I have just learned I have Sleep Apnea and have to use a CPAP machine. I’m on my 4th night and just cannot get used to all this. I know I’m expecting too much too soon, but it’s already breaking my face out. I feel like I’m in traction! Can anyone offer any comforting advice, tips or anything positive? I am really trying to have a positive attitude, but it’s hard. Thankyou!
I’m a teen and I have mild sleep apnea. Is a CPAP machine effective and is it really loud? I share I room and I don’t want it disturbing anyone. Is there anything I can do that will help me?
Do you feel restless, have morning headaches, feel irritated, is forgetful, sweat at night, frequently go to the toilet etc? If yes, then you are probably suffering from sleep apnea.
This is a type of sleep disorder in which the patient suffers from pauses in breathing while asleep. In layman terms, the person while asleep forgets to breathe, which causes restless sleep and consequent problems associated with lack of sleep. Its most serious consequence is to the heart and may lead to congestive heart failure.
Symptoms:
The main symptoms are restless sleep, loud snoring with silent periods in between followed by gasping, morning headaches, forgetfulness, mood changes, anxiety, depression, frequently urinating, sweating at night, bedwetting, increased heart rate etc. However the individual suffering from sleep apnea does not feel difficulty in breathing. A spouse is the best person to indicate whether the individual has breathing problems.
Diagnosis:
A definite diagnosis is obtained by polysomnography. Polysomnography is a multi parametric test for studying sleep. It monitors brain function (EEG), eye function (EOG), muscle function (EMG), heart function (ECG), breathing function etc.
Types:
There are two types of sleep apnea Central sleep apnea and Obstructive sleep apnea. In central sleep apnea, the breathing is paused due to lack of effort. In obstructive sleep apnea the breathing is blocked even though there is an effort to breathe.
People With High Risk:
Sleeping problems affects both children and adults. Obese people, individuals with flabby muscles, increased soft tissue near the airway, heavy face and neck etc are more at risk compared to normal individuals. Children mostly suffer from obstructive sleep apnea and are usually over tired or hyper. Due to this condition the children tend to be thin and not grow properly.
Treatment:
The treatment deals with removing the obstruction from breathing. In children the obstruction is usually due to tonsils or adenoids and are cured by tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy. In adults if the obstruction is due to enlarged lymphoid tissues, then steroids are prescribed to reduce the swelling. Medicines like methylxanthine theophylline and amphetamines are also used in the treatment.
Life style changes are also advised such as avoiding alcohol, medicines like muscle relaxants and sedatives, losing weight, quitting smoking etc. Some times, changing the pillow or changing the direction (sideways, on back, on chest) also helps. Avoiding sleeping on the back is very effective. For this keep a tennis ball in the back pocket of your trouser, this way it will be uncomfortable to sleep on the back and you will unknowingly shift to sleep sideways.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a strong method used when other methods are not working. In this method an oxygen mask with positive air pressure is attached to the patient while sleeping. Many people have found relief from using CPAP. Neurostimulation is under study to treat the disorder from a neurological angle.
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Sleep apnea and one of its most common treatment options, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP, contain an array of questions and answers for those with obstructive sleep apnea. This provides you with an overview and helps you find further information.
What is sleep apnea?
During sleep, some peoples’ breathing briefly stops many times throughout the night. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the soft tissue at the back of the throat collapsing and blocking the airway. Central sleep apnea occurs when air cannot flow into or out of the person’s nose or mouth through efforts to resume breathing because of confused signals from the brain to the diaphragm.
What causes sleep apnea?
Mechanical and structural problems in the airway interrupt breathing during sleep. The throat muscles and tongue relax too much during sleep, blocking the airway.
Am I at risk for sleep apnea?
This can affect anyone, however, it’s more prevalent in men. Loud snoring, weight problems and high blood pressure are risk signs. If you never feel rested, suffer from being overweight, smoke, or notice behavioral changes, such as depression, see an experienced sleep apnea specialist. Snoring is also a sign of sleep apnea, but isn’t the only indicator.
Does obstructive sleep apnea require surgery?
Oral appliance therapy is an alternative to surgery. Therapeutically, they reposition the lower jaw and tongue to reduce apneic occurrences.
If I use a CPAP do I still need surgery?
By correctly adhering to treatment, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP, can be very successful. However, studies also show only 23-45% of patients attain success. CPAP is a commitment, those who think they can’t devote themselves to the program should look into oral appliance therapy. Surgery is a last resort.
For many, CPAP is uncomfortable. Less cumbersome methods use simpler mouthpieces that properly align the jaw for safer sleep. These mouthpieces resemble sports mouth guards and helps patients breathe through the nose and mouth. If CPAP is uncomfortable, look into the alternate treatment options.
Why should I seek treatment for sleep apnea?
Quality sleep is essential to wellness. Sleep apnea creates lack of energy, inhibits concentration and slows metabolism. Even worse, lost sleep increases chances for high blood pressure and heart attacks.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, would like to be learned more about it, or know someone who does suffer from it, please visit the website of experienced sleep apnea specialist Dr. Ira Shapira to set up a consultation.
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person stops breathing repeatedly while sleeping. Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, including children. Risk factors include being overweight, male gender, being over forty years of age, having a family history of sleep apnea, having a larger neck size, or having larger tonsils. If left untreated sleep apnea could lead to hypertension, stroke, or heart problems such as a heart attack, heart failure, or irregular heart beat. Sleep apnea can cause you to be less productive at work or school and increases your chances of having a car accident because of your sleep loss. There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
Before diagnosing sleep apnea you must understand what it is. Sleep apnea occurs when someone has completely stopped breathing for 10 seconds or more while they are sleeping. Sometimes these apnea episodes completely wake a person, other times they just bring someone to a shallow level of sleep from a deep level. This interrupted sleep may not be noticed by the person with the sleep apnea, instead it may alert your bed partner. There are two types of sleep apnea: central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain doesn’t send the signal to breathe to the breathing muscles. This is more common in people with brain injuries or heart diseases. Obstructive sleep apnea means the airway has actually been obstructed by your tongue going backwards or enlarged tonsils. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder.
If you have symptoms of sleep apnea your doctor may ask you to have a sleep apnea test done at a sleep disorder center. This test would be done after a physical exam and medical history. People who have sleep apnea in their family history are at a higher risk for sleep apnea themselves. A sleep study (polysomnogram) is a multiple-component test that electronically transmits and records specific physical activities while you are sleeping. In a polysomnogram an EEG is used to record brain wave activity, an EMG records such things as teeth grinding, an EOG to record eye movements which tells the sleep stage you are in, an EKG for your heart rate, a nasal airflow sensor to record airflow, and a snore microphone records your snoring activity. All of these results are then read by a sleep specialist and given to your doctor to determine if you have sleep apnea.
If you have a mild case of obstructive sleep apnea you may be able to fix the problem by doing some behavioral changes. These changes include changing your position while sleeping; sometimes apneas occur only in a certain position which is usually lying flat on your back. Obesity is a contributive factor to obstructive sleep apnea. Losing 10% of your body weight would improve your sleep apnea. Some people with sleep apnea find this hard to do because the sleep loss leaves them too tired to exercise; in turn making them gain more weight which worsens the sleep apnea. If the apnea is treated a different way it usually leads to people being able to lose weight since they won’t be as tired.
Learn more on obstructive sleep apnea and sleep apnea treatments at my site.