Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and CPAP treatment are likely terms you are already familiar with. Your friend or family may have sleep apnea and have discussed their CPAP usage. However, what precisely is CPAP?
CPAP means Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Since it has been around for 30 years, CPAP treatment is regarded as the gold standard for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It alludes to the pressurised air provided via a particular delivery method that uses a mask. A sleep expert will prescribe the specific machine and equipment needed to give the prescribed air pressure setting to sleep apnea patients.
What Are CPAP’s Health Advantages?
Some of these advantages might be familiar to you, while others might be completely new. There are many benefits, and your doctor recommended CPAP machines for a reason, even though over 50% of CPAP users never even reach the minimal time frame necessary to reap the therapy’s benefits.
Other significant advantages of CPAP treatment outside curing OSA include:
#1 Improved Heart Health
As oxygen in your blood decreases due to sleep apnea and other sleep problems, it may put your heart under more strain. As your body tries to wake up and restore airflow, it breathes heavily, which causes the production of adrenaline in the blood. For extended periods, the adrenaline level may remain high, which can cause high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and heart disease.
#2 Improved Skin
More cortisol, a stress hormone, is generated when you don’t get enough sleep, and too much of it can break down collagen. Since collagen, a protein, keeps your skin smooth and firm, this is terrible news for your skin. Collagen synthesis may also be decreased by sleep apnea. Use your CPAP machines for sale to return your healthy glow and pink cheeks. Regular CPAP use is associated with lessened face wrinkles, redness, and puffiness.
#3 Lower Pain Levels
One of the most annoying sleep apnea symptoms is waking up with headaches, but low blood oxygen levels can also cause throbbing discomfort in the brain’s surrounding area. Your blood vessels widen as the body gets oxygen-depleted to promote better circulation. However, when there is little oxygen, carbon dioxide is regenerated in the blood and can irritate the skin. Patients risk being caught in a vicious cycle of discomfort and headaches. As a result, waking up every morning or even experiencing nighttime headaches.
#4 Enhanced Intimacy
As sleep apnea is associated with erectile dysfunction, improved sleep may be the key to a more fulfilling romantic relationship. 69% of individuals in recent research who were given an OSA diagnosis also reported erectile dysfunction. It may be more challenging to achieve a good erection due to reduced testosterone levels and decreased oxygen supply. OSA’s stress and exhaustion may make matters in the bedroom even more difficult. Sleep apnea treatment does, however, appear to be associated with more robust erections.
#5 Better mood
It’s not enjoyable to wake up every day feeling exhausted. It may be somewhat gloomy, and you’re not the only one. Additionally, anger, anxiety, and mood changes have been associated with sleep apnea. Only 4% of individuals exhibited depressed symptoms three months after starting CPAP therapy. It demonstrates how feeling better can be a result of having an adequate sleep.
#6 Weight Loss Improvement
Leptin, the hormone that tells your body when you’re full, is produced at lower levels when you have sleep apnea, which may make you want to eat more. Ghrelin, the hormone that alerts you to hunger, is also increased. However, when your body gets more balanced, you could find that you have more energy and willpower to be more active, prepare healthier meals, and avoid sweets.
#7 Lower Diabetes Risk
Sleep apnea is linked to the development and progression of type 2 diabetes because hypoxia (oxygen deprivation), directly affects glucose metabolism by increasing glucose inflammation and resistance. The use of CPAP machines, however, has been shown to enhance glucose homoeostasis by lowering levels of glucose resistance and better regulating metabolism.
#8 Greater Energy
The main sign of sleep apnea is severe daytime weariness. People who don’t get enough sleep feel like they can’t keep their eyes open all day long. Your body starts trying harder to open your airways due to sleep apnea, disturbing your sleep cycles. As your circadian rhythm or sleep cycles are disrupted, you wake up feeling exhausted, achy, and sometimes even irritable. It is because your body cannot receive adequate restorative sleep for physical and mental recovery. Some patients see an instant boost in energy from their CPAP therapy, while others see results in as little as two weeks.
#9 increased immunity
Your immune system does develop stronger when you receive adequate sleep, so if sleep apnea interferes with your sleep, you may become more susceptible to viruses and colds. Typically, during sleep, the body releases T-cells to fight off infections by instructing the immune system how to react. Sleep apnea patients frequently have lower T-cell counts and more excellent rates of inflammation, making it more challenging for their bodies to defend against intruders from outside. Use CPAP machines to safeguard your health, and make sure to clean the machines often to avoid getting colds and the flu.
Conclusion
Speaking with a doctor about how CPAP affects your other health issues is crucial. The best course of action is to never stop taking any medication or medical treatment without first consulting with your doctor. Even while there are several advantages to treating sleep apnea, only your doctor can say with certainty how those advantages will affect you.
