Before And After CPAP Machine Use: What To Expect!
Key Takeaways
- Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects millions of people globally. CPAP therapy has prevailed as the most common form of treatment to help sleep apnea patients.
- CPAP therapy uses a CPAP machine to deliver pressurized air to a person's airway via a CPAP mask, keeping their airway open throughout the night to help combat sleep apnea events.
- Besides treating sleep apnea, there are several other ways CPAP therapy can improve a person's overall quality of life. Let's explore them here!
As individuals start their CPAP therapy, they may not know what to expect. Many patients may see reduced symptoms right away. But overall CPAP therapy takes time. Patients need to be aware of their symptoms before therapy and how those symptoms improve progressively over time with CPAP machine use.
Before CPAP
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes someone to repeatedly start and stop breathing while asleep at night, lessening their overall quality of life. The most common treatment for sleep apnea is CPAP therapy, which uses a CPAP machine and CPAP mask to deliver pressurized air to keep a person's airway open while they sleep.
Before therapy, patients will experience many of the symptoms of sleep apnea. These symptoms include:
- Snoring
- Interrupted nightly sleep
- Morning headaches
- Daytime drowsiness
- Difficulty focusing
Usually, these symptoms are what prompt a patient to seek treatment.
After Sleep Apnea Treatment
CPAP therapy is a proven treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 85% of patients with obstructive sleep apnea use CPAP for treatment. Better sleep may be experienced as early as the first night of therapy. Better health comes with long term CPAP compliance.
Good Sleep
CPAP therapy patients will notice they are getting better sleep. CPAP therapy reduces the frequency of apneas, so sleep goes undisturbed allowing for deeper more restful nights.
Improved Alertness
With better sleep comes improvements in daytime alertness. Some patients have experienced more alertness after only one night of therapy.
Reduced Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety
With reduced apneas comes improved oxygenation to the brain. Better oxygen flow to the brain can affect mood and improve symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Better Cardiovascular Health
Obstructive sleep apnea can cause fluctuations in blood pressure, low blood oxygen and high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. Over time, these factors can dramatically affect the health of the heart.
Reducing the frequency of apneas on a nightly basis regulates blood pressure and increases blood oxygen levels to improve heart health.
Lower Blood Pressure
Obstructive sleep apnea can cause fluctuations in blood pressure, low blood oxygen and high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. Over time, these factors can dramatically affect the health of the heart.
Reducing the frequency of apneas on a nightly basis regulates blood pressure and increases blood oxygen levels to improve heart health.
Reduced Heart Failure Risk and Severity
Some studies have seen a reduced risk of heart failure in CPAP patients and reduced severity if a heart attack occurs. Sleep apnea is often associated with issues in cardiovascular health. Improving sleep with CPAP therapy for at least four hours per night reduces the risk of stroke.
Fewer Headaches
Low oxygenation to the brain from sleep apnea can lead to frequent morning headaches. CPAP therapy enhances oxygen flow to the brain and throughout the body, reducing the occurrence of this common sleep apnea symptom.
Improved Diabetes Symptoms
Sleep apnea can cause an increase of carbon dioxide in the blood which can increase insulin resistance and blood sugar surges. Improving sleep with more consistent CPAP can help existing diabetes patients better manage their condition.
Fewer Male Reproductive Issues
Chronic sleep apnea can eventually lead to lower testosterone levels, causing erectile dysfunction. While there may be other causes for sexual health problems, CPAP therapy can help regulate hormones for sleep apnea patients.
A Healthier Pregnancy
Pregnant women with sleep apnea may not know that the health of their baby can be affected by their sleep disorder. Sleep apnea can cause accelerated weight gain during pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and other health issues for the fetus and mother. Continuing CPAP therapy during pregnancy can be one more smart choice for A woman focused on a healthier pregnancy.
Link Between CPAP and Weight Loss
The outcome for patients using CPAP therapy can vary when it comes to weight. Some patients may find that more consistent sleep helps them curb their appetite. Often people with sleep deprivation from sleep apnea may tend to overeat, which can cause weight gain. With regulated sleep, managing eating habits and weight may become easier.
On the Other Hand, Does CPAP Cause Weight Gain?
For other patients weight gain can occur due to a variety of factors.
- Changes in energy usage. CPAP therapy can reduce how many calories you burn while sleeping because you are sleeping more restfully. As a result, early-stage CPAP usage can lead to weight gain.
- Having high blood sugar. For those already managing high glucose levels, CPAP therapy may initially cause blood sugar to spike. However, with consistent CPAP compliance, those blood sugar levels may drop.
- Increases in waist sizes with CPAP use. Because new CPAP users are burning fewer calories they may experience weight gain specifically in the waist area. Why the waist size increases are not clearly understood by doctors.
- Time spent using CPAP machine. How long you use your CPAP machine may also affect weight gain. Those who use their machine for less than four hours are more likely to gain. Most likely because they are not engaging in CPAP therapy long enough to see results in better sleep. With extended periods of usage, patients may experience different results.
- Increases in lean body mass. Often weight gain is not from fat but from lean muscle mass. This is a good thing. As people experience healthier sleep they may lose weight in fat and gain weight in muscle. The gain in muscle may be confused with unhealthy weight gain.
Learn more about sleep apnea and weight in this blog article.
Misconceptions about CPAP Therapy
While CPAP therapy continues to be the most recommended treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, some misconceptions prevail. They include:
- CPAP causes sinus infections
- CPAP is a form of oxygen therapy
- CPAP is only occasionally required
None of these are true. New CPAP patients need to get the facts and speak to their doctors. While starting CPAP therapy for the first time can be daunting, regular CPAP compliance can help improve sleep and overall health long-term. However, confidence in the treatment and a commitment to therapy is necessary to achieve better sleep and daytime wellness.
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