If sleep apnea has left you feeling unusually exhausted during the day, you might be tempted to lie back on the couch and grab a quick nap. Unfortunately, this likely won’t help as much as you think. In fact, napping is one of the last things you want to do if you’re currently trying to get your sleep-disordered breathing under control. Here’s what sleep apnea patients need to know when it comes to naps.
Why is Napping with Sleep Apnea a Bad Idea?
Sleep apnea is characterized by interruptions in your breathing that repeatedly pull you out of the sleep cycle, depriving your body of the rest it needs. It’s crucial to remember that sleep loss is a cumulative problem; if you get less sleep than you need every night, it will result in a sleep debt that grows bigger over time. This means that napping alone typically isn’t enough to make up for the slumber that your body has missed out on due to sleep apnea, and you may not even feel any better upon awakening.
On top of that, napping during the day can potentially throw off the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. As a result, when your regular bedtime arrives, you may find that you have a harder time falling and staying asleep. If sleep apnea is already interfering with your ability to get a good night’s rest, a disrupted sleep-wake cycle will only add to the problem.
What Can You Do to Address Sleep Apnea?
If you currently have sleep apnea, you will want to have it diagnosed and treated by an expert as soon as possible. Oftentimes, a sleep dentist can help you find relief from sleep-disordered breathing with the help of a personalized oral appliance. By adjusting the position of your lower jaw and/or holding your tongue in place, an oral appliance can help keep your airway unobstructed throughout the night, which reduces the chances of your breathing being interrupted.
There are also few steps you can take at home that can help you manage your sleep apnea, such as:
- Changing Your Sleeping Position: If you currently sleep on your back, you may see an improvement in your sleep apnea symptoms if you switch to sleeping on your side.
- Losing Weight: Sleep apnea is often connected to obesity, so losing weight may reduce the severity of your symptoms.
- Avoiding Alcohol at Night: Alcohol can relax the muscles in your throat and make them more prone to blocking your airway. It’s therefore recommended that you stay away from alcohol for a few hours prior to your normal bedtime.
In short, napping is not the solution for sleep apnea that it might seem to be on the surface. Fortunately, there are plenty of other steps you can take to manage your sleep-disordered breathing so that you can get the rest you deserve.
About the Author
Dr. Keane Fedosky has more than 20 years of experience using oral appliance therapy to treat sleep-disordered breathing. He graduated from the Baylor College of Dentistry, and he has been named a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. He is also a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine as well as the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain. If you’re looking for a solution to sleep apnea, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Fedosky at Sleep Rehab in Plano by visiting his website or calling (972) 496-0515.