Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects people of all ages, from infants to adults. This means that no single person is immune to this disorder; anyone could get it. There are a number of factors that are reported to be the main causes of this condition. Although most of them are strongly correlated with sleep apnea, there are still some factors that are still in question as to whether they really cause sleep apnea. Caffeine is one of these factors that creates a conflict about its effects on sleep apnea patients. This is a result of the conflicting results of various studies on the effects of caffeine on sleep apnea.
There is an approximate ratio of 2:1 sufferers of snoring amongst men to women. However, this gap catches up after women reach menopause.
Effects of Caffeine on Sleep Apnea
Caffeine, as we all know, is essentially a means of hindering sleep. People who have some work to do overnight and want to get it done before they fall asleep drink something with caffeine in order to stay awake. Drivers who travel long distances tend to use caffeine to keep them awake until they have finished their trips. Drinking a glass of coffee or tea before bedtime is therefore widely used as an informal way to avoid sleep. Therefore, it might be considered obvious that caffeine increases the effects of obstructive sleep apnea.
However, interestingly, most studies show that caffeine is more likely to help with sleep apnea than to make the situation worse.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a form of sleeping-breathing disorder with which a number of patients worldwide are confronted. Studies show that a cup of coffee, preferably in the morning, could be a help in controlling this type of disorder among the many patients in different countries. In fact, some doctors are prescribing caffeine to patients with mild sleep apnea.
But the timing of the caffeine intake is of great importance. It should be taken long before going to bed, preferably with a meal, so that you can sleep comfortably during the night. When taken late at night, its effects remain in the body for hours and until the effects wear off, you cannot get any sleep.
Doctors have also been known to prescribe caffeine to infants as a means of preventing sleep-breathing disorders. It may seem unusual, but it is true that caffeine actually helps to relieve the disorders that include obstructive sleep apnea in premature babies.
It is worth mentioning that the extent to which caffeine helps with obstructive sleep apnea depends on the degree of the disease. Sleep apnea tends to occur at different levels in all patients, and therefore these levels play an important role in determining the effects of caffeine on patients. As postulated here, only patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea benefit from taking caffeine to relieve the disease. Premature infants are more likely to use it to prevent the disease than to treat advanced disease.
Since the effects of caffeine on sleep apnea are not so clear among researchers, it is advisable to get an expert opinion before using caffeine for your sleep apnea. As clear as the effect of caffeine on sleep apnea may seem to be, depending on the severity of the situation, an expert opinion is required.
It is also advisable to monitor the way in which you take caffeine. Caffeinated soda increases the effects of sleep apnea, while coffee and tea actually attenuate it. Therefore, it is advisable to reduce or give up soda consumption if you suffer from the condition.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea
Fortunately, there are many other effective methods that are also recommended by doctors and experts to deal with sleep apnea, so there’s no need to pin your hopes entirely on caffeine. Some of these methods include using a CPAP mask, losing weight through daily exercise, using oral devices, and other methods that rely on getting the disorder under control without causing more complex problems. Caffeine is more likely to help relieve the disorder. In fact, caffeine and weight loss could be cheap ways to cope with the disorder.
Doctors will always run some tests to find out everything they can about the patient. This will help them to offer sleep apnea treatment options specifically for them. The doctor will then work with the patient to find the right treatment options specifically for them, and if it needs to be adjusted, the doctor will help.
The most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure. If the patient is a heavier person with a thicker neck, higher pressure is required. As a patient grows older or gains weight, higher pressure is also required.
Continuous positive airway pressure, also known as CPAP, works well in many patients with moderate or severe sleep apnea. With CPAP, patients wear a mask that is pulled over their nose during treatment. They sleep. The mask delivers air pressure through a machine that is connected to the mask by tubes.
This treatment includes a personalized mask. The pressure is predetermined by your doctor. Sometimes a humidifier is supplied. However, some people cannot tolerate sleeping with a mask, so other solutions are required.
Final Thought
Although studies differ on how caffeine affects sleep apnea, it is clear that it is mainly associated with supporting the disease. Although it is the most commonly prescribed treatment, it is uncomfortable for many patients. Therefore, it is recommended to increase the morning caffeine intake, although experts strictly forbid the consumption of caffeine with a meal.
About the author: Neil Wilson, a 35-year-old doctor from the USA with 10 years of experience in the health care sector. He managed a home health care company for several years and is happy to share his experience and knowledge. Take a look at devices for treating sleep apnea for more tips and useful information. Stay tuned for more at pickmyperfect.com
