Although I have never experienced it myself it
appears that folks with sleep apnea may have an even more difficult time
sleeping at higher altitudes. There was a new study done by Swiss researchers who
concluded that sleep apnea patients could find the combination of the CPAP
machine and a drug called Diamox.
There were 51 patients (mostly obese men) in the
study and they were tested at altitudes of 5300 and 8500 feet. According to USNEWs.com “The combined treatment with acetazolamide and CPAP led to
improved levels of oxygen in the blood when patients were awake and sleeping,
and better control of sleep apnea; it also reduced the amount of time spent
awake during the night, compared with CPAP alone.”
Of course you need to check with your
doctor to see if this medication is something that you may be able to use. It
is also important to remember that the sleep apnea patients also used the CPAP
machines as well.
“The
drug Diamox or Acetazolamide is used to treat glaucoma and to treat
and to prevent acute mountain sickness (altitude sickness). It is also used as
a part of some treatment plans for congestive heart failure and seizure
disorders.”
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