Does another restless night full of tossing, turning, and waking up every couple of minutes sound like a typical Wednesday? You’ve noticed your mood changing--not to mention the fatigue during the day--because of the lack of sleep you’re getting at home.
You’re just sick and tired of being tired because of your sleep apnea-induced insomnia. At this point, you’d do anything to sleep through the night. At this point, CPAP therapy sounds like something you’d love to try.
CPAP Therapy and Insomnia
CPAP therapy means using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine to help you breathe properly while you sleep. Many sleep studies show that insomnia is often a side effect of sleep apnea, a condition where your airways close and you repeatedly stop breathing for short periods of time, which wakes you up.
A CPAP machine uses air pressure to open your airways, allowing you to sleep the whole night without being woken up from a lack of oxygen. The CPAP machine consists of a mask and hose attached to a motor that consistently pushes air through the mask into your airways.
A majority of symptoms from a lack of breathing, or sleep apnea, contribute to insomnia.
- Snoring
- Gasping or choking
- Oxygen deprivation
- Intermittent sleep
Some causes of insomnia are sinus allergies, gastrointestinal reflux, hyperthyroidism, body pains, depression, anxiety, and breathing issues like obstructed breathing (meaning sleep apnea!).
The CPAP machine focuses on alleviating the breathing obstruction that causes you to wake up throughout the night. So that you can breathe. And not wake up over and over.
Does CPAP Therapy Really Work?
Even though CPAP therapy is not a cure for insomnia, it will help relieve the symptoms to get you more hours of uninterrupted sleep. You really don’t want to let insomnia take over. Insomnia can adversely affect blood pressure, BMI, heart, kidneys, and blood sugar levels. Using your CPAP machine can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, says the American Heart Association.
If it’s being caused by sleep apnea, using a CPAP machine can help regulate some of the symptoms and make sleeping a lot easier. Be prepared to spend some time getting used to the CPAP machine. Wearing your mask and adjusting to the presence of the machine may distract you at first, but consistency will help your body get used to the CPAP machine and get you more rest.
Also, make sure that you talk to your doctor to find out the right adjustments and equipment needed for your particular therapy. Even though it may take some adjustment time, using the CPAP machine has a lot of positive benefits. Not only will it help with insomnia, but it can minimize daytime sleepiness, reduce symptoms of depression, and reduce high blood pressure.
All in all, CPAP therapy can help with your insomnia. You’re completely convinced that insomnia is not something that should be taken lightly. It affects every aspect of your life and health. There have been high success rates when it comes to using CPAP machines for sleep apnea. Your insomnia may be caused by this sleeping condition.
Run, don’t walk, to your doctor to find out if your insomnia means you’re at risk for sleep apnea. You might well benefit from CPAP therapy.
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