Understanding Obstructive Sleep Apnea And Its Treatment

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of apnea. Here's information to help you understand how obstructive sleep apnea can affect your life and what can be done about it.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Apnea literally means "cessation of breath." If you have sleep apnea, your breath can become very shallow or you may even stop breathing while you are asleep. This state of not breathing can occur up to hundreds of times a night in some people.

What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) -- also called obstructive sleep apnea syndrome -- occurs when there are repeated episodes of complete or partial blockage of the upper airway during sleep. During a sleep apnea episode, the diaphragm and chest muscles work harder to open the obstructed airway and pull air into the lungs. Breathing usually resumes with a loud gasp, snort, or body jerk. These episodes can interfere with sound sleep. They can also reduce the flow of oxygen to vital organs and cause irregular heart rhythms.

What Are the Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Often the person with obstructive sleep apnea is not the first to recognize the signs. OSA is often first noticed by the bed partner or a person who observes the patient at rest. Many people who have OSA have no sleep complaints.

The most common obstructive sleep apnea symptoms include:

• Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
• Dry mouth or sore throat upon awakening
• Headaches in the morning
• Trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, depression, or irritability
• Night sweats
• Restlessness during sleep
• Sexual dysfunction
• Snoring
• Sudden awakenings with a sensation of gasping or choking
• Difficulty getting up in the mornings

Symptoms of OSA in children may not be as obvious. They include:

• Bedwetting
• Choking or drooling
• Excessive sweating at night
• Inward movement of the ribcage when inhaling
• Learning and behavioral disorders
• Poor school performance
• Sluggishness or sleepiness (often misinterpreted as laziness in the classroom)
• Snoring
• Teeth grinding
• Restlessness in bed
• Pauses or absence of breathing
• Unusual sleeping positions, such as sleeping on the hands and knees, or with the neck hyperextended

Who Gets Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, more than 12 million people in the U.S. have sleep apnea. Of the total, more than half are overweight. Those figures also estimate that one in 25 middle-aged men and one in 50 middle-aged women have sleep apnea. If you are related to someone with sleep apnea, you are more likely to develop sleep apnea yourself.

Sleep apnea is more common in men than in women. It is also more likely to develop in African-Americans, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders than in Caucasians. The likelihood of developing the condition increases with age. For women, the condition is more likely after menopause.

Resources: sleep disorders guide understanding obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Where To Buy CPAP Supplies For My CPAP Machine?

If you have been diagnose with sleep apnea either obstructive nor central sleep apnea and you visit your doctor or an expert sleep specialist they will recommend to you CPAP machine. First you may undergo sleep study and if found out that you really have the sleep problem your doctor will prescribed a CPAP machine to use.

Sleep Apnea is one of the killing disorder on US and most people growing old with heavy weights are affected by this disorder. To treat sleep apnea one is given a CPAP machine to ease the problem of losing air while sleeping.

Having a CPAP machine one is in need to change its filter, or tubing etc. or what we call supplies every 3-6 months of use for personal hygene and to prevent bacteria problem building up inside the chamber. So if you are looking for CPAP supplies or accessories you might love amazon as it will display great cpap accessories list based on your needs.

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CPAP Supplies and Accesories

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CPAP Humidifier and Accessories 

What is Chronic Respiratory Diseases and It's Symptoms?

Chronic respiratory diseases are chronic diseases of the airways and other parts of the lung. Some of the most common are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, sleep apnea and occupational lung diseases.

Respiratory diseases affect all ages-children, teens, adults and seniors. Most of these diseases are chronic in nature and all have a major impact not only on the individual with the disease, but on the family, the community, and the health care system.




Risk Factors

The two most important risk factors for chronic respiratory diseases are tobacco smoke (through personal smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke) and indoor and outdoor air quality. Those who smoke cigarettes increase their risk of developing lung cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma. Exposure to second-hand smoke affects all Canadians, causing cancer in adult non-smokers, sudden infant death syndrome in newborns and worsening symptoms of those with asthma or COPD. All Canadians are affected by the quality of air they breathe. However, the effects are more severe in those with lung disease. People who have chronic respiratory disease should refrain from smoking (or being exposed to second-hand smoke) and as much as possible ensure a high quality of the air they breathe.

See your GP if you have the following symptoms:

1. • increasing breathlessness when exercising or moving around.
   • a persistent cough with phlegm that never seems to go away.
   • frequent chest infections, particularly in winter.
   • wheezing.

How Do I Know That I Have COPD?

Is coughing a symptom of COPD?

Cough can be expected with COPD. Cough is a natural reaction of the airways to try and remove mucus or it can be a reaction to protect the airways from inhaled irritants. Coughing is therefore a good thing when it results in moving sputum or phlegm out of the breathing passages. For this reason, you will sometimes find your healthcare provider unwilling or hesitant to give you anything to prevent you from coughing. Conversely, cough resulting in airway spasm is not useful over a long period of time, but can be controlled with cough "suppressants". While a person with COPD will often cough, coughing does not mean you have COPD.

See Your Doctor Today!

For more details about COPD and Sleep Apnea or Chronic Respiratory Diseases please visit the Sleep And Respiratory Disorders.

What Are The Different Types Sleep Disorders?

Sleep disorders are neurological conditions that can affect sleep in a variety of ways. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD) lists over 84 different types of sleep disorders that affect the body’s normal cycle of daytime wakefulness and night time sleep (About Sleep Disorders, 2008).

Sleep disorders are often categorized into four types: (1) Primary Sleep Disorders, (2) Sleep Disorders Related to Another Mental Disorder, (3) Sleep Disorders Due to a General Medical Condition, and (4) Substance-Induced Sleep Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Examples of Primary Sleep Disorders are:

Primary Insomnia: The common complaint of primary insomnia is difficulty falling or staying asleep that is consistent for at least one month. Symptoms include decreased energy, lower concentration, and fatigue. Although symptoms are similar, primary insomnia should not be confused with insomnia related to a mental health impairment or another health condition. Insomnia, in general, often increases with age and affects women more (National Women’s Health Information Center, n.d.).

Narcolepsy: Narcolepsy’s primary characteristic is the occurrence of sleep attacks, which can occur at any time and during activity or conversation. Individuals with narcolepsy have abnormal sleep patterns and enter Rapid Eye Movement (REM) before going through their regular sleep sequence. Cataplexy (a weakness or paralysis of the muscles), sleep paralysis, and hallucinations are common symptoms of narcolepsy (Neurology Channel, 2005).

Hypersomnia: Hypersomnia’s symptoms include excessive sleepiness for a minimum of one month. Excessive sleepiness is often characterized by extended sleep episodes or by daytime sleep episodes that occur daily. Individuals with hypersomnia often sleep 8 to 12 hours a night and have difficultly waking up (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): The primary complaint of individuals with RLS is that sensations in the legs, described as pins and needles, crawling, and tingling, occur during sleep. As a result of these sensations, there is an overwhelming urge to move the legs. People with RLS are often sleepy during the day due to lack of sleep. Between 5-10% of Americans have RLS; iron deficiencies and genetics may play a factor in the occurrence (Haran, 2005).

Sleep Apnea: Over 12 million Americans have sleep apnea; it is more common in men over 40 years of age (National Institute of Health, 2003). There are two different types of sleep apnea: (1) central sleep apnea and (2) obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Nine out of ten people with sleep apnea have OSA. The main characteristic of sleep apnea is that an individual stops breathing for 10-30 seconds at a time while sleeping. As a result, the individual never completes a full sleep cycle and has significant daytime sleepiness. The most common treatment for sleep apnea is the nighttime use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which is a mask that is worn at night to force air into an individual’s airway. The CPAP keeps a person’s airway open while sleeping so the person can reach a deep sleep (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).

Shift Work Type: Ten percent of all shift workers have been diagnosed with shift-work type sleep disorder. Shift work type is a result of disruptions of sleep and wakefulness patterns due to irregular schedules. Rotating shift work is the most disruptive because sleep is never habitual. Serious health conditions can arise out of this, including peptic ulcer disease and heart disease (Basner, 2005).

Resources: Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employees with Sleep Disorders

Does Your Pillow Able To Support 200lbs While On CPAP Therapy?

Are you wondering if the pillow you are using can support you while on your cpap machine during sleep? Were you able to sleep comfortable using that CPAP pillow? Guess what!

This CPAP pillow is one of a kind. It has gain good rating on amazon and ebay due to its durability and affordability. It can support you even if your more than 200lbs. In fact it was built for 200lbs.



Enjoy the freedom to sleep in any position. The pillow’s unique, pressure-free zones promote contact-free CPAP use while its anatomic shape improves airway alignment and encourages proper support. Backed by a 5-year warranty, this quality product is made of highly resilient, cushiony and stable material, ensuring that the pressure-free areas hold up against the weight of your head while still providing a cushioned sleeping surface. Available in 3 height levels to accommodate individual needs. 

Most users will be comfortable using the standard profile pillow. Larger, broad shouldered patients, or anyone who prefers a thicker pillow should select the high profile model. Lighter patients, or those who prefer a thin pillow should choose the low profile version. Below is a general selection guide but personal preference is the most important factor when selecting your pillow.

It was designed to:

• Improve comfort and compliance, reduce mask shifting, leaks and the tendency to over-tighten mask straps
• Minimize facial pressure that can cause discomfort, sores, even bruising around the mask seal area
• Enjoy the freedom to sleep in any position

The pillow comes with a protective cover, not a pillow case. Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13 x 5 inches ; 2.5 pounds.