Getting a good nights rest is equally if not more important than following a healthy diet and exercise plan, this is simply because sleep is when the body rests and recovers from the physical and mental aspects of the day. This is especially true when you are a patient diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but more often than not if you suffer from COPD a good nights rest is difficult to come by. Though not all COPD patients have a hard time sleeping, if you are one of those patients effected, there are proven methods that are designed to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep all throughout the night.
Learn How to Sleep Better with COPD
- Listen to Your Body, When You're Tired Go to Sleep: There are a few minor adjustments that you can make to be sure you are tired when it is time to go to sleep, the first step is to eliminate those afternoon naps. Extended naps in the middle of the afternoon really disrupt your bodies sleeping pattern, another cause for sleep deprivation is sugary and caffeinated beverages. Caffeine once consumed will hang around your body throughout the whole day, often extending into bedtime hours, leaving you to toss and turn throughout the night. Talk to your doctor about possible exercise routines you can perform before bedtime to help tire yourself.
- Have a Set Sleeping Schedule: Get your body into a sleep routine where you wake up and go to sleep at the same time everyday.
- Stay Clear of Sleeping Pills: No matter if they are over the counter or prescribed, sleeping pills should be avoided at all costs as they can be dangerous for COPD patients. Sleeping pills slow your breathing rate while also making it less likely to respond to stimuli. Stimuli in your case is supplemental oxygen, and sleeping pills could prevent your body from receiving the benefits of supplemental oxygen when you're sleeping.
- Make Sure You Have a Proper Dose of Medication(s): If you find yourself waking in the middle of night due to symptoms that your steroids or inhaler medications are supposed to reduce, then talk to your doctor about possibly adjusting the dosing so their benefits last you all throughout the night.
- Opt to Use CPAP: CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure, and is used for patients that also suffer from sleep apnea which further interrupts sleeping patterns. A CPAP mask will deliver a consistent stream of air to reverse the effects. If you are not sure if you have CPAP, then make an appointment with your doctor to get tested. If you are in the market for a portable concentrator, make sure to consider one of the portable oxygen concentrators that have the compatibility to be used in congruence with CPAP devices.
- Use Oxygen Therapy at Night: Talk to your doctor if you are not prescribed to use your portable oxygen machine at night if you are having troubles sleeping, as oxygen throughout the night will greatly raise your blood oxygen levels to help you sleep soundly throughout the evening.
- Avoid Electronics While in Bed: Though you may be used to having the television on while trying to sleep, but you should get yourself out of that habit as the T.V., cellphone, and other electronic devices emit noise and bright lights which can either wake your up or prevent your from falling asleep in all. Give your body the ability to re-energize and turn off the electronic devices!
Stop letting your sleeping problems impact your daily life, as a night filled with restlessness leads to a day of fatigue, depression, and frequent mood changes. Lack of sleep can also leave your body at risk for developing potential infections, so it is extremely important to take your sleeping problems seriously and by applying the tips above you can conquer your COPD related sleeping troubles and enjoy a good nights' sleep.
