Sleep Apnea is very common among American adults. Usually middle aged and overweight men are at higher risk of getting sleep apnea than women. It's very common amongst apnea patients to have several breath pauses while they are sleeping. These breathing interruptions occur due to blockage of air flow through the air passage. These breathing ceases are usually 10 seconds or more and waken the patient. If your partner complains that you snore loudly during night or wake up several times during sleep, you should visit your local doctor to check if you are suffering from any kind of sleep disorder.
Sleep apnea can be very dangerous for your healthy life. It is usually categorized as Obstructive, central and mixed sleep apnea. The most popular solution for sleep apnea is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy. Over the years CPAP therapy has proven to be most effective solution for sleep apnea. CPAP is a treatment that forces a prescribed volume of pressure in you airway passage to keep it open. The open airway passage facilitates a continuous airflow of air to ensure smooth breathing. The patient has to use CPAP mask on his face. This is CPAP mask seals the breathing portion ensuring no air leaks.it is connected to CPAP machine which forces the prescribed air pressure to patient's mouth through CPAP mask.
Before starting CPAP therapy patient needs to consult otolaryngologist and needs to complete few test in sleep lab. The required volume of pressure is different for every patient, depending on the type and level of blockage. The sleep lab test determines the appropriate amount of pressure. Once you start CPAP therapy, you should always keep the volume pressure at prescribed setting.
If you doubt that you are having some sleep troubles, you should examine yourself for following symptoms:
Several breathing pauses during sleep. Pause duration is 10 seconds or longer. Daytime sleepiness Insomnia Awareness of obstructed breathing during sleep Snoring Headache Dry mouth on waking Frequent arousal during sleep
Unfortunately, many CPAP users discontinue using CPAP therapy because they find it very difficult to sleep with CPAP mask on their face. Initially it takes a little to time to adjust you with the CPAP mask and machine. Once you bypass this phase it becomes convenient to sleep with this equipment. It is crucial to keep you mouth closed you are sleeping for maximum benefit on treatment.
