National Sleep Therapy Newsletter

Fitness Guru's Challenge to Sleep Apnea Patients:
"Small Changes Make a Big Impact"

Tim Mills is Featured Guest on Oct. 7th 'CPAP Chat'

Two months ago, during his appearance on 'CPAP Chat', noted motivational fitness and nutrition guru Tim Mills challenged participants to take his 'Fitness Challenge' -- and report on their successes during the October 7th edition of 'CPAP Chat.'

Prepping for the upcoming session, Mills says, "It will be fun and informative to see how many followed my advice about easy, common-sense dietary changes and a low-impact exercise regimen." The founder of Tim Mills Fitness based in New Hampshire s ays this is the first online group fitness challenge of its kind. He says, "A range of simple changes can make a huge difference and get people motivated to do more. It's easier when you start small and work up to more."

It's not too late to contact Tim for some last minute tips. You can email him at [email protected]. Just tell him you're a CPAP Chat participant and get a complimentary 10 minute training tips personal call with Tim.

Read more on the NST Blog>

Yes, There Are Ways for Sleep Apnea Sufferers to Count Sheep While Traveling...

People who have difficulty getting a good night's sleep at home often find it's even trickier to get that all-important shuteye when traveling.

Individuals with sleep apnea from eight states joined in the September edition of 'CPAP Chat.' One caller said she's planning a vacation in California. Another will be visiting relatives in Scotland. A third, who travels for business, wanted to know which devices run on both U. S. and European current, plus alternatives to bringing his CPAP unit.

During the recent session, host Eric Cohen, discussed best practices for transport and use of CPAP units on planes and cruise ships and for camping, plus the latest in travel CPAP devices. He described long-life, solar, car and marine battery options. Cohen noted that insurance may cover the cost of a travel CPAP if the individual is eligible for a new unit.

Read more on the NST Blog>

Question:

If I lose weight will I be able to get off CPAP therapy?

Answer:

While weight and neck circumference are strong contributors to sleep apnea, they are not the only cause. Many people falsely believe that weight and neck size are the only causes of sleep apnea because they are the most obvious to point out.

Weight contributes to sleep apnea because of gravity and excessive tissues. When you sleep, the muscles of the body relax; this includes the muscles of the throat and mouth that work to keep your airway open during waking hours. People that are overweight often have larger necks and more soft fatty tissues in the throat. A narrower opening due to a thicker neck coupled with excess fatty tissue in the throat makes it easier for these tissues to fall back in the airway and restrict airflow. However, many people that are not overweight also have sleep apnea for a variety of reasons. Some of these causes are:

Age - As people age their muscles begin to lose muscle tone. This is also true of the muscles in the throat. As throat muscles lose definition, they become weaker and more likely to collapse into the airways during sleep.
Enlarged tonsils or adenoids are the leading cause of obstructive sleep apnea in children but can also affect adults who never had a tonsillectomy when they were younger.
Natural causes - Some people can be genetically predisposed to having a narrower throat or may have an enlarged tongue that falls back into their airway. If your family has a history of OSA you are more likely to have it yourself.
Frequent alcohol use - Alcohol relaxes the muscles in the body, and this includes the throat muscles as well which may relax to the point of blocking the airway during sleep.
Smoking - Smoke is an irritant to the lungs, throat, and esophagus. It can cause inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airways that can impede airflow.

Don't let the idea of never getting off of CPAP discourage you from healthier lifestyle choices like we'll talk about during CPAP Chat this month. While you may not be able to get off of CPAP entirely, losing weight can lead to less restrictive airflow, and therefore lower pressure settings, which can make therapy more tolerable. Still have more questions? Contact us!

Have a question? Send us an email.

(See note about email in footer below.)

Mark Your Calendars

Our next 'CPAP Chat' support call, held on the first Wednesday of each month from 7 - 8 pm (ET), is scheduled for October 7th, 2015.

Tim Mills from Tim Mills Fitness will be our featured guest, chatting with participants about healthy lifestyle changes.

CPAP Chat is open to individuals who use CPAP for sleep apnea or other sleep issues, health care professionals, and anyone else interested in the topic.

For more information call 888.867.8840.

To participate: Just prior to the session, call 1-800.204.6655, enter access code 342-2187#.

Back to Basics

Learn how CPAP therapy helps your overall health.

We'd Love Your Feedback!

The caring staff at National Sleep Therapy want to make sure you are satisfied with our services. By leaving feedback for us, we can create a better experience for you.

Please be aware that email communication can be intercepted in transmission or misdirected. Your use of email to communicate protected health information (PHI) to us indicates that you acknowledge and accept the possible risks associated with such communication. Please consider communicating any sensitive information by telephone, fax or mail .