Untreated sleep apnea can have a lot of negative consequences on your body, especially your head. Sleep apnea restricts your body from getting necessary oxygen during sleep. Each time you struggle for breath during the night due to your obstructive sleep apnea, you get less oxygen in your system, which can have lasting effects on your mind and body.
CPAP and Migraines
CPAP and Migraines
Untreated sleep apnea can have a lot of negative consequences on your body, especially your head. Sleep apnea restricts your body from getting necessary oxygen during sleep. Each time you struggle for breath during the night due to your obstructive sleep apnea, you get less oxygen in your system, which can have lasting effects on your mind and body.
How CPAP is Linked to Migraines
Hildegard Hidalgo, MD from the Department of Neurology at Kamillus-Klinik in Asbach, Germany, found that:
- 25% of patients with OSA also have migraines ¹
- 12% in migraine without aura had sleep apnea¹
- 7% in migraine with aura had sleep apnea¹
From these they concluded that sleep apnea occurs for people with migraines about the same as the general population, but that those with sleep apnea had higher rates of migraines, suggesting that the sleep apnea was a source of migraines.
Study Findings on CPAP and Migraines
Researchers wanted to see if migraines could be alleviated with CPAP therapy for those who suffered from both. They investigated long-term effects of CPAP therapy on chronic migraines, believing reduced oxygen to the brain could lead to daytime migraines. The good news is that they found using CPAP may help both sleep apnea and reducing your migraines at the same time. However, it requires consistent compliance with your CPAP therapy.
Dr. Hidalgo concluded that CPAP is an effective therapy for both OSA and migraine in patients with both conditions, by looking at thirty people over two years. Across those two years, the results were staggering; CPAP users began to reduce both their general sleep apnea symptoms and their migraines thanks CPAP compliance .¹ The longer users were compliant, the less migraines they suffered from.
How to Reduce Your Migraines with CPAP
Tip #1
Make sure your supplies are fresh.
When your supplies are old, the therapy will become less and less effective. Because this happens slowly and over time, most folks end up not noticing it. Instead, they will tighten their mask a little more, thinking they just need the seal a little closer.
Eventually this leads to over-tightening that can cause pain, marks, and the annoying “hot mask” feeling. The less comfortable your CPAP supplies are, the harder it is to stay compliant and get your CPAP benefits. You can avoid this by replacing your supplies with fresh ones regularly on the recommended, insurance-backed schedule.
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Tip #2
Use a CPAP that automatically adjusts.
Your pressure needs vary through the night as you sleep. Newer CPAPs are auto-titrating, meaning they adjust to your needs breath-by-breath to give the most effective pressure needed. On top of perfecting the pressure for your every breath, they have automatically adjusting comfort settings to keep you compliant every night of the week. ResMed’s AirSense 11 also offers:
- Humidification: 7 levels of humidity and an optional heated tube ensures you don’t dry out
- EPR: Expiratory Pressure Relief reduces pressure upon exhale, avoiding high pressure mask leaks
- AutoRamp: Starts your sleep therapy at a low pressure so you fall asleep more comfortably
Upgrade to the AirSense 11 today for just $399 down and 0% APR!
Tip #3
Keep your supplies clean.
Bacteria buildup on your mask can make you sick or weaken your mask seal. Weak seals and CPAP illnesses are big barriers to compliance, as they make using CPAP much more of a chore. That’s why keeping your mask and hose clean can be the difference between intolerable and effective CPAP therapy. The Lumin CPAP cleaner will keep your supplies sanitary and fresh with:
- Simple and Quick Experience: Lumin kills 99% of bacteria in a one-touch 5 minute cycle
- UV Technology: specialized UV-C light source targets harmful bacteria, viruses, mold, and fungus
- Complete Compatibility: No adapter needed
Save $70 when you buy the Lumin CPAP Cleaner today! Just enter coupon code LUMIN70 at checkout.
Tip #4
Use a comfortable mask.
If migraines from your mask are giving you trouble, the AirFit F30 mask will be a great change. Unlike other masks that seal up over the bridge of your nose, the F30 fits beneath your nose, and puts less pressure on the top of your head.
- Minimal Full Face Design: The F30 fits under your nose and over your mouth, leaving the bridge of your nose untouched
- Universal Headgear Size: The padded headgear contours to every unique face for an accurate, first-time fit, and is designed not to leave marks
- Quick Release Elbow with QuietAir: The elbow allows users to plug/unplug from therapy easily, while the QuietAir vent diffuses exhalation to reduce noise
Save $20 when you buy the AirFit F30 today! Just enter coupon code F30SAVE at checkout.
Sources:
- ” CPAP improves migraine burden in patients with sleep apnea” by Hidalgo, MD., Hildegard. 23rd Meeting of the European Neurological Society (ENS). Abstract O314. June 10, 2013