A guide for travelers with sleep apnea

As travelers, we know how important it is to stay safe and healthy on the road. We also know how terrible it is when some medical conditions ruin the holiday. We have to be prepared and have good travel insurance while being on the road so we can fully enjoy our holiday trip far for any bad surprises.

When planning a travel trip particularly to unfamiliar areas is always a good idea to take appropriate precautions before the trip starts so we can reduce any risks and ensure a plan if there is some health condition when we are away from home.

Some of the last researches made by the World Health Organization show that the most common health problems among travelers are: diarrhea, malaria, some respiratory tract infections, influenza, etc.

We are interested in health topics and this led us to an online discussion about traveling with sleep apnea. Did you know that this is a very common medical condition that impacts more than 936 million people worldwide? We didn’t. But we know how important for everyone is the good eight-hours sleep.

The quality of sleep is essential to keep our body and the mind in good shape. From a very young age, we all know that the good night’s sleep is a basic condition for good mental and physical health. We breathe, we eat, we drink, all this is part of our healthy diet, the sleep as well. It can reduce negative effects, can decrease the risk of weight gain, etc.

But what is sleep apnea?

The Greek word “apnea” literally means “without breath.” There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed. Of the three, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. Getting adequate sleep is essential to maintaining health in OSA patients too. They have much more trouble sleeping and need to maintain a healthy sleep routine no matter where they are.

The most important part of treatment for people with OSA is using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) when they sleep and even when they travel. On one hand, the CPAP can quickly improve the sleep apnea symptoms and from the other, it can also make the travel process much more comfortable. There are plenty of options already not to leave the machine at home. Nowadays, there is no reason why having sleep apnea should severely limit traveling options.

Because the main goal of traveling is to make new memories and to relax, right? Not to feel tired and nervous on your trip and when you get back home?!

We often fall asleep during flight; we all have been there! The best news is that the new generation CPAP device fits in the carry-on baggage and everyone can use it while camping, in the hotel, or whatever the road leads you – by bus, by car, by boat, or train. It’s much easier than you might think to bring it with you and to have a good time.

Some of the tips when traveling with sleep apnea?

• Select some travel-friendly CPAP devices. The best option for travelers with sleep apnea is to take portable CPAP machines as a Travel CPAP machine by ResMed. Now it can be found at a very low price by one of the main European suppliers for medical equipment for people with sleep apnea – CPAP Europa.

• Put the CPAP machine inside the baggage you plan on checking in but do not forget the power adaptor and an extension cord.

• Catch some sun and breath some fresh air by the seaside.

• Try some yoga breathing exercises.

• Eat healthily and drink lots of water.

• Enjoy your holiday and spend some quality time with your family and friends.

Happy travels!