First-Time CPAP Users Feel Refreshed Instead of Fatigued

One small lifestyle change can give sleep apnea patients a whole new lease on life. After only a few weeks sleeping with a CPAP machine, the constant fatigue from the sleep disorder fades, making way for improved energy and mood.

A study published in the January issue of the journal SLEEP provides proof that CPAP can drastically improve your everyday life.

A group of 59 middle-aged adults diagnosed with sleep apnea were randomly assigned to CPAP therapy or a placebo. The participants were instructed to use the equipment each night for three weeks. The group answered a questionnaire about fatigue and other sleep apnea symptoms before and after the treatment period.

Results show the subjects who used CPAP no longer suffered from clinically significant levels of fatigue after treatment. Self-reported energy levels also increased for CPAP users, and daytime sleepiness dropped.

The group that received a sham treatment did not see any benefit.

CPAP has other long-term benefits. It can save your life by reducing heart attack and stroke risk associated with sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles relax during sleep, causing the soft tissue in the back of the throat to collapse and block the upper airway. The sleep disorder should never go untreated. If you think you may have sleep apnea, get checked out. Countless sleep centers across the U.S. offer overnight sleep studies for the diagnosis of sleep apnea.

Tired & Fatigued: CPAP Improves Daytime Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Excessive daytime sleepiness is a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea.

But a new study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine shows that many people with sleep apnea have other complaints: fatigue, tiredness or a lack of energy. The study also shows that treating sleep apnea with CPAP therapy can help reduce all of these symptoms.

The study involved 313 people with sleep apnea. They had an average age of 55 years.

Before treatment more than half of participants complained of a lack of energy or tiredness. About 46 percent complained of fatigue; a little less than 40 percent complained of sleepiness. Women were more likely than men to report having a lack of energy.

Results show that these daytime symptoms improved in participants who reported using CPAP for five or more hours per night. The change was statistically significant for every complaint except lack of energy.

“We found that sleep apnea patients who used their CPAP regularly…had much greater success in reducing their fatigue, tiredness and sleepiness,” study author Dr. Ronald Chervin told the AASM. “This suggests that sleep apnea may be the cause of these symptoms, as it is a cause of sleepiness.”

Learn more about the warning signs for obstructive sleep apnea. Answer these questions on SleepEducation.com to learn more about your risk for sleep apnea.

Get help for sleep apnea at an AASM-accredited sleep center near you.