Is Sleep Apnea Triggered by Smoking?

If you’re a smoker and you also suffer from sleep apnea, there may be a connection between your sleep disorder and your tobacco habit.

Unfortunately, sleep apnea is worsened by smoking, although smoking may not be the actual cause of your sleep disorder.

In a nutshell, smoking exacerbates sleep apnea by inflaming the upper respiratory airway and increasing buildup of fluid in the lungs.

The odds of developing this serious sleep disorder do rise when you light up, so it’s important to be aware of the connection between your bad habit and your breathing difficulties at night.

Other risk disorders for sleep apnea include obesity, wide neck circumference, and diabetes (or borderline diabetes). Obviously, when a smoking habit is combined with other risk factors on the list, the odds of suffering from sleep apnea escalate.

While it’s easy to say, “Quit smoking!”, this habit is notoriously hard to break. In fact, cigarettes are proven to be more addictive then heroin. If you need help quitting, there are some things you can do to increase your chances of a successful quit.

Certain prescription medications, such as Chantrix, have the ability to alleviate some of your worst cravings.

Other smoking cessation therapies include nicotine patches, nicotine lozenges, and addiction counselling. Support groups may offer needed moral support as you attempt to deal with your issues and move forward to a smoke-free future.

Millions of people have given up smoking, and some have experienced reductions in their sleep apnea problems through sleep apnea treatments and a tobacco-free lifestyle.

If you’re trying to quit, stay strong and remember the gift that you will be giving to yourself. Longer life, better health, and more relief from sleep apnea will be the benefits of giving up cigarettes today, or in the near future.

Sleep Apnea Treatments for Smokers

Whether you’ve just quit smoking, or you’re thinking about quitting, you still need the right treatments for your sleep apnea sleep disorder.

The best treatments for your night-time breathing difficulties are CPAP machines that support proper breathing during sleep.

These amazing machines are easy-to-use, and they may be covered by your medical insurance. To get the best from your treatment, you should combine the use of CPAP machines and CPAP nasal masks with the proper lifestyle. However, this machine will work wonders, no matter what lifestyle you are living.

CPAP machines deliver a steady stream of compressed air to your lungs and fight sleep apnea symptoms, such as snoring, gasping, and stop-start breathing. In most cases, using a machine during the night will cure your sleep apnea. You will wake up refreshed, mentally alert, and ready to seize the day.

While sleep apnea and smoking tend to go together, a sleep disorder of this nature may develop for any number of reasons. Combining good medical care from your family doctor with proper diet, exercise, sleep apnea treatment, and smoking cessation therapies will be your best defense against the problems that this sleep disorder brings.

For more information about obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), please contact a sleep apnea treatment specialist.