Don’t Give Up on CPAP if You Have Sleep Apnea
Many people find they don’t sleep as well as they age. For some, poor sleep is caused by painful health conditions like arthritis, nighttime urination, or medications they take. Others may have a sleep disorder that regularly disturbs their sleep. One of these is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)—a condition I myself have—and we’re looking at it in this month’s issue.
The main symptom of my sleep apnea was intense fatigue: I often had to nap for several hours on weekend afternoons, and had to pull over to nap when driving for longer than an hour. My brother and a cousin also have sleep apnea, making me more aware that this could be what was happening to me.
The main treatment for OSA is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. This sends a stream of air through your airway as you sleep—the pressure of the air prevents the airway from collapsing. I noticed a difference the very first time I used CPAP—I woke refreshed, and felt much better during the day. After using it regularly, I felt like I gained 10 to 20 productive hours a week. I was able to drive for long distances without feeling as if I might fall asleep at the wheel. Another benefit was weight loss, since I had been snacking to help me stave off sleep.
Medicare covers a three-month trial of CPAP therapy if you’re diagnosed with OSA, and will cover it for longer if your doctor confirms that you are benefiting from the treatment. Unfortunately, many people find CPAP difficult to tolerate, and give up rather easily. A different mask may help—there are now several designs to choose from. I started out using a large mask that covered my nose and mouth, but I found it bulky and uncomfortable to sleep in. I switched to using a smaller option with nasal pillows, but eventually found a more unobtrusive design which provides air through a slit tube that sits just under my nose.
Another issue for some people is the force of the air from a CPAP machine. If you are finding that it prevents you from drifting off to sleep, you might want to try one of the newer APAP (automatic positive airway pressure) machines. I use one of these myself now: rather than deliver a steady stream of air, it senses how much air I need, and changes the air pressure as necessary (for example, if I roll onto my back while sleeping, the pressure increases slightly). Other APAPs don’t incorporate a sensor—instead they start out with a lower flow of air and gradually increase the pressure over time, once you’ve fallen asleep. If you wake with a sore throat after using your CPAP machine, switch to one that incorporates a humidifier—I found that mine made a real difference.
Some people are also embarrassed to have tubing and/or a mask on when they go to sleep. If you are the partner of a person with OSA, make sure you help them realize that it’s not a big deal, especially compared to the health benefits!
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