Although sleep apnea treatments can help improve your sleep quality and reduce sleepless nights, sufferers may still find themselves coping with fatigue from time to time. Whether you’re getting used to sleeping with a CPAP mask or are waiting for your treatment regime to start working, you may occasionally find yourself staring at the ceiling all night long.
Fortunately, there are ways that sleep apnea sufferers can cope with the effects of short-term sleep deprivation. These include:
1. Avoid your snooze button
Getting up as soon as your alarm sounds after a night of tossing and turning can be difficult, but it will help your body stay in sync with its natural sleeping patterns. Snoozing outside of your normal hours can leave you feeling groggy and will make your day more difficult to get through.
2. Step outside
Immersing yourself in natural light will help wake you up by raising your body temperature and lifting your mood. Ideally, try taking a short walk before work or whatever important activities you have planned for the day.
3. Eat breakfast
Eating breakfast as soon as you get up is a great way to stimulate the brain, improve your mood and mitigate the effects of fatigue. Make sure to stay clear of sugary foods, however. As well as potentially contributing to weight gain, they are likely to cause a sugar crash during the day, leaving you feeling drained and unwell.
4. Get the important stuff done first
If you’re heading into the office, make sure that you take on the tricky tasks first as you will be most alert during the first few hours of the day.
5. Feel free to indulge in some coffee
Caffeine can be useful if you’re sleep deprived, so make yourself a few tasty cups of coffee early in the day. Once you hit 3pm, however, avoid imbibing any more caffeinated drinks, as they could potentially hinder another night’s sleep.
6. Make a note of your sleepless nights
Although insomnia is perfectly normal from time to time (even for those without sleep apnea), chronic sleeplessness may be a cause for concern. If you find that you’re suffering from fatigue on a regular basis, make an appointment with your doctor. A few simple adjustments to your treatment regime could be all that is needed to address your issues.