Beer and sleep apnea

[ragtopcircus]

I find it best to fill the time between having a few drinks and sleep with physical activity ... with a partner ....

Moderation is best for that too.

[JayDee]

I like to drink beer in the evening. I know it leads to increased urination at night and alcohol impacts sleep. My experience is alcohol makes it easy to fall asleep but hard to stay asleep.
Going to get my first CPAP machine soon and don't plan on stopping beer... Thoughts???

My thoughts, off the top of my head...
You acknowledge your habit.
You recognize it may be detrimental to PAP therapy.
You state you have no intention of stopping or moderating your habit.

Good luck.
-JD

[ragtopcircus]

Abstinence is for all those who cannot make moderation work.
Moderation is my thing--for example: one piece of chocolate




---at a time.

Exactly!

“They” say never go to bed angry. I say never go to bed intoxicated or congested.

[D.H.]

If you must drink beer, you should do the same on your titration night. When being titrated, it's best to stick as closely as possible to your "normal" routine.

[djont57]

I have been on CPAP for 18 months; I usually have a couple beers after dinner, no problem for me. Sleep all night, my average is less than 2 AHI.

[nkupianist]

Is drinking + CPAP optimal? No. Is it better than beer and no CPAP? Almost certainly yes.

You didn't specify amounts being drunk. If it's enough to induce hangovers, you may notice them to be milder with CPAP.

I drank to levels that would be considered alcohol abuse on the weekend for a few years. I knew it was bad for sleep quality, but I felt so physically and psychologically exhausted by Friday that the instant "lights out" effect of alcohol became something I looked forward to. Of course it led to a cycle of more tiredness, more alcohol, etc. Within a few months of starting CPAP, my mental/psychological composure was so much better that I was ready to address a lot of long-term health habits, including drinking. Maybe you'll have a similar change of heart when you start to feel otherwise better on CPAP. I now happily don't drink.

+1 to what others said about melatonin. For all I know, it may be placebo, but I take it fairly regularly to get to sleep.

Best of luck.

[zonker]

beer.jpg

[ChicagoGranny]

Going to get my first CPAP machine soon and don't plan on stopping beer... Thoughts???

Why do you ask for comments if you will continue drinking regardless?

How much beer do you drink in the evenings? How close to bedtime? If you limit it to one or two pints and finish about three hours before bedtime, it shouldn't be much of a problem.

Subjectively rate your sleep and your energy level the next day. You may want to keep a journal.

[Bubba1]

If you must drink beer, you should do the same on your titration night. When being titrated, it's best to stick as closely as possible to your "normal" routine.

That's my thought process as well.
However the instructions clearly say avoid alcohol, caffeine and naps the day of the titration so that's what I did

[Bubba1]

Is drinking + CPAP optimal? No. Is it better than beer and no CPAP? Almost certainly yes.

You didn't specify amounts being drunk. If it's enough to induce hangovers, you may notice them to be milder with CPAP.

I drank to levels that would be considered alcohol abuse on the weekend for a few years. I knew it was bad for sleep quality, but I felt so physically and psychologically exhausted by Friday that the instant "lights out" effect of alcohol became something I looked forward to. Of course it led to a cycle of more tiredness, more alcohol, etc. Within a few months of starting CPAP, my mental/psychological composure was so much better that I was ready to address a lot of long-term health habits, including drinking. Maybe you'll have a similar change of heart when you start to feel otherwise better on CPAP. I now happily don't drink.

+1 to what others said about melatonin. For all I know, it may be placebo, but I take it fairly regularly to get to sleep.

Best of luck.

Appreciate that. Very helpful comments.

[Bubba1]

Going to get my first CPAP machine soon and don't plan on stopping beer... Thoughts???

Why do you ask for comments if you will continue drinking regardless?

How much beer do you drink in the evenings? How close to bedtime? If you limit it to one or two pints and finish about three hours before bedtime, it shouldn't be much of a problem.

Subjectively rate your sleep and your energy level the next day. You may want to keep a journal.

I drink between 4 and 12 beers per night. 12 oz per beer.

[ChicagoGranny]

I drink between 4 and 12 beers per night. 12 oz per beer.

That's a problem whether or not you have sleep apnea.

[CPAP Torturee]

I like to drink beer in the evening. I know it leads to increased urination at night and alcohol impacts sleep. My experience is alcohol makes it easy to fall asleep but hard to stay asleep.
Going to get my first CPAP machine soon and don't plan on stopping beer... Thoughts???

Bubba, I have 5 years experience with CPAP and 50 with beer. I agree with your assessment and with the first reply to your thread that CPAP will not change the equation. Best of luck. BTW, distilled spirits have zero carbs and lower nighttime urination count, depending on mixers.

[palerider]

Going to get my first CPAP machine soon and don't plan on stopping beer... Thoughts???

Why do you ask for comments if you will continue drinking regardless?

How much beer do you drink in the evenings? How close to bedtime? If you limit it to one or two pints and finish about three hours before bedtime, it shouldn't be much of a problem.

Subjectively rate your sleep and your energy level the next day. You may want to keep a journal.

I drink between 4 and 12 beers per night. 12 oz per beer.

The only way you'll be able to sleep through the night is with a catheter.

[babydinosnoreless]

As per my knowledge drinking alcohol and smoking is not good for sleep apnea patients. I always avoid drinking alcohol, bear also.

I also avoid drinking bears. Although I have been called a mama bear a time or six