People who suffer from sleep apnea often awake feeling exhausted. That’s because their sleep is frequently disturbed by breathing interruptions. They may snore and often complain of chronic drowsiness.
A new study suggests that continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP treatment, not only improves daytime alertness, it may also help people look younger. Researchers took high-precision 3-D photo images of 20 patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. The photographs were taken before starting treatment with CPAP machines and after at least two months of therapy.
The photographs were analyzed with computer software and 22 visual raters. In about two-thirds of the cases, patients were judged more alert, youthful and attractive in their appearance after using CPAP.
[Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Sept., 2013]
For more information on overcoming insomnia, nighttime awakenings and other sleep problems, we suggest our Guide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep.
