Smoking interferes with your bodys natural sleep cycle and has a long lasting impact on your ability to sleep restfully Nicotine found in cigarettes causes physiological reactions that awaken your body can induce airway obstruction and inflammation both in the nose and upper airway and compromise the success of CPAP therapy
Smoking interferes with your bodys natural sleep cycle and has a long lasting impact on your ability to sleep restfully Nicotine found in cigarettes causes physiological reactions that awaken your body can induce airway obstruction and inflammation both in the nose and upper airway and compromise the success of CPAP therapy
Health issues from cigarettes has recently led many smokers to try vaping However despite the claim nicotine is lower in these products there is just as much to lose when deciding to give up e cigarettes because of the addictive ingredients
What is vaping
Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol often referred to as vapor which is produced by an e cigarette or similar device Although many are under the misconception e cigarettes aerosol is water vapor the Center of Addition states many of these particles contain varying amounts of toxic chemicals which have been linked to cancer as well as respiratory and heart disease
A report in 2016 by the World Health Organization WHO suggests that vaping can become a gateway for teens and young adults a gateway to the world of smoking Another study from the American Association for the Advancement of Science suggests that vaping has nearly the same impact as cigarettes in terms of suppressing the essential immune system related genes
This Weeks News on Vaping
Just yesterday CDC health officials announced 100s of new respiratory illnesses connected to vaping happening just over the past couple of weeks Also the head of JUUL stepped down amid reports that the vape company plans to end advertising for their product
According to the blog Vaping360 Nicotine is a stimulant that paradoxically can increase mental alertness and have a sedative effect Its conceivable that if youre tired or fatigued from vaping it could be similar to a caffeine crash If you find yourself getting sleepy try lowering or increasing your nicotine strength or even eliminating it all together
For brands like CVS Health in 2014 they stopped the sale of all nicotine products because the sale simply did not match the mission of their organization Five years later they increased revenue and have seen sales go up for patches and other items that promote smokers to quit
Many fear the withdrawal symptoms are too much to handle But with family and friends support there are ways to recognize the signs and talk to a doctor to successfully transition from vaping to a vape free healthy life
When going through withdrawal symptoms can last for days weeks and even months depending on the level of vaping you were doing A few common symptoms include
Fatigue
Drowsiness
Headache
Increased hunger
Irritability
Depression
Erratic heart and blood pressure
Digestive issues
Viewing the list one main ingredient to your health is affected by every symptom sleep
So how does it affect the sleep of an individual
I talked to one male Jim who agreed to be interviewed for the specific concern of their own account of the sleepless nights that has led to other health issues
When asked how it affected his life he quickly noted to me that he only vaped for a month this summer As he quit cold turkey last month he noticed the side effects immediately from sleeplessness erratic spikes with his heart rate signs of depression irritability frequent headaches and tiredness while driving None were an issue prior to vaping
I enjoyed cigars in my 20s and early 30s but once I knew the risks and possibility of addiction I decided to stop completely said Jim I started vaping because work and life were a little hectic so I thought it would take the edge off
For a person who normally slept like a rock and did not encounter tiredness on the job or commuting it changed quickly after quitting in August He noticed the frequent headaches which lead to irritability His family then noticed him falling asleep during normal activities and not being as cheerful as normal
I tried to hide the fact it wasnt a problem but when my heart started racing and everything piled on I went into a depressive state and closed myself off from admitting the problem was from the vaping
Looking back he agreed he probably would have tried it because of the allure and the flavors out there He also commented on how they can become addicting very quickly His caution to others is to think about the side effects first and how they will affect your lifestyle
A month later he still has restless nights and his doctor is helping with the erratic heart rate but he also has tried a few things on his own like meditation at bedtime and essential oils to fill the room With each step he says he is feeling better
If you have struggled with sleeping at night it is important to talk to your doctor They may ask for a sleep log and to point out signs of when restless nights started for you But if vaping is part of your own routine or you are in the process of stopping this could be the leading reason you are struggling at night
Smoking interferes with your bodys natural sleep cycle and has a long lasting impact on your ability to sleep restfully Nicotine found in cigarettes causes physiological reactions that awaken your body can induce airway obstruction and inflammation both in the nose and upper airway and compromise the success of CPAP therapy
The effects of smoking on your sleep
Nicotine is a stimulant just like sugar and coffee which can alter the expression of clock genes circadian rhythm in the lungs and the brain according to research with long term effects
Smoking can cause frequent awakenings and snoring and make it harder to fall asleep It also acts as an irritant that can provoke swelling in the nose and throat reducing the space left for airflow This makes it harder to breathe as your throat tissue becomes more irritated and swollen which can cause obstructive sleep apnea1
Just as you wouldnt wind down with an espresso before bed a cigarette prior to going to sleep actually introduces a powerful stimulus into the bloodstream which can cause insomnia andor sleep disordered breathing rather than relaxing your body
Can smoking cigarettes make sleep apnea worse
If you smoke cigarettes smoking puts you at a higher risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea and may increase its severity Studies show that smokers are more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea than nonsmokers and former smokers combined3
Cigarette smoking increases the risk and severity of obstructive sleep apnea for numerous reasons it disrupts the sleep architecture circadian rhythm and sleep cycles can damage upper airway muscle function fragment sleep and inflame or increase mucus congestion in the upper airway
Risks of smoking if you have sleep apnea
Sleep apnea and smoking can independently impact your breathing but together they have amplified negative effects on your airway The combination of smoking and non CPAP adherence is also made dangerous as they can both provoke similar risk factors related to stroke diabetes airway inflammation high blood pressure and heart problems
Is vaping bad for your sleep
It can be While e cigarettes may reduce some of the health risks associated with smoking vaping still delivers nicotine to your body Vaping flavored nicotine products has been associated with severe lung disease that is irreversible bronchiolitis obliterans and also interferes with sleep If there is nicotine in your e liquid it will affect your sleep If youre also wondering can vaping cause tonsil stones Yes this will definitely affect your breathing even when youre asleep
Take a deep breath
Transitioning into CPAP therapy may be challenging for some people although adherence to therapy is proven to treat sleep apnea Some studies have also shown that CPAP adherence may even help you quit smoking Smoking seriously impacts your ability to breathe and adds physical strain on your body airway and lungs Unfortunately it has likely worsened your obstructive sleep apnea as well
By starting and adhering to CPAP therapy without compromise you can get the sleep you deserve and feel better which may help you make other positive health choices like quitting smoking Quitting is not easy but there are many healthcare professionals ready to help and our respiratory therapists are always here to help you get on the right track with your CPAP therapy so you can care for your airway and sleep well
The Alaska Sleep Clinic is available for a free consultation by phone If you live in Alaska consider having a sleep study here if the problems have become more persistent
