Night Owls to Early Birds

Tips to help you get great deep sleep.

How REM Uses Energy Despite the fact that you are resting, your body still consumes energy when you sleep. Energy use is particularly high during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. During this time, your brain is highly active and you burn the most glucose, your body’s source of fuel. Your heart rate and blood pressure also rise during this time, which burns more calories. Other Calorie-Burning Activities During Sleep During the night, your body goes to work repairing any damage done on a cellular level during your waking hours. For instance, if you exercise during the day, your muscles will recover and repair themselves at night, which requires energy. Food digestion also uses energy, as your body breaks down your meal into usable fuel for the following day. How Many Calories Can You Burn? The amount of energy you use during sleep depends on a number of factors, including your basal metabolic rate (BMR), which determines the amount of energy your body needs to maintain its most basic functions. This includes breathing, blood circulation, and keeping your organs running. How much you weigh plays a role in setting your BMR: The more pounds you are carrying, the more energy you use. Finally, the amount of sleep a person gets influences calories burned as well. For example, a healthy person who weighs 125 pounds burns approximately 38 calories per hour of sleep, so you can multiple that number by number of sleep hours to see approximately how many calories are being burned. - Thanks to the National Sleep Foundation

While it might seem logical to only replace components of your CPAP machine when they appear dirty or worn, there are many reasons to proactively care for and replace supplies on schedule. The air filter on your CPAP machine is responsible for respiratory health, so keeping the filter in top shape should be a priority for the well-being of anyone who deals with sleep apnea.

It can get a little confusing when it comes to figuring out whether or not you need a humidifier, a dehumidifier, or an air purifier. The answer to which you need isn’t quite black and white and can be one or the other or even all three depending on several factors. To figure out what you need, it’s best to understand what each one does. Humidifier Humidifiers are portable units that increase humidity levels in the air. The air in our homes can become too dry when we live in dry climates or during the colder months when the heat is turned up, causing the air to dry out. Dry air can also damage valuables, such as art and musical instruments, as well as dry-out and warp wood floors, panelling, and furniture. Humidifiers may help you prevent the following: Allergy Reactions Nasal and Throat Irritation Nosebleeds Dry Skin Cracked Lips Breathing Difficulties Dehumidifier Dehumidifiers take humidity out of the air. Too much humidity in the air can cause breathing complications in those with COPD and asthma. Excess moisture in the air can also cause mould and help dust mites grow and thrive. People living in hot and humid climates tend to have too much moisture in the air of their home, and summertime and warm temperatures increase humidity levels for those not living in especially humid climates. Also, homes that are damp due to leaks and poor ventilation also have too much humidity in the air. Dehumidifiers work best on places such as: Basements Bathrooms Kitchens Bedrooms Air Purifier Air purifiers clean the air in the home. They take in air that is then passed through a series of filters. People with asthma and allergies are especially prone to complications when breathing in air that contains dust and other allergens. An air purifier continuously filters the air you breathe for cleaner and healthier air, as well as less dust to clean. Air Purifiers helps eliminate airborne pollutants such as: Dust Pet Dander Smoke Pollen Airborne Allergens and Pollutants So Which Do You Need? In reality, most people who want their climate to be as clean and healthy as possible choose to use all three depending on the time of year. An air purifier is helpful year-round, especially if someone living in the home is a smoker or suffers from allergies or asthma. During the winter months when the heater is on, a humidifier helps maintain the moisture in the air that you need to breathe better, especially when you or a loved one has cold or breathing difficulties. And during the summer months when humidity levels rise or in a home that is especially damp or has mould; a dehumidifier can help you control mould and mildew and make breathing easier by taking away the excess water vapours in the air. Each type of unit has its benefits and be useful during certain times of the year or in certain climates. Those with allergies or asthma and those concerned about the quality of the air they breathe might consider using all three as necessary.

Have you ever woken up to water in your mask? Ever noticed a lot of condensation in your tubing? Has water in your hose ever stopped you from using your CPAP? This is known as CPAP rainout. What is rainout? And why does it happen? What’s the big deal with moisture in the air? The normal function of the upper airway is to heat, humidify and filter the air that you breathe into your lungs. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and are using CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), the device is blowing air into your airway all night long and you may have some leak of air through your mouth or mask. This can cause dry airways and inflammation. Studies show up to 70% of CPAP users experience nasal congestion, drynoseand throat, sore throat, nose bleeds (epitaxis) or discomfort from the cold airflow CPAP. Heated humidification can reduce airway dryness and increase compliance.

Helpful tips for Travel CPAP users