November 25th 2021|| CPAP, Sleep Apnea
If you or your loved one suffers from Sleep Apnea, then you must surely have heard your doctor suggest the use of CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy for it. It is a machine that helps to keep the airway free and without obstruction so that you can breathe normally while you sleep through the night.
The benefits of CPAP vary among people. Some people may see the effects of CPAP immediately while others may only see it gradually. So how will you know if your CPAP is really working for you?
To know if your CPAP is working or not start observing the following symptoms before and after using CPAP:-
- The Night symptoms of Sleep Apnea include:
- choking,
- snoring,
- nocturia,
- mouth/throat dryness,
Once you start using CPAP, you should compare the quality of night sleep by observing the following symptoms – like how much choking and snoring has decreased, how much mouth dryness or throat dryness has decreased, how much the urination cycle at night decreased, etc. Any improvement in these symptoms will indicate that CPAP is working for you.
- The Day symptoms of Sleep Apnea include not feeling fresh in the morning, morning headache, dozing off while driving, loss of concentration, etc. If a patient does not get enough sleep at night he’ll be tired, fatigued and sleepy during the day time. After starting the use of CPAP, you must observe and compare to see if there are any improvements in the Day Symptoms of Sleep Apnea as well.
- Control on current medical condition: People suffering from Sleep Apnea also often suffer from other comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiac disorders, etc. If CPAP is working for you, you will see that it helps to keep these medical conditions in check and prevents them from getting worse.
- Prevention of future medical complications: One of the benefits of CPAP is that long term use has better effects. CPAP can help to prevent future medical complications. Untreated Sleep Apnea is dangerous and will definitely lead to multiple complications in the future.
In conclusion, though CPAP helps some people immediately, the benefits of CPAP are not seen immediately in some cases and may take a while longer such as a few weeks to see the effects. In such cases, the patient may get disheartened or frustrated but should not stop the use of CPAP. One must consult with their medical practitioner regarding whether they are using the machine properly or whether there may be a defect in the machine.
If Sleep Apnea is left untreated, it can create future medical complications, and hence, it must not be ignored. The longer the CPAP machine is used, the better the effects are seen. If even after long-term use, no benefits are seen, then one must consult with their doctor who would further guide them.
To seek help or know more about CPAP for Sleep Apnea, you can visit the Neurology and Sleep Centre, the 1st sleep centre in the country accredited by the Indian Board of Sleep Medicine at L-23, Hauz Khas Enclave, New Delhi, Delhi-110016 (INDIA)
Or give a call on +91-11-46070321, +91-9643500270
