1 Stop Snoring

The National Institute of Health states that sleep apnea is a very common problem that affects more than twelve million Americans. “Apnea” literally means “without breath” and is commonly caused by a blockage of the airway. People with sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during the night. At each apnea event, the brain briefly awakens the sleeper in order for them to resume proper breathing. Consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality. Lack of a deep, restful sleep causes you to wake up feeling tired and unrefreshed. It can also lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, which is falling asleep when you shouldn’t. You may experience memory loss and concentration problems, and even personality changes in more extreme cases. If left untreated, sleep apnea can be the cause of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed by a doctor or sleep specialist and treated. Your doctor or sleep specialist can tell you which treatment option is best for you.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea and doctors frequently prescribe Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy as treatment. CPAP therapy provides a steady stream of pressurized room air into the patient’s throat at a high enough pressure to keep the throat open during sleep, without being aggressively strong. The pressure is set to meet the need of each individual patient and is gentle enough to not disturb the patient’s sleep. A CPAP machine is small enough to fit on a bedside table, about the size of a shoe box or smaller. The patient wears a CPAP nasal mask or full face CPAP mask which is connected by a flexible hose to the CPAP machine. The mask needs to fit comfortably and have a good seal to maintain constant pressurized airflow during sleep. A well fitted CPAP nasal mask will help eliminate the apneas that cause interruptions and awakenings during sleep.

CPAP medical supplies have several basic components. In addition to the CPAP machine, air hoses and CPAP face masks, other supplies to consider are various types of headgear and straps to hold the mask or device in place. Many manufacturers make their units with universal fittings so you can take advantage of the variety and styles of CPAP nasal masks available. Your comfort during sleep is important, so you can purchase your CPAP machine from one manufacturer and use your interface device of choice from a different manufacturer.

The pressurized air is delivered through the mask directly into the throat via the nose or the mouth. A full face CPAP mask can deliver air through both the mouth and nose. People who tend to breathe through their mouths during sleep are frequently prescribed a full face mask. Sizes of masks vary, depending on the size and shape of the patient’s face, but are predominantly triangular. The mask is held in place with straps or various types of headgear, many of which are available over the Internet. An important consideration in the purchase of the headgear, is the comfort of use while you sleep.

CPAP face masks are made from a variety of materials. Some have a hard plastic body with a softer material that touches the face. A comfort gel CPAP mask is softer and molds to the contour of the wearer’s face. This is designed to alleviate the pressure points that may cause discomfort while wearing. Other styles of masks have a seal that inflates when the machine is running so the straps or headgear do not have to be as tight. A newer style of the comfort gel CPAP mask has a pliable wire embedded into the gel cushioned shell so you can shape the mask to your individual comfort. Your mask should have an exhalation port, which is necessary for a fresh supply of air.

Some discomfort may develop on the nose, lips or skin where the mask, straps & headgear touch, from repeated nightly use of the same mask. Your doctor or sleep specialist may recommend that you use more than one type of CPAP face mask, to vary the pressure points and alleviate skin discomfort. An oral mask for CPAP delivery requires no headgear, but needs heated humidification to hold the mask in place. Since this type of face mask only touches the skin around the mouth it can accommodate eye masks, which many people find soothing for a deep sleep. This type of oral mask may not be usable by all patients, however. It is not recommended for patients who grind their teeth and some who have had surgery for sleep apnea.

Nasal pillows are another option. Instead of wearing a triangular mask, the user inserts two small flexible pieces into the nostrils. These tubes are attached to a plastic adapter that is in turn attached to the tubing. Some people with higher pressures may experience discomfort with the pillows. The pillows can also be inserted into headgear made of pliable metal and plastic which curves over your head and can be adjusted at four points. The pillows do not rest on the nose, upper lip, or cheeks, which may solve the problem of allergies to mask material. Some people, especially people with a beard or moustache, simply prefer nasal pillows to a mask. While some masks are made with moustaches and beards in mind, facial hair can compromise the effectiveness of CPAP masks.

With the many mask and pillow choices available to you for CPAP therapy, you should be able to find at least two styles that you can use in comfort. Once you have chosen your interface devices and become accustomed to sleeping with them, you will begin to experience restful and healing, deep sleep. You will find yourself with more energy during the day and some of your previous symptoms may disappear completely. And as always, be in touch with your doctor or sleep specialist throughout your therapy so they can monitor your progress and make changes to your therapy as needed.

Mr. Bantrey suffered from sleep apnea for many years without realizing that he had a condition. Once tested, he was prescribed CPAP therapy and was overwhelmed by the variety of CPAP face masks available. Go to his site for great savings on a CPAP nasal mask and other CPAP medical supplies.

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