How Can You Manage Sleep Apnea When It's Too Hot? As the summer approaches, an increase in temperature is inevitable. By taking the necessary steps to make your bedroom temperature “just right” when you go to sleep, you can keep yourself comfortable. Be sure to set a cool temperature on your air conditioning.
Illustrating the opportunity to improve sleep, even in the presence of worsening obstructive sleep apnea, a lower ambient temperature improves sleep and alertness but increases obstructive sleep apnea.
What Can You Do to Keep Your Sleep Apnea Under Control? If you think the temperature in your bedroom is making your sleep apnea worse, the obvious thing to do is adjust it before you go to bed. Experts say that the right temperature for sleep is in the range of 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sleeping with an air conditioner running at night will maintain a consistent, comfortable room temperature so your body will remain at the optimum core temperature for quality sleep. As the air conditioner cools the air, it also pulls out excessive humidity, maintaining a comfortable level of moisture.
Mild Sleep Apnea: Weight loss, regular exercise, or oral appliances may provide sufficient relief without the need for intensive interventions. Moderate to Severe Sleep Apnea: Surgical options, such as tongue base reduction or palate procedures, or alternative therapies like EPAP devices, may be necessary.
Snoring and sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea causes the airways to collapse during sleep, leading to pauses in breathing. It often goes hand-in-hand with snoring. Positioning yourself on your side or stomach can help the airways stay open to reduce snoring and alleviate mild apnea, Salas says.
Cooler temperatures at night can cause our immune system to slow down. This can make you more susceptible to conditions like common cold or a dry cough. Or else, you might wake up with a sore throat. If the AC unit is not clean, it will circulate germs and other airborne contaminants like dust mites, pet dander, etc.
What is known is that hotter air has the capacity to absorb and carry more water vapor than colder air. In other words, the hotter the air, the higher the humidity tends to be. That said, hot and humid air is thicker and heavier, and, therefore, harder to inhale.
The best AC temperature for sleeping
The goldilocks zone: Aim for a temperature between 18°C (64°F) and 22°C (72°F) for optimal sleep comfort. Individual needs: Consider personal preferences and adjust the temperature accordingly. Some people may prefer slightly cooler or warmer settings.
Fans Can Dry The Air
If you have sleep apnea, allergies, or other respiratory issues keeping the air moist is important when it comes to getting a good night's sleep. You can eliminate this problem by running a cool mist humidifier filled with purified water at night.
Many people with sleep apnea need to keep their heads high – literally. Elevating the head of your bed by 4 to 6 inches or using a specially designed pillow can help keep airways open by reducing the pressure on your throat.
Believe it or not, heat can make sleep apnea worse, which means complying with your treatment plan is more important than ever before. Here's how you can breathe better and sleep peacefully during the summer.
Some people use a humidifier in their bedroom to encourage their sinuses to drain. This makes it easier to breathe through your nose. Applying a product like Vicks VapoRub to your chest before bedtime also will help open your airway.
According to pulmonologist Dr. Michael Scharf, inhaling cold air may cause bronchial irritation and cough. If you have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the cold air “may induce bronchial tightening or constriction leading to cough, wheeze and shortness of breath.”
Expert-Verified Answer. Explanation: In a closed room, an air conditioner will recirculate the oxygen and nitrogen already present. However, there are always openings and crevices in a room that allow oxygen to be replaced and air to circulate through doors or windows.
How Does Exercise Strengthen the Lungs? When you are physically active, your heart and lungs work harder to supply the additional oxygen your muscles demand. Just like regular exercise makes your muscles stronger, it also makes your lungs and heart stronger.
Generally, places with lower ozone levels and lower pollution levels are good choices for people with lung disease, Dr. Knepler said. And if you find that cold, dry air or hot, humid air causes flare-ups, you could look for a location that's more comfortable for you.
Energy Costs and Environmental Impact: A fan is better if you're on a tight budget or value energy conservation and environmental sustainability. Noise Sensitivity: Go for a fan if you're a light sleeper or noise-sensitive. A fan's soft, consistent whirr is more soothing than an AC's intermittent noises.
The best room temperature for sleep is approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3 degrees Celsius). This may vary by a few degrees from person to person, but most doctors recommend keeping the thermostat set between 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 20 degrees Celsius) for the most comfortable sleep.
Dry eyes, lethargy, dehydration, dry or itchy skin, headaches, respiratory issues, allergies and asthma, noise pollution, infectious diseases, and indoor pollutants are among the common health concerns associated with prolonged exposure to air conditioning.
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Zepbound (tirzepatide) for the treatment of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity, to be used in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Mouth or lip exercises can be good conjunction with other recommended treatments for sleep apnea. Close your mouth and squeeze your lips tightly together. Hold for a short while before letting go. Before relaxing, move your jaw forward and hold for a few seconds.