During the spring and summer months, you may find that your mask starts feeling uncomfortable. As the temperature rises, so does your chance of not getting a good night’s sleep if your room is too hot. In the warmer months, I have to change my sleeping routine. Here’s how I stay calm with my CPAP.

Use a Fan or Air Conditioning

The first tip is to use a fan or air conditioner unit to cool the room down before sleeping. This is by far the best option, but not everyone has an air conditioner or the ability to install one in a room such as an apartment

I use a fan next to the bed to blow cool air onto me as I try to sleep. This reduces the heat from my mask by a wide margin and allows me to get a comfortable sleep on most nights. A small nightstand fan can also be used if your partner doesn’t like the cool air from the larger fan blowing on them.

Another way I stay cool is to sleep in bed with no sheets. If I can cool my body down enough before going to sleep, the mask also gets a bit cooler and allows for a night of better sleep. Of course, I’ll also turn the pillow over and use the cooler side of my mask if it’s too hot.

Another option is to buy temperature-control cooling sheets. I haven’t tried this option yet, but I may in the future to see if it helps me sleep through those hot months of the year.

Shower or Bathe Before Bed

If I’m feeling hot, I’ll take a shower or a bath before bed and cool myself down, so my mask is comfortable when I put it on. Sometimes even a good face wash with cold water is enough to ensure that my mask stays comfortable as I try to go to sleep.

Open a Window or Sleep in a Different Location

If the room is hot, I’ll open the window to try to cool it down. Some nights, I’ll stay up later than expected as this extra time helps to cool down the room. If you live in a two-story house, try sleeping in the basement, where it’s cooler. Unfortunately, I’m in a condo, so I need to make do with the bedroom.

Use an Ice Pack Under My Pillow Cover

My number one trick is to use an ice pack under my pillow cover if I’m sweltering. I take a flat ice pack and lay this down under the pillow cover. You may need a towel on the pack if you feel that it’s too cold, but I use the ice pack.

This technique cools me down significantly, and I find it easy to go back to sleep. If I awake at night feeling hot, I slip a fresh ice pack under the pillow and go back to sleep. This technique has saved me countless headaches with my CPAP mask when it gets so uncomfortable to wear it.

It isn’t enjoyable to use a CPAP mask when the temperature increases, but these tips should help you feel comfortable in the summer heat. They’ve worked for me and allowed me to get the sleep I need during those dog days of summer.

Photo Credit: utah778 / iStock via Getty Images

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Brian Lamacraft has lived with sleep apnea for over 4 years. He is a full-time writer and guitar player. He spends his spare time writing music, going to the Royal Canadian Legion, and having fun camping trips with close friends. He lives in Powell River, Canada, with his lovely wife. Reach him at his website Lamacraft Writing Services or LinkedIn.

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