If you just started with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment or have been diagnosed with sleep apnea contemplating if you should start CPAP, consider the benefits of CPAP therapy that outweigh the inconveniences or challenges with adhering to it, especially since there are many ways to manage and overcome it.
A new study suggests that adopting a regular bedtime prior to starting CPAP therapy is a critical factor that influences CPAP treatment compliance in adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and it usually takes about a month to adapt to the long-term use of CPAP as regular routines take as such to establish a new health behavior. This is consistent with a study published in the Journal SLEEP where 97 adults with newly diagnosed OSA completed a 7-day sleep diary before their CPAP treatment and the one-month CPAP adherence is based on data collected from each of their CPAP devices. The results show that bedtime variability is a significant predictor of CPAP adherence of 4 hours or more of treatment per night, and one month of CPAP non-adherence was 3.7 times greater for every increase in bedtime variability, while CPAP use is associated with stable bedtime schedules.
Obstructive sleep apnea affects at least 4% of men and 2% of women it involves constant complete or partial upper airway obstruction up to hundreds of times per night during sleep that disrupts the sleep despite an ongoing effort to breathe. CPAP therapy is the gold standard and most widely prescribed treatment for OSA by physicians to keep the airway open by providing a constant stream of air through a mask worn during sleep.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of sleep apnea such as snoring, daytime sleepiness, irritability, and low energy, it is important to consult a doctor to confirm the diagnosis early and the underlying issue of the cause of sleep apnea. Depending on your financial situation and sleep apnea condition, the doctor will work through with you the type of sleep apnea test in the comfort of your home or an in-lab sleep test to determine the precise nature of your condition to avoid any long-term issues. Besides most insurance companies now pay for sleep testing and CPAP OSA treatment, early intervention with a sleep apnea device can stop snoring or one can a sleep apnea CPAP trial from the equipment supplier or distributor that distributes a range of sleep apnea machines and CPAP supplies fora better quality of sleep and healthier overall well-being.
The Air Station
