Table of contents:
- What are the tips for sleeping well for COPD sufferers?
- 1. Inhale therapy(inhaled therapy)
- 2. Sleeping position
- 3. Manage COPD symptoms
- 4. Overcome anxiety and depression
- 5. Do meditation and deep breathing exercises before bed
- 6. Use supplemental oxygen
- 7. Consult your doctor about drug options
- 8. Take 2 hours before bed to relax
- What are some other general tips for sleeping better?
Obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition that can reduce your quality of life, including sleep. Not surprisingly, insomnia is one of the common complaints experienced by COPD patients. Tired of COPD, you can definitely crave a night's rest without interruption. In addition, getting a good night's sleep is also important for your overall health, especially for people with COPD. So, what are the tips for sleeping well for COPD sufferers? Check out the following reviews.
What are the tips for sleeping well for COPD sufferers?
Quality sleep occurs when you feel more refreshed when you wake up. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC, says that adults need 7 hours of sleep each day.
When you have COPD, you may often wake up because you have trouble breathing or feel discomfort in your chest. As a result, your sleep needs are not met, and the quality of life is disrupted.
The sleep quality of COPD sufferers who have insomnia has also been shown to be worse than those of COPD people who do not have insomnia. This can lead to decreased productivity at work, absences, and even traffic accidents.
The six tips below might help you sleep better and quality even though you have COPD.
1. Inhale therapy(inhaled therapy)
If your difficulty sleeping is due to COPD, make sure you use your inhaler properly before bed. Talk to your doctor about the right inhaler for you to maximize your ability to breathe at night, given that there are types of inhalers that actually disturb sleep.
2. Sleeping position
Because COPD sufferers can find it difficult to breathe when lying down, they often sleep in a sitting position. However, the sitting position makes it difficult for you to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Try sleeping with your head higher. You can support or elevate the head by stacking 2 pillows or more, insert a health pillow (wedge pillow) under your shoulders or even put a block under the head of your bed.
3. Manage COPD symptoms
Tips for sleeping well for the next COPD sufferer is to undergo COPD treatment to treat various symptoms of COPD, such as coughing and shortness of breath.
According to research published in Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, this one tip can help COPD sufferers to sleep better.
Smoking, which is the main cause of COPD, must also be stopped. Quitting smoking is very important in treating COPD and preventing it from recurring or making symptoms worse.
In addition, you have to get rid of your bad habits that can increase the risk of sleep disorders, such as the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, and caffeine consumption.
4. Overcome anxiety and depression
Depression is one of the complications that can arise due to COPD. Anxiety and depression are known to make insomnia worse. In a study mentioned Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, over 20% of patients with COPD reported taking antidepressants.
That is why, try to consult a doctor regarding the use of antidepressants if this stress is indeed the culprit for keeping you awake. Overcoming anxiety and depression with antidepressant drugs may help you sleep well at night.
5. Do meditation and deep breathing exercises before bed
The next tip for COPD sufferers to sleep well is to do meditation. Lie down or sit quietly, and inhale and exhale as deeply as possible for 5 to 15 minutes before going to bed.
This method can help a little to clear the airways of mucus in people with COPD. That way, you may be able to release all the pressure and worry that you feel. You also feel calmer and more relaxed so you can sleep soundly.
6. Use supplemental oxygen
If you use supplemental oxygen all the time to treat your COPD, make sure not to turn it off during sleep.
However, if you only use oxygen "as needed" or don't use it at all but have trouble sleeping due to shortness of breath, talk to your doctor about using supplemental oxygen. This method may be useful for you.
7. Consult your doctor about drug options
An over-the-counter hormone, melatonin, is beneficial for some people with difficulty sleeping. Melatonin is actually a hormone that is naturally present in the human body. However, sometimes extra doses are needed at bedtime to make you feel more sleepy.
In addition, benzodiazepines are also said to be drugs to improve sleep quality in people with COPD. Medicines may be needed if other efforts do not work.
8. Take 2 hours before bed to relax
Tips for sleeping well for other COPD sufferers are to avoid exercising or drinking caffeinated drinks before bed. It can interfere with your ability to get to sleep right away. Also try not to take naps.
What are some other general tips for sleeping better?
Regardless of your COPD status, here are some tips that can also help you sleep well.
- Use your bed only for sleep and sex. Avoid watching TV, reading, or just lying awake in bed.
- Get out of bed if you don't fall asleep in 20 minutes. Do something relaxing until you feel sleepy enough to sleep.
- Avoid naps so that you will be able to sleep at night.
- Exercise regularly, but not within two hours of bedtime.
- Make sure the condition of your bedroom is quiet, dim, and cool.
- Don't drink caffeine in the five hours before you go to bed.
- Get up and go to bed at the same time every day.
Knowing these general tips for restful sleep for COPD patients, you can arm yourself with strategies for getting a better night's rest. Getting a good night's sleep can help your body get stronger and better able to fight COPD symptoms.
