With travel restrictions being lifted around the globe and more and more people feeling ready to get back out there and see the world, this summer will no doubt look different than last summer. But before you take that dream vacation, there may be some planning you need to do to prepare yourself for your journey - especially if you have sleep apnea.For millions of sleep apnea patients who use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, traveling with a CPAP machine may pose challenges that you may not have considered.For starters, there’s the issue of packing the CPAP machinery. Will it fit in a carry on bag, or will it have to be checked? Will it get damaged if not put in a hard-sided suitcase? CPAP machines are fairly durable but they’re not meant to be tossed around or stuffed into an overhead bin on an airplane.Then there’s the question of overnight flights. How do you use your CPAP equipment if it is packed away in your luggage or there is nowhere to hook it up on the plane. Then there’s the question of the noise - will you disturb the person in the seat next to you if you are running your CPAP machine all night?Once you arrive at your destination, will there be outlets for your CPAP machine? If you are camping, this could be a problem.Using a CPAP machine can be restrictive and limit what you can do and where you can go during your sleeping hours, but it’s imperative you maintain your sleep apnea therapy at all times, even while you are on vacation.So, what’s the solution? Nobody wants to miss out on the vacation of a lifetime because of a sleep disorder. The answer is a sleep orthotic from Dr. Peterson. Whether you use the sleep orthotic for travel or as an occasional substitute for your CPAP therapy, or you choose to skip your CPAP therapy all together and use the sleep orthotic exclusively, sleep orthotics were designed to alleviate sleep apnea symptoms and are an excellent replacement for CPAP therapy.Sleep orthotics prop the airway open as you sleep, just like CPAP machines do, but without the need for machinery, electricity, or uncomfortable masks. If you are interested in learning more about sleep orthotics, please contact Dr. Peterson’s office today!