When you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, your doctor will give you some suggestions for how to start breathing better at night. Losing weight and sleeping at an incline can help, but the most promising treatment option is to use a CPAP machine which keeps your airway open while you sleep.
Why It’s Important to Treat Sleep Apnea
A sleep apnea diagnosis means that you stop breathing during your sleep, from 5 to 50 times each hour. Not only can this make you feel exhausted every day and unable to function at work, but when you stop breathing, your brain and the rest of your organs don’t get enough oxygen. This can lead to health concerns including:
1. High blood pressure
2. Heart disease
3. Risk of stroke
4. Liver problems
5. Type 2 Diabetes
How a CPAP Machine Can Help With Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Buy cpap machine Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax, allowing your airway to narrow or close which causes you to stop breathing. Luckily, your brain recognizes what’s happening and arouses you to reopen your airway, but this doesn’t allow you to get sufficient oxygen throughout the night since it happens over and over again.
Using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machine is the best way to keep your airway open so you keep breathing in your sleep. The CPAP machine increases air pressure in your throat so your airway doesn’t collapse when you breathe in. Here’s how it works:
• A mask for sleep apnea is placed either over your nose and mouth or only over your nose (this type is called a Nasal CPAP).
• The machine blows continuous gentle, pressurized air through the airway to prevent it from collapsing when you breathe.
Additional Benefits of Using a CPAP Machine
Wearing a mask for sleep apnea can sometimes be uncomfortable and hard to get used to, but you should keep in mind that doing so is important for treating the health issues mentioned above. Quality sleep is also important for increased energy during the day, and patients who use a CPAP machine regularly experience:
• Reduced snoring, which is important when sharing a bed with a partner.
• Decreased episodes of depression.
• Increased levels of concentration and alertness – both important when working, taking care of children and driving a vehicle.