Getting used to your sleep apnea therapy

While some people adapt to sleep apnea therapy very quickly, many people find that getting used to sleeping with a mask and device takes time. Just like wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses for the first time, there can be an adjustment period. Although you may feel like giving up on your sleep apnea therapy treatment, because it may seem difficult to get used to at first, the long-term effects of doing so are far greater than abandoning the treatment altogether.

When you’re in the initial stages of using sleep apnea therapy, there are a few things to consider:

• Your sleep hygiene and bedtime habits:
  These habits may include food and drink that could be detrimental to your sleep. Caffeinated drinks or foods that are spicy, for instance, within the hours leading up to sleep can easily be the cause of difficulty sleeping¹.
• What and how you read in bed:
  Reading before bed is often recognised as promoting sleep, however they way you read could be what’s crippling your sleep. Blue light emitted from tablets, E-Readers, laptops and mobile phones suppresses melatonin, the sleep hormone², in the hours leading up to bed. Reading stimulating novels before bed can prevent you from falling asleep.
• Whether or not you have allergies:
  Allergies can also be another barrier for sleep³ with one study⁴ finding “that sleep is dramatically impaired by allergic symptoms and that the degree of impairment is related to the severity of those symptoms.”
• Reaching out to family and friends for support:
  Having the support of family and friends can make it easier and more comfortable to use sleep apnea therapy⁵.

Keep talking to EdenSleep

Adjusting to any therapy is just that – an adjustment. Be sure to stay in touch with your consultant at EdenSleep. There are many adjustments that we can make for you to get treatment working for you - especially if you are on a CPAP Trial.

References:

1. National Sleep Foundation: https://sleepfoundation.org
2. Tablets and E-Readers may disrupt your sleep. WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/news/20141222/tablets-and-e-readers-may-disrupt-your-sleep
3. Allergies and Sleep: National Sleep Foundation: https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/sleep-related-problems/allergic-rhinitis-and-sleep
4. Allergic rhinitis and its consequences on quality of sleep: An unexplored area. PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16983053?dopt=AbstractPlus
5. Why family support is so important for people with this sleep disorder. Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/sleep-apnea-family-suppor_n_5411348