Still tired with CPAP? Discover 7 possible reasons and simple fixes to improve your energy, sleep quality, and CPAP results.
Many people think that after getting the CPAP, that’s it. You have found the solution and the suffering has come to an end, I also thought about it. The unfortunate truth is however that CPAP therapy takes its own time, you have to be consistent and keep using the machine no matter what, in fact it took me more than a year to receive consistent results.
I’m John, part of the editorial team of Puresleephub, I got diagnosed with Sleep Apnea in 2023, I scored in sleep apnea between moderate and severe 29 to 32 breathing pauses (Apnea events) in one hour, depending on the sleeping style.
In this article I will cover 7 possible reasons why you still feel tired even after using CPAP therapy.
Mask Leaks and Poor Seal
Maybe the most common one is mask leaks, this is something that you should focus on all the time. Because hey, what’s the point of wearing a mask if it’s too loose or too sealed. In both cases there’s a high chance that you’ll lose bits of the airflow and it makes the treatment much less effective. Because the whole purpose of CPAP is to offer continuous air pressure which means consistent.
I will not go now that deeper of the causes, but you can read a whole another blog where i discussed about CPAP Mask leaks
Incorrect Pressure Settings
As I just mentioned a little bit about the continuous airpressure, well it doesn’t differ here in any other way when it comes to a mask being tied too loose or tight. But, there’s something to remember. As all of us have received different AHI scores, which means that how many breathing pauses you get per one hour, it has an indirect impact on your pressure settings, because it’s something that should be in any case discussed with your doctor.
But let me explain a little bit about the continuous airflow and why it is extremely similar to the mask seal. Well because, if you have a high AHI score but your airflow is too low there’s a chance that it will disrupt your sleep because you aren’t getting enough air in comparison to your AHI Sleep Apnea condition.
It can work the other way around as well, because when the pressure is assigned to be too powerful you can possibly sense claustrophobia or even feel sense of drowning in the air as i have felt it personally
If you think that after consulting your doctor, and you have tried everything. Then the Autoset CPAP would be great for you, I have tried a few ones in action.
And I found the best success so far with the Resmed AirSense 11 AutoSet. It’s extremely quiet but also it has the Autoset mode, which means that the system will adapt to your breathing style and once it detects that you are in sleep it will raise the airflow up bit by bit
Frequent Awakenings and Sleep Cycle Disruption
Even if your Sleep Apnea is under control, it doesn’t hide the other factors that are always disrupting people’s sleep anyway. Aim to make the sleeping atmosphere as relaxing as possible, for example noise tackling, too much light, allergies, sense to visit bathroom etc. Bad pillow, I could go and go on further and further. Usually changing a pillow already makes a huge difference.
Other Sleep Disorders
Conditions like restless leg syndrome, insomnia, or REM sleep behavior disorder can cause persistent tiredness even if CPAP is working well. So again, if you are extremely unsure about your condition remember to consult your nearest MD center.
Poor Sleep Hygiene
I also like to drink a cup of coffee here and there, but yes caffeine intake in high volumes can make you more energetic, or irregular bedtimes, blue light, and stress. So as we see it’s not only about managing your sleep but everything else around it. If you are curious about how caffeine impacts sleep, you can read more from the Sleep Foundation here: Caffeine and Sleep.
Underlying Health Issues
Fatigue can also be caused by other medical problems like hypothyroidism, depression, or cardiovascular diseases that require separate treatment. This means that again, even though we try fix everything on our own, it’s good to visit a proper lab
Inconsistent Use of CPAP
This is maybe the most important part, as I briefly mentioned throughout this article that the effectiveness of CPAP therapy is also depending on you. I know you are tired, I was too and I still am occasionally. But as I explained, it took me more than a year to finally attain full consistency with the therapy, but after a couple machines and dozens of masks i can finally say that i have got used to it, and i’m getting the positive results out of it.
But so can you do also!
Conclusion
Feeling tired despite CPAP therapy can be frustrating, but understanding these common causes can help you troubleshoot and improve your sleep quality. Don’t give up! Consistency is key. If you’re struggling, talk to your healthcare provider and keep experimenting with your therapy. For more tips and support, subscribe to Puresleephub.