Halloween’s frights – costumes, gore, etc. can lead to a sleepless night all on their own. That said, you wouldn’t want the holiday to worsen your sleep apnea. A lack of sound snoozing would put a damper on your All Hallows’ Eve! Luckily, there’s some good news: your Baytown sleep dentist can help you enjoy Halloween with sleep apnea. Just keep reading to learn four great tips that’ll make your spooky evening nice and restful.
Don’t Go Overboard With Candy
For starters, it’d be best if you don’t eat too much Halloween candy. Doing so would only lead to fitful sleep later.
You see, sugary treats can worsen the effects of sleep apnea. Eating them in excess often leads to weight gain, further blocking your airway at night. Having all that sugar would also raise your risk of type 2 diabetes, a condition sleep apnea patients tend to suffer. To avoid these side effects, you should try having some sugar-free snacks instead.
Avoid Drinking Before Bed
At a Halloween party, you may be tempted to drink alcohol late into the night. Try to resist that urge – indulging in it will just make bedtime harder.
The problem is that alcohol before bed isn’t good for sleep apnea sufferers. Because alcoholic drinks have relaxant effects on your throat, they can make your airway collapse while you’re asleep. That would cause more severe sleep apnea episodes later, so stay away from alcohol a few hours before bed.
Stick to Your Normal Sleep Routine
While you may want to stay up late for Halloween, it’s not worth skipping your normal sleep routine. Going against your typical snooze schedule would lead to poor rest.
As it turns out, missing your normal bedtime can result in sub-par sleep. This effect can then combine with sleep apnea to make your night’s rest truly awful. Having said that, please keep an eye on the clock to ensure you stick to your regular sleep schedule.
Remember Your Sleep Apnea Treatment
Halloween fun can be distracting as you get caught up in it. Even so, don’t forget to follow your prescribed sleep apnea treatment once you go to bed.
As you might guess, even one night without your treatment will lead to crummy sleep. That means you could wake up the next morning with fatigue, headaches, irritability, and more. To avoid that outcome, follow your suggested treatment before you fall asleep. This procedure could range from using a CPAP machine to wearing a personalized oral appliance.
Clearly, it’s possible to have a fun Halloween with sleep apnea. Just make sure to use the tips above – they’ll make your spooky night includes proper rest!
About the Practice
Sleep Better Baytown is based in Baytown, TX. Led by Dr. Dean Hutto, our practice is here to help you snooze deeply and smoothly. We thus offer various resources for a better night’s rest, including sleep apnea testing, oral appliance therapy, and combined therapy. Our team will use these and other methods to ensure you get the dream-filled sleep you need! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (281)-422-8249.