A positive airway pressure, or PAP, nap study is a shortened daytime sleep study that includes PAP therapy. It is used to lessen sensitivity and or anxiety in patients who feel uncertain about using a positive airway pressure (PAP) system. For example, some people are afraid the machine will fail in the middle of the night. A PAP nap study helps patients understand how to use the system, as well as easing their concerns about their safety and efficacy. CPAP machines are actually both safe and effective. They are design with special ports to allow you to breathe in air from the room if the system fails for any reason. Besides which, the systems also have built in monitors to prevent issues such as CPAP failure.
More About Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Systems
The truth is that PAP systems really do save lives. That may sound like an exaggeration, but sleep apnea is not just about snoring. Sleep apnea is actually a serious disorder that has been linked to hypertension, weight gain, an increased risk of heart attacks, daytime drowsiness, headaches, depression, mood changes, irritability, short term memory problems, and even disorders like diabetes. Even thought snoring is typically a symptom, you could call sleep apnea a silent killer, because of how it so adversely affects your health while you sleep.
For those who are not familiar, sleep apnea is a pause in breathing that can last from a few seconds to several minutes. This break in regular breathing can happen many times a night. In some cases, as many as 30 or more breathing interruptions in an hour. Patients often wake up with a snort or loud gasp, as if they were coming up for air underwater. In a sense, they are because they have literally been holding their breath while asleep. Symptoms of sleep apnea may include:
- Snoring
- Feeling tired all of the time
- Weight gain
- High blood pressure
- Waking up with headaches often
- Mood swings and depression
Untreated sleep apnea can lower your quality of life, too. Being groggy can make you less productive at school or work. The good news is that sleep apnea is very treatable. With a combination of lifestyle changes, and a positive airway pressure machine, you can get the deep rest your body needs to help you function normally. Proper sleep helps your brain store memories, improves problem solving, boosts your immune system, and can also help you maintain a healthy weight.
Only a qualified sleep doctor should evaluate your sleep and breathing function. If you would like to learn more about a Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Nap Study, or have any other questions or concerns about sleep or a sleeping disorder, please call (704) 944-0562 or request an appointment online with Dr. Gingras at Gingras Sleep Medicine in Charlotte and Concord, North Carolina.