How sleep apnea is linked to your heart
Sleep apnea is dangerous for your heart and cardiovascular system because it deprives the body of oxygen. Each time you struggle for breath during the night due to your obstructive sleep apnea, you get less oxygen in your system, and your heart has to work harder to get more blood flowing around your body.
The increase in effort from your heart causes high blood pressure and other heart problems. Left unchecked, this can then lead to a number of other dangerous health problems, including heart attack and stroke. The good news is, using CPAP may help both sleep apnea and heart health at the same time.
Study: “CPAP Compliance Key to Reducing Cardiovascular Risks of Sleep Apnea”
The researchers at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine observed participants who were recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. By testing them before starting CPAP treatment and again 3 months into their treatment, they were able to see how quickly CPAP treatment could affect heart health. They found:
- Patients with high compliance showed huge improvements in blood pressure
- Low-compliance test subjects didn’t see any results
- For those that stopped with high compliance, the benefits quickly disappeared
How to use your CPAP to reduce cardiovascular risks
By now you’re wondering – how can I make sure my CPAP is giving me these benefits? There are a few ways to ensure your CPAP is giving you the best CPAP therapy possible – and therefore helping your heart health too.
1. Make sure you have working supplies.
When your supplies are old, the therapy will become less and less effective. Because this happens slowly over time, most folks end up not noticing it. Instead, they will tighten their mask a little more, thinking they just need the seal a little closer.
Eventually this leads to over-tightening that can cause pain, marks, and the annoying “hot mask” feeling. The less comfortable your CPAP supplies are, the harder it is to stay compliant and get your CPAP benefits. You can avoid this by replacing your supplies with fresh ones regularly on the recommended, insurance-backed schedule.
Your CPAP supplies could be yours for $0! Allow us to check with your insurance provider for you to find out what is covered (for free!). Click below to get started:
Are your supplies due for a replacement? Check out our standard insurance replacement schedule below:
2. Make sure you have the right pressure.
Sleep studies are no longer needed to ensure machines are providing the right pressure. Instead, newer CPAP machines are now auto-titrating, meaning they adjust to your needs breath-by-breath to give the most effective pressure needed all night. ResMed’s AirSense 11 AutoSet has automatic comfort settings to help you stay CPAP compliant:
- Humidification: 7 levels of humidity and an optional heated tube ensures you don’t dry out
- EPR: Expiratory Pressure Relief reduces pressure upon exhale, avoiding high pressure mask leaks
- AutoRamp: Starts your sleep therapy at a low pressure so you fall asleep more comfortably
- Humidification: 7 levels of humidity and an optional heated tube ensures you don’t dry out
- EPR: Expiratory Pressure Relief reduces pressure upon exhale, avoiding high pressure mask leaks
- AutoRamp: Starts your sleep therapy at a low pressure so you fall asleep more comfortably
Upgrade to the AirSense 11 today for just $399 down and 0% APR!
3. Keep your supplies sanitized.
Bacteria buildup on your mask can weaken your mask seal. The more your seal weakens, the more likely you won’t get the right pressure from your machine. That’s why keeping your CPAP clean can be the difference between intolerable and effective therapy. The Sleep8 CPAP cleaner will keep your supplies sanitary and fresh, making cleaning easy with:
- Ozone technology: Kills over 99% of harmful viruses, bacteria, and mold
- One-click cleaning: Just press a button and let the Sleep8 do the rest
- Complete compatibility: No adapter needed to use with any mask and machine
- Ozone technology: Kills over 99% of harmful viruses, bacteria, and mold
- One-click cleaning: Just press a button and let the Sleep8 do the rest
- Complete compatibility: No adapter needed to use with any mask and machine
Save $100 when you buy the Sleep8 today!
If buildup on your mask is a common issue for you, try our Mask Wipes for daily use!
4. Use a mask that seals well.
Finding the right mask for your face can be frustrating, but newer masks are designed to fit more people every day. If leaks from your mask are giving you trouble, the AirFit F30 mask will be a great change. Unlike other masks that seal up over and around the bridge of your nose, the F30 won’t push air towards your eyes at all. Instead, it has:
- Minimal design: Allows you to wear glasses in bed and curl up closer to your bed partner
- QuietAir™ technology: Makes for a quieter experience for you and your bed partner
- Quick-release elbow and universal headgear: Makes disconnecting your mask easier than ever
- Minimal design: Allows you to wear glasses in bed and curl up closer to your bed partner
- QuietAir™ technology: Makes for a quieter experience for you and your bed partner
- Quick-release elbow and universal headgear: Makes disconnecting your mask easier than ever
Save $20 on the AirFit F30 today!
Don’t miss out on your insurance coverage! Find out if the AirFit F30 is covered today:
Source: “CPAP Compliance Key to Reducing Cardiovascular Risks of Sleep Apnea.” School of Medicine and Public Health University of Wisconsin Medicine. June 3rd 2014.
