to getting a better night’s sleep.

PS, we think Papa Bear used a CPAP too.