You know, of course, that the most important tip for sleep apnea over the holidays is to remain as consistent as you can with your sleep apnea treatment. Translation: No matter what, make sure you wear it every night (and remember to pack it if you’re traveling). What you might overlook, however, is that there are some other easy-to-miss pitfalls that can swap out the comfortable, solid sleep you have finally figured out with the interrupted sleep you experienced before you began treatment. No worries! Our suggestions offer much-needed help.
Tip #1: Find Out What’s In The Eggnog
If you want to keep your sleep apnea treatment running smoothly and providing you with effective results, you will want to do everything you can to protect your sleep. Remember that anything that relaxes your muscles (such as alcohol) will relax your throat (potentially encouraging a sleep apnea episode). We suggest asking about what’s in the eggnog and avoiding it if it’s been spiked!
Tip #2: Skip The After-Dinner Coffee
It’s always so cozy and nice to indulge in an after-dinner holiday coffee with friends and family. Unfortunately, caffeine can keep you up at night. If you know that you are sensitive to caffeine’s effects, you might want to forego the coffee for a cup of cocoa (or your host just might have decaf on hand).
Tip #3: Don’t Let Stress Get The Best Of You
When you let stress get the best of you, a lot of not-good-for-your-sleep things can happen. You might forget to use your sleep apnea treatment. You might have trouble sleeping. The list continues. Take a couple minutes out of each day to center yourself and remember to enjoy the holidays!
