OSA-Obstructive Sleep Apnea is quite a serious condition which can even become fatal to the patient if proper treatment is not implemented. The exact cause of OSA is yet to be determined on a scientific and medical level, but the fact is that quite a big percentage of the world’s adult population suffers from sleep apnea of a certain extent.
Translated literally “apnea” means “cessation of breath”. Patients with sleep apnea experience a shallow breath and it can easily happen that they stop breathing for even up to 15 seconds or more during sleep. The cessation of breathing can have very serious repercussions upon the human system, and if apnea lasts for too long it can permanently damage the brain and other major organs.
When the upper airways are repeatedly blocked and air cannot pass correctly through for normal breathing rates, the physician will prescribe the use of a CPAP.
CPAP machines important tips
- The device takes ambient air and passes it through special filters to create therapeutic quality pressure for the patient to breathe in
- The CPAP Pressure is supplied through flexible tubing that is attached to the CPAP machine and into the nostrils/mouth of the patient through a special CPAP mask
- Patients with extremely severe pulmonary disease or lung cancer may require supplemental oxygen therapy. In such cases, an oxygen system is attached to the CPAP machine via a special bleed in adaptor
- The most important fact to keep in mind when purchasing CPAP machines is to select the best fitting mask. The CPAP mask must offer perfect seal to prevent mask leaks and to provide patients with comfortable CPAP therapy. There are many types of masks available such as nasal CPAP masks, nasal pillow masks, or full face masks
SleepRestfully provides patients with rich, informational resources for all major breathing/pulmonary conditions and a wide variety of aiding treatment devices – CPAP machines, APAP machines, BiPAP or POC devices.
Patients are also welcome to contact the friendly and highly experienced team of professionals at customer service for assistance in selecting the right type of CPAP therapy device that will help them receive proper treatment.
*Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms*
- Chronic morning headaches
- Sore throat
- Dry mouth syndrome
- Snoring & restlessness during sleep
- Patients can be awakened suddenly by a sensation of choking
- Daytime sleepiness & chronic fatigue
- The inability to focus on regular tasks during the day
Most often, the bed partners are the ones who will notice their partner has sleep problems. Many OSA patients do not have particular complaints, they just notice they have a difficulty getting out of the bed or experience headaches in the morning, but cannot figure out the causes for such discomfort.
*Obstructive Sleep Apnea Statistical Data*
- Well over 12 million Americans struggle with obstructive sleep apnea
- Patients with serious underlying conditions are most likely to develop the condition. These include heart patients, diabetes sufferers and obese people
- Major risk factors for developing sleep apnea include smoking, alcohol consumption & high blood pressure
According to clinical findings, if sleep apnea is not treated properly, the patient can stop breathing even hundreds of times during one single night. Generally, a sleep test will be required and then the physician will be able to prescribe the right type of CPAP therapy which is
required to alleviate the discomforting symptoms.
An APAP, CPAP or BiLevel device is typically used in treating Sleep Apnea patients. These devices
maintain the upper airways open during sleep and thus breathing is not obstructed in any way. The lungs of the patient receive enough oxygen, and he is able to breathe at normal rates all throughout the night.
At SleepRestfully we invite you to start browsing through the rich informational and educational resources on Sleep Apnea, its effects and the possible treatment options. We have on stock hundreds of different CPAP, BiPap and APAP devices coming from brand names such as Philips
Respironics, Fisher and Paykel or SeQual. Check out these devices, and how they function and discuss with your doctor which device would offer you optimum treatment for Sleep Apnea.
Sleep Apnea major risk factors include:
- males are most exposed to developing the condition than females
- overweight/obese patients
- people over the age of 40
- people with larger neck sizes- such as 17inches + in males and 16 inches+ in females
- sleep apnea family history also plays an important role
- a history of GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disorder)
- sinus complications, certain allergies
- a deviated septum that has not been treated surgically
Patients with Sleep Apnea will stop breathing for several seconds at once, and they can encounter tens or even hundreds of such episodes during the night. As a result, the patient feels that sleep is not refreshing at all and struggles with daytime sleepiness and constant feelings of fatigue during the day.
A Sleep Apnea patient also finds it extremely difficult to concentrate on regular tasks during the day (going to work, performing well at work, driving, or performing tasks which would be otherwise non-complex such as cooking).
A Sleep Test is indicated in case you struggle with symptoms of Sleep Apnea. During this test the experts will record the important body functions during sleep, analyze the data and if sleep apnea is the diagnosis proper course of treatment will be prescribed.
! Proper treatment for Sleep Apnea is extremely important because if untreated it can even lead to severe depression.
If Sleep Apnea is left untreated the patient is exposed to plenty of health risks such as:
- High blood pressure complications. In fact, it has been clinically proven that the regular use of a CPAP machine in the case of Sleep Apnea patients helps reducing blood pressure
- Greater risk for heart failure, heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats), heart attack or stroke
- Greater risk for developing diabetes and depression
SLEEPRESTFULLY HELP IN SELF-DIAGNOSING SLEEP APNEA
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome can be done best if the patient checks to see if he meets either criterion A
or B plus C from the following list:
- Daytime sleepiness which seems to be triggered by unknown factors
- Two or more of the following symptoms which are not explained by other factors (such as taking certain medications, being under a great amount of stress, etc.):
- gasping for breath during sleep
- being awakened by a sensation of choking
- waking up several times during the night
- the sleep does not feel “refreshing” and the patient feels tired upon waking up
- chronic fatigue during daytime
- focusing and concentration seems challenging
- medical monitoring during sleep results
show the patient encounters at least 3 or more obstructive
breathing episodes during one hour of sleep
If you struggle with these symptoms which cannot be linked to any other external factors, then you should make an appointment with a sleep therapist. Your physician will be able to determine whether or not you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea and he will prescribe the best course of
treatment.
It has been clinically proven that the best therapy in case of OSA is the use of CPAP therapy with the help of a CPAP, APAP or Bi-level device. These devices take ambient air, filter it to
keep out any dust particles, allergens and bacteria, and then pressurize that air and deliver it to the patient in a continuous flow mode.
Positive Airway Pressure Therapy is the most beneficial, non-invasive therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The patient can purchase the device through Sleeprestfully.com provided he can make proof of a valid medical prescription.
The pressurized air is delivered by the device through a special mask that the patient wears. Some patients require such CPAP therapy only during sleep, while others will need to use it several times during the day as well.
There are many Sleep Apnea Devices available, and your physician will appoint which is the one best suited for your current needs:
- CPAP- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure- all throughout the night the device will offer a
constant air pressure (air flow ) for the patient to breathe comfortably - APAP- Automatic Positive Airway Pressure Device- the device adjusts the pressure automatically all throughout the night. These devices will respond to the continuous changes in the upper airways of the patient (adjusting to different breathing rates and intensities).
- Bi-Level therapy with BiPAP machines- these devices can be adjusted to deliver a higher pressure when the patient breathes in and a lower pressure when he exhales. This treatment is standard for patients who find it difficult to perform and exhale against a higher pressure burst delivered by the device.
Visit Sleeprestfully.com for more information about sleep apnea.