{"id":26429,"date":"2021-07-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-02T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/traveling-with-a-cpap\/"},"modified":"2023-06-28T14:17:27","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T14:17:27","slug":"traveling-with-a-cpap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/traveling-with-a-cpap\/","title":{"rendered":"Have Sleep Apnea? Here’s How to Travel With a CPAP"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sleep apnea\u00a0is a common condition\u2014around 22 million Americans<\/a>\u00a0live with this disorder\u2014and many people are used to traveling with their CPAP<\/a> in tow. But if you’ve never tried, the idea of traveling with sleep apnea can be intimidating and scary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleep apnea doesn\u2019t have to ruin your travel plans, however. Use these tips to travel confidently with a CPAP and get a good night’s sleep no matter where in the world you might be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleep apnea basics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous condition where a patient repeatedly stops breathing as they sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou are diagnosed as having sleep apnea if you stop breathing (or breathe poorly) for 10 seconds or more than five times per hour and have an associated drop in blood oxygen while you are sleeping,\u201d says Jeff Rodgers<\/a>, DMD, Georgia-based dental sleep medicine specialist and diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and American Sleep and Breathing Academy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He explains that there are two types of sleep apnea\u2014central and obstructive. \u201cBy far, most patients have obstructive,\u201d he says. \u201cThis is where the airway is collapsing in one or more areas and not allowing adequate airflow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experts say it’s very likely that 80% of sleep apnea cases are undiagnosed<\/a>. Not sure whether you have this condition? Symptoms include loud snoring<\/a>, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, gasping for air while sleeping, insomnia<\/a>, trouble focusing, and episodes where you stop breathing while asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleep apnea can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep at home, much less in an unfamiliar bed. What’s more, sleep apnea is most commonly treated using a device called a CPAP, which pushes air into your airways via a mask that fits over your face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lugging around a CPAP machine as you travel can be a headache\u2014but it’s worth it to help you sleep both soundly and safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traveling with a CPAP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’re going by plane, then bringing your CPAP might seem like a struggle. But it’s really not that hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI carry [my CPAP] in my carry-on luggage,\u201d says Prentiss Cox, a retired biology professor from Mississippi who has lived with sleep apnea for 23 years. \u201cWhen going through security, it is necessary to remove it from the bag and put it in a separate tub to go through the X-ray.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since your CPAP is a medical device, airlines allow you to bring it in an additional bag that doesn’t count toward your total bag quota. Bring your CPAP with you on the plane and stow it in the overhead compartment so you’ll have it in case your checked luggage is lost or delayed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a good idea to get a letter or prescription from your doctor saying that your CPAP is medically necessary in case you run into any issues with security. You can also add a \u201cmedical equipment\u201d luggage tag to your CPAP case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost TSA agents now recognize what a CPAP is, but some do not,\u201d Rodgers explains. \u201cIt is possible you will be asked to turn it on if you are taking it through security. A pain, to be sure, but getting oxygen while you sleep is vital.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check with your airline to see if you can use your CPAP on board the plane. Delta Airlines\u00a0allows passengers to use CPAPs<\/a>\u00a0without medical approval, as long as you have an independent power source that complies with the airline’s requirements. Make sure you have a seat on the plane that includes an outlet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Travel packing list for sleep apnea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, managing sleep apnea<\/a> can take a lot of extra items, and it’s important to pack anything you may need to set up and run your CPAP. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you set off on your trip, make sure you have the following items (in addition to your CPAP) packed and ready to go:<\/p>\n\n\n\n