Proper CPAP Storage and Lighting Can Enhance Comfort, Convenience and Compliance

Purchasing the right CPAP equipment and supplies is only the first step in compliance and comfort. By integrating proper CPAP storage and lighting into your bedroom environment, you can support your therapy in important ways that enable comfort, convenience and compliance.

In the past, we have discussed bedtime routines, the proper room lighting for sleep as well as CPAP therapy enhancement techniques. We also talk about the many factors that can keep your bedroom from looking like a hospital room. Having the proper storage system for your CPAP equipment is very important. It's also beneficial to have bedside lighting often goes beyond just a typical nightstand. Many new CPAP therapy users are unaware that there are purpose-built nightstands made specifically for CPAP equipment storage and use.

CPAP therapy is more about just therapy, it's about helping the daily lives of others. Nightstands that are purpose designed to provide convenient storage of the CPAP machine during use as well as for storage during the day has become more commonplace. These nightstands have a shelf for the CPAP machine, along with a second shelf for supplementary equipment. This could be cleaning supplies, distilled water for the humidifier, and extra hoses and masks.

The cabinet has slots that allow the hoses to thread through the side of the nightstand. This is great so the equipment can remain hidden, even when the machine and mask are in use. There are several manufacturers of these CPAP nightstands with fairly wide availability from online retailers. These include Target, Walmart, Ikea, and Overstock.com as well as others.

CPAP users don’t have to compromise on style as these outwardly conventional-looking nightstands can be a quite elegant furniture. They feature in oak, mahogany and other woods with great finishes. Lighting is the next step to making the system complete.

Light plays a vital role in getting a good night’s sleep. Nighttime light exposure confuses the pineal glad, reducing or even suppressing the production of melatonin, the hormone that controls sleep and wake cycles. It is a good idea to reduce exposure to short wave or “blue” light before bed. This is to ensure adequate melatonin production. Unfortunately, we seem to be increasing our exposure to “blue” light especially because televisions, cell phones and computer screens emit light that suppresses melatonin production. Even normal levels of room lighting can negatively effect melatonin production.

Research has shown that blocking “blue” light a few hours before sleep can be extremely effective in reducing the melatonin-suppressing effects.  Therefore, setting up the bedroom to reduce the amount of “blue” light is essential for a good night’s sleep. There are programs that can gradually reduce the light from your phone and computer screens as darkness falls.  Here is ne free program: https://justgetflux.com/.

Another solution is to wear amber glasses at night. The lenses on these glasses block “blue” light and do not suppress nocturnal melatonin production, improving sleep quality.  You can find these on the web but we have located some here: https://www.lowbluelights.com/detail.asp?id=93

If you’re the owner of one of the latest CPAP machines, they will likely have lighted dials and internal dimmers that suppress “blue” light as well. So it is easy to place your CPAP on a nightstand and not have to worry about its lighting interfering with your CPAP therapy.