Its springtime which means most of America is outside celebrating the warmer weather, blooming flowers, longer days and sweet breezes, but for people with allergies, spring means pollen breezes and a raging case of hay fever. Now, add CPAP therapy and things get interesting. For people with both Sleep Apnea and seasonal allergies, springtime brings about a trifecta of stuffy days, sleepless nights and impossible CPAP therapy, but it doesn’t have to. CPAP Central wants to help you survive spring allergies and CPAP therapy with these helpful tips:
- KEEP ALL CPAP EQUIPMENT CLEAN – Become a neat-freak with your CPAP equipment.
- FULL FACE IS BEST – Consider using a full face CPAP mask at the time to keep treating your Sleep Apnea through a clogged nose.
- ADD AUTO-ADJUSTING – Check out auto-adjusting CPAP machines that will adjust pressure according to your “springtime breathing”.
- HYPOALLERGENIC FILTERS – Look into hypoallergenic filters to keep the air running through your CPAP clean and fresh.
- CHANGE PILLOWCASES – You should either change and wash your pillowcases more often or consider a hypoallergenic pillow.
- BE HEALTHY – Healthy habits such as a balanced diet, vitamins, exercise and no smoking help fight allergens.
- KEEP WINDOWS & DOORS CLOSED – I know it’s tempting to let the spring air in, but with seasonal allergies, you’re much better off keeping it out!
- TURN INDOOR PLANTS OUT – Indoor plants are a common carrier of mildew and can make allergies worse.
- DECONGESTANTS – After seeking medical advice, treat symptoms with antihistamines and decongestants.
- SLEEP POSITION – Try to change add elevation to your sleeping position to encourage more drainage.
These are just a few of the tricks you can try at home to fight off seasonal allergies and make your CPAP therapy go smoother when you’re feeling stuffed up. We’d love to hear what has worked for you. Leave a comment on our Facebook page about your favorite tricks!