CPAP MASK

There are many of us who remember the sound of our father snoring in the room next door. We thought it was funny and everyone in the family had a good laugh over it. Now I know that snoring can be a sign of a serious sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). And those who suffer from it should be treated with sleep apnea machines.

Snoring is present because there is some degree of obstruction in your airway. The noise you hear from a snore is due to the resistance this obstruction causes when you breathe in and out.

Most often snoring is a benign condition which is more annoying to the bed partner than the person who is actually snoring. But in an estimated 5 out of 100 individuals, it is a sign of OSA.

Other symptoms of OSA are morning headaches, excessive sleepiness during the day, kicking during sleep, obesity and episodes of gasping for breath during the night. Left untreated, OSA can cause other serious health problems like heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure.

To be diagnosed with OSA you will need to see a sleep specialist and have a sleep study. This is the best way to know exactly what is going on with you while you sleep.

If you are found to have sleep apnea, the best treatment is for you to use a sleep apnea machine called a Continuous Positive Airway Machine (CPAP). This is a device that sits at your bedside and delivers air pressure to you via a mask. This air pressure holds your airway open so that you breathe like you should during sleep.

When you are breathing adequately, your oxygen levels stay in a normal range and you have refreshing, quality sleep. Your overall health will benefit and you will probably feel better than you have in a long time.

There are many negative health consequences if you leave sleep apnea untreated. Sleep apnea machines are the most effective form of treatment available.