CPAP Therapy

 

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing during sleep. There are three main types of sleep apnea. The most common is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in which breathing is interrupted by a blockage of air flow from relaxed muscles in the throat. This accounts for 84% of all sleep apnea diagnosis. Central sleep apnea (CSA) occurs when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control your breathing and regular unconscious breath simply stops. Complex or mixed apnea is a combination of the two.

 

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

When we sleep, the throat relaxes. For people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, sometimes they relax so much that the airway becomes narrowed or blocked. As a result, air flow is reduced or completely stops flowing into the upper airway and the lungs, so the body and brain do not get the oxygen it needs to function properly.

What are some symptoms of sleep apnea?

  • Snoring
  • Choking, gasping and stop of breath during sleeping
  • Excessive daytime tiredness or fatigue
  • Morning headaches
  • High blood pressure
  • Awakening with a dry mouth
  • Difficulty paying attention while awake
  • Irritability

 

What may put me at a high risk of having sleep apnea?

  • A narrow throat airway
  • Large neck size
  • Overweight/Obesity
  • Enlarged tonsils or tongue
  • Deviated septum
  • Allergies
  • Use of alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers
  • Smoking
  • Family history of sleep apnea
  • Increasing age

 

What if I do not treat my sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a very serious condition and if left untreated may have many short and long term side effects such as:

  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Stroke
  • Obesity/Overweight
  • Loss of stamina and energy

 

For mild and moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea cases, the recommended treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). For severe cases, CPAP is the only effective treatment. It is important to understand and recognize the signs and symptoms and consult with a doctor if you think you may need testing and treatment.

What is CPAP Therapy?

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy works by using a machine that gently blows pressurized air through a hose and mask and then into your airway at a constant pressure to prevent the throat muscles from collapsing that otherwise would block your airway.

Treating sleep apnea with CPAP therapy by using one of our machines can help give you the rest you need for a better nights sleep. Take back control of your life and wake up feeling more refreshed and ready for your new day with MyCPAP.