Sleep – it’s something that we all need, and what many of us just can’t get. When it’s time to turn in, what happens if you want to sleep and sleep doesn’t want you?
After a long day’s work, you might notice that you’re not able to sleep properly; you’ll toss, you’ll turn, you might even wake up in the middle of the night without knowing why. Maybe you’re being told that you snore too loud. If this is the case, then you might have an onset of sleep apnea.
If you have this condition, you’ll need to find a way to fight it. Have you considered the use of a CPAP machine?
How Does It Work?
A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine, or CPAP for short, is an apparatus used to ensure a better sleeping experience, and is commonly prescribed to help treat persons with obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. OSA is a disorder where your airways, while you sleep, are temporarily blocked or your tongue falls backward, causing restricted airflow. This can be addressed with the flip of a CPAP’s switch.
Once activated, the CPAP’s motor creates a continuous, pressurized air stream through a flexible tube, attached to a mask which spreads the air into your nose and/or mouth. As you sleep, the CPAP keeps your body continuously filled with sufficient oxygen, opening your airways with the pressurized air. Unobstructed, you will find yourself breathing easily, not needing to wake up to breathe or feeling suffocated. If you think you have sleep apnea, sites like Sleeplay will be able to help you.
But will a CPAP really help you to sleep better? Here are the 5 most common reasons why someone would need a CPAP machine.
1. They Will Sleep Better
A lack of sleep can be harmful to your mental and physical health. Less sleep implies a number of bad consequences:
- Hampered Quality of Life – You are less likely to participate in outdoor activities or anything productive.
- Strained Relationships – When sleep deprived, your relationships with the people around you may become strained due to your moodiness and irritability.
- Laxness – Less sleep means less alertness. Without enough sleep, your ability to stay alert is impaired and you’re less aware of your surroundings.
- A Greater Likelihood to Cause Accidents – Due to your lack of alertness, daytime sleepiness and forgetfulness, you are bound to cause accidents anywhere you work, especially while you’re driving.
As you sleep, the CPAP will cause more oxygen flow into your brain. By using one, you’ll be able to regain your energy through more restful nights. In addition to this, your skin will feel more youthful after a few nights using it. Talk about a package deal.
2. They Can Fight the Risk of Medical Conditions
In treating your sleep apnea, you’ll be fighting the risk of various medical conditions, including:
- Heart Disease – A lack of sleep may cause an unhealthy increase in heart rate. The pauses in breathing can even create a drastic increase in blood pressure levels. In a worst-case scenario, not breathing while sleeping may cause a heart attack. Long, sound sleep can reduce high blood pressure and the risk of suffering from cardiac arrest.
- Diabetes – A good night’s sleep may help to improve insulin sensitivity, so using a CPAP is often recommended for staving off diabetes.
- Stroke – A stroke is the sudden loss of brain activity. People who suffer from sleep apnea are twice as likely to suffer a stroke. Sleeping well and properly can greatly reduce this risk.
From these three life-threatening conditions alone, we can see that a CPAP isn’t just something that could save your sleep, but also your life.
3. They Will Have Increased Energy Levels
Because sleep deprivation is one of the biggest factors in fatigue, using a CPAP may improve your energy levels. A good night’s sleep improves one’s focus, productivity, immunity and emotional control.
In sleeping well, you’re better able to process thought and to focus on tasks during the daytime. Following increased power in thought processing, you’ll be more productive and better able to devote more time to the things that you care about.
One of the best parts about keeping your energy levels high is the ability to keep disease at bay. Your immune system will improve in quality, and be able to work at keeping any harmful viruses or bacteria from entering your body.
Adding to these is a decreased appetite. Coupled with the energy boost, this is the perfect opportunity for you to exercise. Thus, a more restful sleep pattern aids greatly in weight loss.
4. They May Save Money
Because the CPAP can help to reduce the risk of various disorders and conditions, it will, in turn, reduce the potential for hospital visits. This means that you cut down greatly on medicinal purchases, the doctors’ fees and additional hospital expenses. Let’s not forget that if accidents at work or on the road occur, you can rack up some hefty fines with repairs, settlements or at the worst, lawsuits. You’ll thank your CPAP for making you sleep well, and wake up feeling like a newer, healthier person.
5. They May Preserve Their Hearing
Among the conditions mentioned earlier, hearing loss is one of the main contributors to irritability and stress. According to a study published on PubMed Central entitled Sleep Apnea is Associated with Hearing Impairment: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, there is an established link between sleep apnea and hearing loss.
Hearing loss is an invisible and nigh undetectable condition that may take years to manifest. Early signs would include a lack of focus, crankiness, loss of sleep and raised vocal volume. If you suffer from any of these, a CPAP machine might be able to aid you in rejuvenating your hearing, or prevent hearing loss entirely through restful evenings and sound sleep.
6. Sweet Dreams
Sometimes when we’re watching our own health, we tend to overlook sleep as an important factor. Not sleeping well results in getting sick or getting into accidents; therefore, it’s important for us to maintain healthy sleeping habits. If you think that you’re not getting enough sleep despite trying to change your habits or practice relaxation and stress-relief techniques, a CPAP machine just might be your ticket to Lala Land, and a highway to better health.
