Welcome to winter—the season of the sick. At this time of year, colds and flu abound, causing congestion and making breathing more difficult.
Apria Healthcare VP of Sleep Business Robert Miller states, “This presents an added challenge for people with sleep apnea. Their breathing is already compromised, causing them to wake up throughout the night, sometimes hundreds of times.”
More than 8 million Americans effectively treat their sleep apnea with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine.
The question is, should you continue with your CPAP treatment if you have a stuffy nose and difficulty breathing?
The simple answer: yes!
Your CPAP machine effectively treats your sleep apnea by helping you get the sleep you need. Feeling rested is critical to help you recover from your cold or flu more quickly.
The pressurized air delivered by your CPAP device may clear mucus from your nasal passages and keep them open, decreasing congestion. And the heated, humidified air adds comfort as well as relief.
It’s important to regularly clean your CPAP machine, especially during cold and flu season. This can help prevent the buildup of bacteria, mold, dust, and germs, which may worsen congestion or cause sinus infections.
Cleaning your CPAP machine is relatively easy, especially when you do it routinely. The supplies you’ll need are readily found in your home:
Most manufacturers and sleep experts recommend cleaning your CPAP mask—including the cushion, headgear, and frame—every day.
You should also clean the following components weekly:
Learn more about how to properly clean your CPAP machine.
If you are battling a cold or flu, here are some simple yet effective ways to help you sleep better while using your CPAP.
If you wear a nasal mask with your CPAP, breathing through your nose when you are congested may be even more difficult. This is especially true for people with a deviated septum, where one side of the nose is blocked.
A full-face mask allows you to breathe through your nose or your mouth. As your congestion subsides, you can switch back to your nasal mask.
Before switching to a full-face mask, talk to your healthcare team, who can help you make the transition easier.
Sleeping on your side helps keep your airways open so you can breathe more easily—and get the sleep you need.
Sleeping on your back tends to make congestion worse. But if you can only sleep in that position, use pillows to elevate your head to allow mucus to drain.
Saline nasal sprays or rinses add moisture to your nasal passage to decrease swelling. And decongestants such as antihistamines help reduce inflammation and improve breathing.
These products are widely available, relatively inexpensive, and effective. But be sure to first talk to your doctor, since some may interact with other medications you may be taking.
Research shows that heated humidification with CPAP helps decrease the risk and duration of infection.
Heated humidifiers warm and moisten the air before it reaches your nose to reduce congestion, ease inflamed nasal passages, and make breathing more comfortable while you sleep.
If your nasal passages are congested, higher CPAP pressure may be needed to help you breathe easier. Speak with your doctor about adjusting the pressure of your CPAP machine.
CPAP machines deliver a constant flow of air at one pressure setting. If a CPAP machine isn’t helping, ask your doctor about an APAP (automatic positive airway pressure) machine. It keeps your airways open while you sleep by automatically adjusting the amount of airway pressure based on your needs.
Apria has a team of sleep specialists and coaches who will work closely with you and your doctor to help you get through the cold and flu season—and get the quantity and quality of sleep you need. To speak directly to a live sleep expert, call 877-255-2426 or visit www.apria.com/services/sleep-apnea.
References
1. Brandon, P. (updated 2022, May 31). Can You Use CPAP With a Cold or Stuffy Nose? VeryWell. https://www.verywellhealth.com/should-i-use-cpap-with-a-cold-3015022.
2. (2016, August 10). Using your CPAP in Winter with Colds & Flu. ResMed.
https://www.resmed.co.uk/patient/sleep-apnoea-blog/using-your-cpap-in-winter-with-colds-flu/
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