Feb 4th 2021
How to be Supportive of Your Partner with Sleep Apnea
How to be Supportive of Your Partner with Sleep Apnea
The thing with having sleep apnea is that even your partner may be as sleep-deprived as you are. Keep in mind that sleep apnea affects more than the sufferer. No matter who’s diagnosed with sleep apnea, it’s essential to be supportive of the other. Communication, as well as understanding the effects of sleep apnea and how you’ll be able to treat it, will help both of you sleep better. With that in mind, here are some things to consider if your partner has sleep apnea.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder in which a person’s breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep. There are 3 main types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
You have probably heard of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) more than the other types. This is the most common form of sleep apnea wherein the muscles in the back of your throat relax. As a result, your airways tend to close up when you breathe in.
- Central Sleep Apnea
This type of sleep apnea is less common and occurs when your brain fails to send signals to your breathing muscles. If you have central sleep apnea, you may often wake up in the middle of your sleep gasping for air.
- Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Complex sleep apnea syndrome, which is also referred to as treat-emergent central sleep apnea, is a condition when the person has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
Not sure if you or your partner has sleep apnea? Make sure you read about Sleep Apnea Signs and Symptoms.
Communicate openly with your partner
As we mentioned before, any relationship issue can be resolved with open communication. Of course, it will be a daunting topic as not everyone is comfortable in sharing their medical issues. However, by being open, you can encourage them to seek professional medical advice, which leads us to our next point.
Seek professional medical advice
GoCPAP has a number of informational blogs that talk about your first 90 Days of CPAP Therapy or Sleep Apnea Signs. You can also browse our website to learn more about the benefits of CPAP for sleep apnea patients. However, if your partner has not received a diagnosis yet, make sure to visit your sleep doctor. You can accompany them for moral support and so that you can listen to what they have to say. This will allow you to help them decide on which treatment is best for them.
Be patient
The road to recovery will always be long and hard so be patient and don’t nag. With CPAP therapy, the adjustment period typically lasts for weeks or even months. Make sure that the CPAP pressure is not too high or too low or that your partner is wearing the right type of mask.
Some outdated CPAP machines are loud so take this into account as your partner begins their sleep therapy. Moreover, with GoCPAP’s wide range of CPAP machines and mask accessories, you can shop for the right equipment that will help both of you achieve a restful night’s sleep.
