Sleeping Better with CPAP

Sleeping Better with CPAP

According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, sleep apnea affects approximately 22 million individuals. Thankfully, for those diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), treating and managing your OSA can be simple and effective.

Most physicians advise continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) as a first-line treatment for OSA. With CPAP therapy, a device delivers pressurized air throughout the night to keep your airways from collapsing and preventing apnea episodes from occurring.

As CPAP therapy becomes increasingly popular, we thought it’d be helpful to share tips and advice from fellow users on how to improve your treatment for a better night’s sleep.

We’ve reached out to our customers at BestCPAPCleaner.com  for advice on managing CPAP therapy. Hundreds of  customers responded with helpful hacks for staying compliant with their CPAP therapy.

General Tips for Better Sleep with CPAP

Here are some of the great tips from our customers:

Ease Your Way into CPAP

Too many new users try to stay strictly compliant and immediately hate their therapy. Start with shorter sessions to get more familiar with your CPAP equipment. Nap and watch TV with the mask on so you gradually get used to how it feels.

Keep a CPAP Therapy Routine

Make your CPAP therapy part of your bedtime ritual, like brushing your teeth or watching the evening news. CPAP needs to be a part of your life to improve your sleep. That routine helps you adjust to your nightly therapy. Soon enough, putting on your mask will be second nature.

As with any other equipment, it is essential to keep your CPAP equipment clean and germ-free. Get into the habit of regularly cleaning and sanitizing your equipment. This will help prevent illness, improve compliance, and increase the lifespan of your equipment.

Adjustments are a Part of Therapy

Don’t be afraid to make adjustments. Adjusting the headgear, trying a different size cushion, or even placing the hose in a different position can help patients ease into therapy. Pillows explicitly designed for CPAP users have also become popular as they offer support and comfort while getting used to the CPAP mask.

Learn to Use Your Ramp Feature

Learning to use the ramp feature may also improve CPAP compliance. This will allow for a gradual increment in air pressure as you settle into a deep sleep, which is especially helpful to users with high-pressure settings.

Use CPAP Machine Humidifiers for Dry Throats

If you find yourself waking up with a dry throat while on CPAP therapy, you may want to use a humidifier. Humidifiers allow users to adjust the moisture in the air pressure they receive. Learn to adjust those levels to your comfort, depending on the time of year and climate you live in.

Find the Right Mask

The first CPAP mask you get doesn’t have to be your last, especially if it is uncomfortable. Issues like claustrophobia while wearing the mask, facial marks, and dry nose can be resolved with a different mask option.

We recommend calling our customer service team with details about the mask you tried and what you liked or didn’t like.

This can help us recommend a mask that may be better suited to your needs. Remember, BestCPAPCleaner.com  offers a 30-day, risk-free trial on all CPAP masks!

Our Recommendation for Better Sleep with CPAP Therapy

While getting used to CPAP therapy is personal, there are several things everyone can do to improve their sleep quality. We’ve shared some of our top tips below.

Stick to a Schedule

Just like a consistent diet and regular exercise will help you feel better, a consistent sleep schedule will help you sleep better. Try to develop a sleep routine–even on the weekends–by going to bed and waking up at the same time.

Avoid Blue Light Electronics

Blue light from electronics, such as laptops, cell phones, and TV, can disrupt natural sleep patterns. Try avoiding these devices for at least two hours before going to bed.

Resources and References:

• About CPAP Treatment