We’re at that time of year where our thoughts and emotions turn to gratitude. Gratitude is muchmore than just a platitude that we break out for Thanksgiving. As Harvard Health Publishing notes, “In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”

Obviously, things like family and friends tend to take center stage when we think of things we’re grateful for. But that feeling of gratitude can (and should) extend to your CPAP therapy. Sure, you may not always relish the idea of putting on your CPAP mask at night, but there is no denying that mitigating your sleep apnea is well worth it.

1. Enjoy Higher Quality Sleep

The most immediately apparent reason to be grateful for CPAP therapy is because it can completely transform how well you sleep at night. With obstructive sleep apnea, you experience dozens of interruptions to your sleep each hour. Even if you think you got a full eight hours of sleep, you will likely wake up feeling drained and exhausted. Many with untreated sleep apnea have trouble staying awake or focusing during the day.

While CPAP’s results don’t occur overnight, they do help you start enjoying better sleep relatively quickly. A study from SLEEP found “that three weeks of CPAP therapy significantly reduced fatigue and increased energy in patients with OSA.”

In fact, the study found that after three weeks of CPAP, study participants no longer experienced “clinically significant” fatigue — something they had been afflicted with before starting CPAP. Study participants reported feeling more energy and vigor. They were less sleepy during the day, and were better able to manage their daily activities.

Needless to say, feeling better when you wake up in the morning will set the tone for your entire day. Feeling rested and refreshed will help you be happier and more energetic, making everything else in your life that much more enjoyable.

2. Avoid Negative Health Effects of Sleep Apnea

By controlling your sleep apnea, you can avoid many of the negative long-term health consequences associated with this condition.

The list of health problems associated with untreated sleep apnea can be somewhat shocking. Heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and depression are just a few ailments that can result from consistently experiencing poor sleep quality. Such conditions can drastically affect your quality of life — and in some cases, shorten it significantly.

By controlling sleep apnea and getting higher-quality sleep, your body undergoes less stress at night (a contributor to high blood pressure and other conditions), while also giving you the mental and emotional recuperation you need to handle your day to day responsibilities.

The excess sleepiness caused by sleep apnea can also make you more likely to get in an accident at work or while driving your vehicle. By getting quality sleep with the help of your CPAP machine, you will be less likely to cause such accidents that could prove catastrophic to yourself or others.

Better health — both now and in the future — is certainly something to be grateful for, and you have your CPAP machine to thank for it.

3. Help Others in Your Life Sleep Better

One sometimes overlooked element of sleep apnea is that it doesn’t just affect the person who needs CPAP therapy. It can also affect their spouse.

Many people who have sleep apnea snore loudly as their airways constrict during the night. They will also wake up gasping and choking for breath following a sleep apnea incident. A spouse who notices and reports such incidents is often how someone discovers that they have sleep apnea in the first place.

Of course, such side effects can also make it harder for your spouse to get a good night’s sleep. Loud snoring can make it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep — and this can have a bigger impact than you might expect.

As Psychology Today reports, “Snoring can put great strain on relationships. A snoring problem often creates not only tiredness but also frustration and resentment between couples. It can interfere with sexual and emotional intimacy, and can push couples to sleep in separate bedrooms.”

CPAP therapy helps address the root cause of these nighttime noises that are potentially keeping your partner up at night. When both of you are able to get a good night’s sleep, it will be easier to maintain a positive relationship and avoid the strife and contention that can erupt when you are both sleep deprived.

Lots to Be Grateful For

While your CPAP machine may not be at the top of your typical gratitude list, there is no denying that it has plenty of distinct benefits that make it well worth the investment. The benefits of CPAP therapy can improve your entire outlook on life, making it that much easier to feel gratitude every day.

Of course, purchasing the equipment you need for CPAP therapy can be a bit pricey, especially if you don’t have health insurance coverage. Here at No Insurance Medical Supplies, we make this easier by offering CPAP machines and accessories from leading brands at discounted prices. Available financing will also make it easier to get the equipment you need at a price you can afford.

If you don’t already have CPAP equipment to address your sleep apnea, give yourself the holiday gift of better sleep! With a valid prescription, the CPAP machine that will help you sleep better is closer than you think.