Say “so long” to snoring: Patient experiences health benefits using a CPAP device for almost a decade

IU Health patient Diana Yung thought she was sleeping peacefully throughout the night.

“I couldn't hear my own snoring and didn’t know I wasn't breathing right in my sleep,” says Yung. “I didn't think I had a problem.”

Her husband had a different perspective and noticed a trend in her sleep patterns.

“He told me I wasn’t breathing properly in my sleep,” says Yung. “He advised me to go get a sleep test.”

And, she did – nine years ago, Yung’s sleep test with IU Health resulted in a sleep apnea diagnosis. Since then, she’s been getting better rest for almost a decade as a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) breathing device user with IU Health.

“Many people with sleep apnea don’t realize that they have it," says Stephanie Stahl, MD. "They may feel tired but are often unaware of their snoring or how disrupted sleep affects their overall health. A sleep test evaluates for sleep apnea and whether treatment, such as a CPAP machine, could improve their sleep and well-being.”

CPAP devices can help people diagnosed with sleep apnea breathe normally throughout the night as they sleep. Gentle air flow fed through a face mask keeps breathing passages open during sleep, which results in a variety of health benefits like Yung’s experience.

“Since using my CPAP, my blood pressure has been lowered to normal and I don't have to take any medications,” says Yung. “I also stopped snoring at night which helps my husband sleep better, too. I also feel more energized during the day.”

Whether a patient is just getting started or is approaching 10 years of care like Yung, IU Health’s CPAP teams are committed to supporting patient needs. CPAP supplies can be ordered online and delivered to a patient’s door. IU Health Sleep Apnea Education Centers ensure patients understand how to use their device, manage their full treatment routine and reorder supplies when they need them. A respiratory therapist follows up with new patients a few days from an initial visit, and all patients receive an automated check in on their health and equipment needs every 90 days. With years of experience receiving compassionate care for her CPAP needs, Yung has the following advice for patients considering a CPAP journey.

“Be patient. It's very tough at the beginning but if you continue to use it for a while you'll be sure to get used to it, especially when you feel the difference in your energy level during the day,” says Yung. “For me, one of the drivers was to see my husband getting good night's sleep. That made it all worth it.”

Lean more about sleep disorders, home sleep apnea care and CPAP and breathing devices available.