A good night’s sleep is something that most of us dream fondly of. With all the pressures and stresses of our busy lives, it can seem difficult sometimes to get the proper amount of sleep that our minds and bodies need. However for some people, the lack of quality sleep is not necessarily about how busy their lives are, but how their bodies handle the sleeping hours. Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that affects approximately 18 million individuals within the United States. And with this disorder, there is more at stake than just a restful night’s sleep. If left undiagnosed or untreated, there could be serious health issues down the road.
What exactly is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition in which an individual has periods of shallow or completely paused breathing while they are asleep. While every person and their condition is different, it has been estimated that an average night of sleep will see a sufferer experience about 60 apneas, or those periods of altered breathing, during each hour. There are somewhere between 2% and 4% of the population in this country that have sleep apnea but have not been diagnosed. That means that about one in every 50 people are undiagnosed. Some of those people may be thinking that they are getting along just fine, even if their sleep patterns are a little irregular, but the truth is that those who suffer from sleep apnea and go untreated are actually three times more likely to develop heart disease at some point.
A few solutions to sleep apnea
Once you have visited your doctor to discuss your sleeping issues and have been effectively diagnosed with sleep apnea, your doctor is likely going to be recommending some sort of mask for you to put on when you go to bed and wear throughout the night while you are sleeping. There are a few different versions of sleep apnea machines, including nasal pillows, BiPAP machines, and CPAP masks. They are all very similar but essentially they provide a prescribed level of air pressure that keeps your airwaves open, forcing you to breathe when you would otherwise be experiencing an apnea.
Getting to know what CPAP machine supplies you will need
As you get familiar with using a CPAP machine, you will begin to figure out what works best for you, and what CPAP machine supplies you will need for your highest level of comfort, and what you prefer. Of those who responded, about 50% of them said that they prefer nasal pillows, 45% have a preference for nasal masks, and 5% did not favor one over the other. It is good to have options as you get to know what you works for you and what CPAP machine supplies you will be looking at, such as chin restraints, nasal pads, and other comfortable head gear.
A restful night’s sleep is possible for everyone. And on top of being well rested, you will be healthier as well, as your body will not be going through unnecessary strain, just trying to supply you with enough oxygen.
