Ways To Augment Your CPAP Treatment

If you have sleep apnea, then your ENT specialist may have recommended that you sleep with a CPAP machine. Also called a continuous positive airway pressure machine, CPAP therapy helps keep your airway open by delivering pressurized air into your throat so that the soft tissues don't collapse and obstruct your airway. Here are some ways to augment the effectiveness of your CPAP therapy to help enhance the benefits of your sleep apnea treatment.

Avoid Drinking Alcohol Before Bedtime

Your ENT doctor may recommend that you avoid drinking alcohol right before bedtime. Alcohol may relax your throat muscles too much, which can cause airway obstruction. Alcohol consumption can also cause gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Also known as GERD, this condition can damage your vocal cords and the soft tissues of your throat as a result of irritating stomach acid. If you develop GERD, talk to your doctor about taking an acid blocker medication or an over-the-counter antacid to help treat your symptoms.

Alcohol is also a central nervous system depressant, and if you drink it excessively before going to sleep, your central nervous system may become so depressed that respiratory failure may occur. If you feel the need to have a couple of drinks at night to help you sleep, talk to your doctor about other ways to help you relax. 

Lose Extra Weight

Obesity is a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea. While CPAP therapy is beneficial even in those who are overweight, it may be even more effective if you lose weight. Losing weight helps prevent the weight of your neck from pushing on your airway and it also helps prevent your abdomen from pressing on your diaphragm.

Weight loss helps you breathe better when you sleep and may prevent you from waking up in the middle of the night choking or gasping for air. Choking and gasping are two common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, and if this happens on a nightly basis, it may also put you at risk for developing high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.

If you've tried losing weight on your own but were not successful, speak to your doctor. He or she can recommend a healthy eating plan or refer you to a nutritionist who can help you make healthy dietary choices. 

If you believe you have obstructive sleep apnea, make an appointment with an ENT specialist. After a complete examination, your physician may schedule you for a sleep study to determine if you might benefit from using a CPAP machine when you sleep.

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