Travel CPAP
If you have sleep apnea and have been prescribed a CPAP machine, you probably know something about traveling with one of these machines. We thought that we would write a small article about some of the things you can consider. The focus is to make traveling with your CPAP machine much more comfortable. Also avoid any problems. Travel CPAP issues include finding distilled water, power, wall plugs. Also adding it to your luggage in general when you already have a full suitcase.
The CPAP machine comes with a case for everything that you will need while traveling. The exception is water and an extension cord. We mentioned the extension cord because we have found that in some hotels there is not an easily accessible place to plug in your CPAP machine. An Extension cord can be used to reach to a distant electrical outlet. This allows you to still have your CPAP machine located right beside you on the dresser.
Travel CPAP – Bring Water
In addition I always travel with distilled water. I have the proper kind of water with me at all times. If I’m only going for two or three days, I will use a small water bottle filled with distilled water. I carry it with me inside the case that I use. If I’m going for longer periods, obviously I will take a jug of water that has been distilled with me. I still use the small water bottle filled with distilled water. This helps avoid having to carry the jug of distilled water into the hotel room each night.
In addition to these suggestions I also use a backpack instead of the case that is provided with the CPAP machine. I can combine several items of personal nature as well as a CPAP machine in my backpack, therefore having one less bag to carry when checking into a hotel or visiting friends. It is also less obvious that I have sleep apnea or am carrying a CPAP machine with me. Most people will not care about this last point however for those of you are a bit vain, using a backpack is a much more common and expected item to carry than the case that is provided with the CPAP machine.
Hopefully these small tips and hints will help several of our readers who also are suffering from sleep apnea. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, we suggest you get tested right away, wearing one of masks for sleep apnea is not as difficult as it appears and the benefits are fantastic. You actually get to sleep the whole night through and it is wonderful.
For more information about CPAP travel, click here.
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October 24th, 2015 at 7:31 am
He prob has Allergies Impaired Sleep Quality And Allergic Rhinitis LinkedSept. 2006: Patients with Allergic Rhinitis, such as that caused by Hay Fever and other Allergies, have more dfiticulfy sleeping and more sleep disorders than those without Allergies, according to a report in the September 18 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, a theme issue on sleep. Allergic rhinitis, which occurs when pollen or other allergens irritate and inflame the nasal passages, affects about 20 to 50 percent of the population, according to background information in the article. Allergies have been shown to affect quality of life and several studies have suggested that they may contribute to snoring and breathing problems during sleep, including sleep apnea, a temporary halt to breathing. However, few researchers have closely examined sleep disorders in patients with allergic rhinitis. Damien Leger, M.D., of Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris, and colleagues explored the association between allergic rhinitis and sleep in 591 patients (47 percent men, 53 percent women, average age 34) who had the condition for at least one year and who were being treated by an allergist or by an ear, nose and throat specialist. A control group of 502 individuals who were the same age and sex and lived in the same area, but did not have allergic rhinitis, was also assessed. In 2002, all participants reported sleep disorders and rated their sleepiness; they also provided details regarding demographics, socioeconomic status and smoking habits. For patients with allergic rhinitis, researchers recorded the type of allergies, the duration of the condition, symptoms experienced and treatments used, as well as the presence and treatment of any additional allergic disorders. All sleep disorders and complaints including insomnia, waking up during the night, snoring and feeling fatigued when awakening were more common in those with allergic rhinitis, who also slept fewer hours, took longer to fall asleep and more often felt sleepy during the day. Among the 591 patients with allergic rhinitis, 41.6 percent (vs. 18.3 percent of those without allergic rhinitis) reported dfiticulfy falling asleep, 63.2 percent said they felt they lacked adequate sleep (compared with 25.4 percent of controls) and 35.8 percent (vs. 16 percent of controls) reported insomnia. The results show a significant impact of allergic rhinitis on all dimensions of sleep quality and, consequently, a lower quality of life as reflected by more somnolence [sleepiness]; daytime fatigue and sleepiness; and impaired memory, mood and sexuality, with a significantly increased consumption of alcohol and sedatives in cases compared with the control group, the authors write. The effects of allergic rhinitis on sleep became more pronounced when the condition was moderate to severe. As allergies worsened, individuals slept fewer hours at night, felt sleepy more often during the day, took longer to fall asleep and found it more necessary to take sedative drugs. All types of physicians, including primary care physicians, pulmonologists and ear, nose and throat specialists, should question patients with allergic rhinitis about their sleep habits and difficulties, the authors conclude. This could lead to early detection and treatment of sleep disorders in these patients, they write. Treating allergic rhinitis or other nasal symptoms may improve dramatically the quality of sleep. In the long term, such a strategy would have positive repercussions on a societal level; for example, the numbers of road and work accidents would be reduced. Considering the high incidence of allergic rhinitis and the high rate of associated sleep disorders, the issue is one of public health. (Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:1744-1748.)In the study, French researchers compared the prevalence of sleep disorders and other troubles sleeping in a group of 591 people who were being treated for allergic rhinitis with a similar group of 502 adults without allergic rhinitis.The results showed that all sleep disorders and sleep-related complaints were much more common in people with allergies than those without.For example:b736% of people with allergic rhinitis reported insomnia compared with 16% of those without.b742% of those with allergic rhinitis vs. 18% of those without said they had dfiticulfy falling asleep.b763% of allergic rhinitis sufferers said they felt like they weren’t getting enough sleep compared with 25% of the controls.Researcher Damien Le9ger, MD, of Assistance Publique Hf4pitaux de Paris, and colleagues also found that the severity of sleep disorders and troubles sleeping increased as the severity of symptoms increased. With worsening symptoms, people slept fewer hours, took longer to fall asleep, felt sleepy more often during the day, and found it more necessary to take sedatives.