ANCSLEEP BLOG

What is a Travel CPAP Device?

CPAP therapy is saving countless people from the negative effects of sleep apnea all over the world. A travel CPAP device is a smaller, lighter, easier-to-carry, and more discrete CPAP machine. Other travel benefits include the fact that they are:

• Are TSA friendly
• Can be FAA approved for in-flight use
• Are easy to disassemble and reassemble
• Portable! They fit into a carry-on bag

One of the reasons they are more travel friendly is that they tend to:

• Use smaller tubing
• Have fewer components
• Are battery powered, and don’t require power cables

Travel CPAP machines are made specifically for traveling, and though they are a bit more expensive than regular CPAP machines they are not made to “replace” your regular CPAP.

Overlap Between ADHD Symptoms and Sleep Deprivation Symptoms

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms and symptoms of sleep deprivation tend to overlap. An interesting question to consider is can sleep problems result in ADHD? If the answer is yes, there may be treatments available for some people with ADHD that are non-pharmacological.

Right now, there is no answer to this question. It is something that researchers, such as professor Sandra Kooij (Associate Professor of Psychiatry at VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, and founder and chair of the European Network Adult ADHD), are only just beginning to tackle.

Consider for a moment though, some of the most common symptoms of sleep deprivation [Brandon Peters, MD] that are also symptomatic of ADHD [WebMD]:

• Difficulty remaining attentive
• Lack of focus
• Impulsiveness
• Forgetfulness
• Impaired performance on common activities
• Poor prioritization/planning
• Disrupted sleep cycle

If you or your child struggle with ADHD you might also check in and see how your sleep is too.

 

Many individuals face the frustrating dilemma of working towards their weight loss to no avail. Although they follow the most common methods to shed pounds like dieting and exercising, they see no difference on the scale.

If you or someone you know can attest to this experience, there's a chance that a lack of sleep may be contributing to your inability to lose weight. Many aspects of achieving a good night's rest directly affect the body's potential to slim down.

 

If you're getting insufficient sleep, there's a good chance you're suffering from a number of symptoms making life more challenging. In addition to feeling fatigued, you may be experiencing headaches, lack of concentration, and feeling more moody and irritable than usual. However, you might also find that your memory isn't as sharp as always. Many individuals may be shocked and surprised to learn that medical studies have proven that loss of sleep can lead directly to loss of memory.

In the life of an average woman, she will experience 7 significant hormonal shifts. These shifts occur during puberty, during adult menstrual years, during pregnancy, postpartum, twice during perimenopause, and post-menopause.

It's no surprise, then, that the National Sleep Foundation reports that women are much more likely to report sleep problems than men. Hormones may be entirely to blame for this phenomenon given that hormonal fluctuations have a direct relationship with quality of sleep.

 

How Much Sleep Should Children Have

Children, ages 0-17, need a lot more sleep than adults. The recommended amount of sleep for children varies with age. Here are some ranges that you will commonly see for nighttime sleep recommendations [NHS]:

• 1-5 years: 11-12 hours of sleep per night
• 6-9 years: 10-11 hours of sleep per night
• 10-17 years: 9-10 hours of sleep per night

Of course, we are all individuals and your child may need a bit more or less sleep than indicated above. Also, naptime is important for babies and toddlers in addition to the above recommendations for nighttime sleep.

 

If sleep is being sacrificed on a consistent basis, it's likely that individual is suffering from weariness and reduced alertness. Extreme fatigue may also lead to irritability, depression, headaches, loss of appetite, and the development of more serious health issues. However, many don't speculate that their lack of sleep may be causing low testosterone. In fact, new studies show that poor sleep may be directly linked to lowered levels of testosterone in men.

In a study by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, losing sleep can impact testosterone in as little as one week. Like with many simultaneously occurring conditions, there is a comorbidity that exists between fatigue and hormone levels. There is little doubt, however, that sacrificing sleep has the ability to cause a drop in testosterone levels.

Should You Travel With Your CPAP Device?

Traveling is often a hassle, and your CPAP device takes up a lot of space. Additionally, people with CPAP devices may wonder if they even can even travel with their CPAP device. Because of this, people with sleep apnea can be a bit...neglectful in being diligent about traveling with their CPAP device. Nonetheless, it remains important to wear your CPAP every night.

So, can you travel with your CPAP device? Yes. Should you travel with your CPAP device? Most definitely. Here's some useful information to know about traveling with your CPAP device.

 

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. There are three types of sleep apnea:

1. Obstructive sleep apnea
2. Central sleep apnea
3. Complex sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is when the upper airway becomes blocked during sleep. This blockage greatly reduces or completely stops airflow, and is usually accompanied by loud snoring.

Central sleep apnea is a type of sleep apnea that happens when the brain does not send signals needed to breathe during sleep. This type of sleep apnea is not accompanied by snoring. Sometimes, a person can have both obstructive and central sleep apnea, which is called (3) complex sleep apnea syndrome.

Obstructive sleep apnea is far more common than the other types. Continue reading to learn how OSA  can affect mood.