Are you continually tired? Do you fall asleep at any opportunity during the day? Do you tend to snore loudly, snort or make choking sounds? (I’m sure your bed partner would be able to tell you). Do you wakeup several times during the night and in the morning feel like you need another night’s sleep? Well, you could be one of the estimated 40 million Americans with a sleep disorder.
Sleep disorders range from the obvious one of snoring but can also include Insomnia, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and narcolepsy. Versions of Sleep Apnea are surprisingly common and are characterized by the temporary ceasing of breathing during sleep which can happen many times during the night. This is normally caused by weak muscles at the back of the throat that let the airway become blocked. The condition is very treatable via various options, the most common being the use of a sleep apnea machine known as a CPAP machine. CPAP means Constant Positive Airway Pressure.
How important is a good night’s sleep? How much sleep do I really need? Well, it is fairly obvious that we are all different and our sleep needs vary considerably but most adults require about seven to eight hours sleep a night. The younger we are the more we need with babies getting between 16 and 18 hours a day. It is also becoming common knowledge via extensive research that lack of sleep over prolonged periods of can have a very detrimental effect on health and general quality of life. Research is also providing specific links to weight gain, diabetes, and strength of immune systems, heart problems and even depression.
What does an ideal night’s sleep look, sound and feel like? A ‘normal’ night’s sleep consists of a succession of five stages of sleep with the falling asleep part sometimes being included as a sixth stage. As the night progresses we move from stage to stage and for varying amounts of time ranging from 10 to 120 minutes. The muscles relax, heart rate slows, body temperature decreases and eye movement goes from erratic through slow rolling and onto the rapid movement of full REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement). REM sleep is the final stage past the deep sleep periods of stage three and four sleep. REM sleep is when the brain is most active and intense dreaming can occur, it is also the time when our bodies are most relaxed; time to ‘recharge’ the major organs. If we are lucky we will go through the cycle approximately every 90 minutes, probably ‘waking’ two or three times during the night.
What can we do about Sleep Apnea? One option is surgery which is understandably not very preferable and can be very expensive and may not even work. The most common treatment is via the use of a CPAP sleep apnea machine. This is a device that has a tube worn in the mouth during sleep which provides a slight positive pressure to keep the airway open at the same time it allows the wearer to breathe normally. The action of keeping the airway open during the night makes for a much more restful and a higher quality of sleep for the individual which ultimately affects their quality of life. The simple act of opening an airway can make so much difference.
Sleep Apnea Machines
The most successful cure for sleep apnea are positive airway pressure sleep apnea machines. There are a number of different types to choose from.
CPAP Breathing Machine
Continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP is a machine availed by persons undergoing a sleep disorder commonly known as sleep apnea.
Quick Methods of Sleep Apnea Treatment | Best Sleep Apnea …
A CPAP machine is also a common sleep apnea treatment, especially for extreme cases. This modified oxygen machine comes with a mask that slips over the nose and mouth and gently pushes oxygen into the body at a steady rate.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea Resources
A large neck or collar size is strongly associated with obstructive sleep apnea. "Adam circuit" is another name for the same thing refers to a different method of delivering air with a CPAP machine.
Does a Sleep Apnea Machine Stop Snoring?
Rosee asked: Does sleep apnea machine usage stop/prevent snoring? Does the machine make noise? My husband is getting a machine this week.
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