28 Jul The Benefits of Using CPAP
Often, once a patient is diagnosed with sleep apnea, a patient can be hesitant to start wearing CPAP every night. After all – it might seem to the patient that they have been sleeping well their whole life without using CPAP! Beyond improved sleep, however, treating sleep apnea results in a whole host of improved health and improved future health outcomes. Below are some of the reasons to strongly consider CPAP Therapy if you have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea:
HEART DISEASE
By treating your sleep apnea, you can reduce your risk of heart disease. Sleep apnea is linked to a variety of heart problems because it causes you to stop breathing many times each night. These pauses cause changes in the pressure on your heart and can cause changes in your blood oxygen levels. This puts an enormous strain on your heart.
People with untreated sleep apnea have a higher rate of death from heart disease than those without sleep apnea or with treated sleep apnea. Using CPAP over an extended period of time can protect you from heart problems and reduce your chance of dying from them. This includes:
- Congestive heart failure
- Coronary artery disease
- Irregular heartbeat
STROKE
If you have sleep apnea, consistent CPAP use can reduce your risk of stroke, one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability. A stroke is a sudden loss in brain function. It occurs when there is a blockage or rupture in one of the blood vessels leading to the brain. People with untreated sleep apnea are two to four times more likely to have a stroke.
DIABETES
Using CPAP to treat your sleep apnea can improve insulin sensitivity. Sleep apnea is related to glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, both factors in type 2 diabetes. Untreated sleep apnea increases your risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
CPAP can help you become a safer driver by reducing your daytime fatigue. Untreated sleep apnea makes you 15 times more likely to be involved in a deadline crash. Many people with sleep apnea have a hard time staying awake and concentrating while driving.
BENEFITS TO YOUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Using CPAP to treat your sleep apnea can improve your life and make each day better. It can help improve your:
DAYTIME ALERTNESS
Sleepiness and daytime fatigue are common symptoms of sleep apnea. CPAP can restore your normal sleep pattern and increase your total sleep time by eliminating breathing pauses in your sleep. This will help you wake up feeling more refreshed and boost your energy throughout the day.
CONCENTRATION
Untreated sleep apnea can make you feel cloudy-headed because it interferes with your cognitive functioning. Using CPAP may improve your ability to think, concentrate and make decisions. This can also improve your productivity and decrease your chance of making a costly mistake at work.
EMOTIONAL STABILITY
Untreated sleep apnea is linked with depression. CPAP can help improve your mood, reduce your risk of depression and improve your overall quality of life.
SNORING
By keeping your airway open as you sleep, CPAP can also reduce or eliminate the sound of your snoring. While you may not notice, your bed partner will benefit from a quieter sleep environment.
MEDICAL EXPENSES
People with untreated sleep apnea usually have higher medical expenses. Treatment with CPAP can reduce medical expenses, even when you factor in the cost of CPAP. Sleep apnea can lead to more health problems and more doctors’ visits. Treatment for serious health risks linked to sleep apnea such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes can be costly. Medical expenses will decrease when you use CPAP to treat your sleep apnea.