Are you soon going to take off on a trip? Whether you are going on a relaxing vacation, traveling for work, or going to visit family, you might wonder how you should manage your sleep apnea while you are away from home. With a bit of advance planning, you can set yourself up for a comfortable journey! This blog post provides practical tips for traveling with sleep apnea.
Bring Your Treatment with You
Just like you would never intentionally leave behind your prescription medications when going on a trip, neither should you leave behind your sleep apnea treatment. If you have an oral appliance, it should be easy to bring with you. Be sure to pack it in your carry-on so you can access it if you decide to take a nap on the plane.
If you have a CPAP, airlines should have no problem with you bringing it. It might be a bit bothersome to carry, but it does not usually count as a carry-on, so you can bring it in addition to other luggage.
Keep Up with Your Routine
Even when you are away from home, you should try to stick to a good self-care routine. That means you should regularly clean your appliance and your teeth; this can prevent you from getting bad breath and help to keep your device in good shape.
If possible, it would also be smart to stick to a regular bedtime. That can be difficult if you are in a different time zone or have a lot of activities planned for your vacation, but you should still do your best to go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Be Mindful of What You Eat and Drink
When you are away from home, it can be easy to overindulge in items that might disrupt your sleep. For example, a lot of people drink more alcohol than usual when they are on vacation. Doing so could worsen your sleep apnea symptoms and lower the quality of your sleep. If you choose to drink, do so in moderation, and have your last alcoholic beverage a few hours before bedtime.
Also, try not to overdo it on food. Going to bed with a full stomach may increase your risk of acid reflux and poor sleep quality.
Get Enough Rest
Try to schedule some downtime during your trip so you are not always on the go. Overexerting yourself may make you overly tired, which can worsen your sleep apnea symptoms. It would also be wise to take a day off after your trip is over so you can unpack your bags and readjust to being home before you dive back into your normal routine.
Traveling with sleep apnea is easy! With a bit of planning, you can stay well-rested even when you are far from home.
Meet the Practice
At Healthy Sleep Tulsa, our talented team of doctors is proud to provide oral appliance therapy to individuals with sleep apnea. This convenient solution is both effective and easy to travel with. If you have questions about oral appliances, how they work, or how you can manage your sleep disorder, we would be pleased to speak with you. Contact our office at 918-300-4325.