Colder weather can change your sleeping patterns.
CPAPCentral.com hopes you are able to stay warm through this last portion of fall as colder weather rolls in. Have you noticed that colder weather can negatively affect your sleep and breathing, especially if you have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine? For most people diagnosed with sleep apnea, cold weather tends to increase the severity of sleep apnea symptoms and cause more sleep disruptions. Let’s take a closer look how the cold can affect your sleep and breathing.
There are a number of things that affect how someone sleeps at night, whether or not they have sleep apnea. A few contributors to uncomfortable sleep are:
- Allergies
- Too warm or cold
- Having a cold or illness
- Aching or twitchy muscles
A loved one may hear or see individuals with sleep apnea waking up numerous times during the night gasping for air, snoring or just not getting enough sleep.
Seasons Change: Colder Weather & Sleep Disruption
Did you know people wake up on the average of about 15 times a night in warm months? As the seasons change and cold weather blankets the region, sleep apnea occurrences can increase throughout the night. During winter months, people wake up increased to an average of 18 times a night. This difference between warm summer months and cold winter months may seem minor. However, the cold conditions significantly increase the amount of severe sleep apnea occurrences causing some people to wake up as many as 30 times a night! If the colder weather is causing more sleep disruptions for you, consider talking with your doctor about your sleeping pattern.
If maintaining your breathing is becoming difficult during the night, contact CPAPCentral.com for assistance adjusting your sleep apnea therapy to find a more comfortable therapy level. We are happy to help and answer any questions you may have about sleep therapy, bi-level machines or CPAP equipment! We can also help locate replacement supplies to keep your therapy comfortable. Call CPAPCentral.com with your questions at 877-632-3702.