“Utilizing a CPAP whereas touring could be troublesome,” says Chafen Hart, MD, a sleep drugs specialist at Nationwide Jewish Well being in Denver. “You want a voltage converter for international journey, and the machine itself could be cumbersome. Additionally, whereas it counts as medical tools, which lets you deliver it as a carry-on, lugging the machine round could be problematic.”
Different components — jet lag specifically — can disrupt your sleep schedule, she says, and consuming heavy meals and ingesting alcohol on trip could worsen sleep apnea signs. However sure methods can ease frequent journey points so you may take pleasure in your journey with out dropping sleep within the course of.
1. Contemplate a Journey CPAP
For those who’re taking a highway journey, bringing your common CPAP machine is straightforward, however for different sorts of journey, it might be price investing in a mannequin that is designed particularly for journey, says Sarathi Bhattacharyya, MD, a pulmonologist, a sleep drugs specialist, and the medical director of the MemorialCare sleep problems heart at Lengthy Seaside Medical Heart in California.
“These machines are smaller and extra simply transported,” he says. “They usually do not use distilled water for humidification, in order that’s one much less factor to consider once you get to your vacation spot.”
As a result of some fashions are ultralightweight and compact, and might use battery energy as a substitute of being plugged in, a journey CPAP can usually be used throughout a flight, which is helpful should you’re making an attempt to sleep on a aircraft, says Dr. Bhattacharyya.
One sticking level is that these machines will not be normally lined by insurance coverage, so that they is perhaps a dear funding, Dr. Hart says. Nonetheless, as a result of they’re medical units, it is doable to make use of your versatile spending account or well being financial savings account funds to buy one.
“Different therapy choices are mandibular development units and hypoglossal nerve stimulators,” says Madeleine Basist, MD, a pulmonologist at Northwell Well being’s Lenox Hill Hospital in New York Metropolis. “These could also be simpler to journey with, since they’re extra compact and require much less tools.”
2. Pack a Sleep Apnea Journey Package
It is useful to deliver gadgets that you simply use to sleep comfortably at residence, says Dr. Basist, for instance, an eye fixed masks, pillow, and white noise machine. Even packing your favourite pajamas can provide you a way of familiarity and luxury.
“Sustaining your bedtime routine and sleep habits whereas touring can assist with adjusting to a brand new sleep atmosphere,” she says. Additionally deliver your physician’s contact info and a letter of medical necessity to your CPAP, which is able to make it simpler to deliver by means of airport safety and customs.
3. Alter to the Time Zone in Advance
“When jet lag ends in inadequate sleep, it might probably have a rebound impact that will trigger extra vital sleep apnea signs,” says Hart. “Jet lag also can result in consuming at bizarre occasions, and ingesting extra caffeine or alcohol, which may have an effect on sleep high quality.”
4. Get Extra Bodily Exercise
Once you’re at your vacation spot, keep away from the urge to sleep in as a solution to catch up, as a result of this will likely delay how your physique adjusts to a special time zone, says Bhattacharyya.
Different suggestions for getting higher sleep: Keep away from giant meals, notably within the night, and get some gentle to average exercise in the course of the day, as that may promote sleep and assist with the adjustment to a special time zone, he says.
For those who’re involved about journey and the way it will have an effect on your sleep apnea therapy, speak together with your healthcare supplier earlier than your journey.
