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Is There Any Treatment for Sleep Apnea?

Posted on August 19, 2022December 22, 2022 by Sara Larcombe

The answer to the above question is determined by how you define “treatment.” Simply put, there is no magical, one-time sleep apnea remedy that can suddenly eliminate the issue. However, there are various sleep apnea treatment options available that can reduce symptoms and help people receive the healthy sleep that this condition so frequently denies them.

Unfortunately, sleep apnea therapies with positive airway pressure (PAP) or sleep apnea machine cannot be considered sleep apnea cures. They typically perform extremely well in alleviating sleep apnea symptoms. They are a technique for treating and living with the illness, not curing it.

What Can I Do About My Sleep Apnea?

If you have severe sleep apnea, you should start CPAP therapy as soon as possible. It is not a cure for sleep apnea, but it is the most clinically validated type of treatment, giving patients the best chance of living a healthy life. Other options include dental appliances for mild sleep apnea and surgery, which is normally only suggested in the most extreme cases.

If your sleep apnea is mild, or if you haven’t been diagnosed, and your sleep apnea symptoms aren’t causing you too much trouble, you may decide to explore less clinical methods. To that end, the next best thing to a sleep apnea cure is also the first therapy option most experts prescribe.

How Complex Is a Treatment for Sleep Apnea?

Although there is no official cure for sleep apnea, decreasing weight is nearly typically the first piece of advice offered to those who exhibit symptoms of sleep apnea such as lethargy, exhaustion, snoring, and so on.

According to professional, decreasing weight can reduce the fat that restricts breathing passages and causes obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It is also claimed that decreasing weight will not only address your sleep problems, but it will assist your cholesterol, your knees, your clothes will fit better, and you will be happier.

Dr. Lawrence Epstein of Brigham and Women’s Hospital goes even farther, telling Harvard Women’s Health Watch, “If we can persuade patients to lose weight, both sleep apnea and other health concerns [like heart disease] will go away.

Losing just 10% of body weight can significantly impact sleep apnea symptoms. In certain circumstances, significant weight loss can potentially cure the illness.”

It should be highlighted that weight loss would only be effective as a potential sleep apnea cure in cases of OSA, where the airway is closed, as opposed to CSA, where breathing issues are caused by missed signals between the brain and the respiratory system. However, the majority of sleep apnea diagnoses are OSA rather than CSA; the American Sleep Apnea Association believes that just one in every five sleep apnea patients has CSA.

So, is losing weight a solution for sleep apnea? Not quite, but it’s as close as we’re going to get for people who are undiagnosed or have a minor form of sleep apnea.

Are There Any Effective Sleep Apnea Treatments Available?

Is there a treatment for sleep apnea? The answer remains the same: no “official” sleep apnea remedies exist. We’re not claiming that losing weight is a legitimate solution for sleep apnea. Losing weight may be the next best thing for persons with OSA, preventing certain moderate sleep apnea symptoms from becoming severe or life-threatening.

However, the greatest answer to whether sleep apnea remedies exist is to think of living a better life rather than a cure for sleep apnea. Following the usual recommendations for healthy sleep – in addition to clinical treatments such as CPAP or dental equipment, if necessary – may not provide a cure for sleep apnea, but it will most certainly help you receive the healthy sleep you need.

Sleep apnea is a problem that is easily treated. Treatment options range from dietary changes to surgery.

Furthermore, if you have any contributory medical issues (such as inadequate thyroid hormone production or large tonsils), these may also need to be addressed.

Changes in Lifestyle for Sleep Apnea

Making lifestyle modifications is the primary line of treatment for sleep apnea. This includes the following:

Weight loss – If you are overweight or obese, lowering weight may improve or cure your sleep apnea. Losing weight has other health benefits.
Reduce your alcohol consumption.
Quit Smoking.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) Machine

Aside from lifestyle adjustments, the most effective treatment available is a nighttime mask that sends higher air pressure into the airway to keep the throat from collapsing. This is called “nasal constant positive airway pressure” (CPAP).

The most frequent treatment for sleep apnea is CPAP. It is non-invasive and works by blowing air through tubing into a mask worn on the nose and/or mouth. Even if the throat muscles have relaxed too much during sleep, this air pressure flows into the back of the throat and keeps it open.

The key to CPAP treatment is to choose a mask and machine that are right for you.

Dental Instruments

Suppose you have mild to moderate sleep apnea. In that case, another therapy option is to wear an oral appliance, which is a specially designed mouthguard (such as a mandibular advancement splint or MAS). These are intended to pull the lower jaw forward to make more room in the neck, but they do not prevent the throat from closing during sleeping.

They must be fitted by a dentist and worn at all times when sleeping. They are also used as a snoring remedy.

Positioning Aids

Some people only experience sleep apnea when they lie on their backs. You might shift around in your sleep without even realizing it.

You could stitch anything (such as a tennis ball into a T-shirt or pajama top) to keep you off your back while sleeping. Some CPAP suppliers offer commercial products in this regard as well.

Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery

When other therapies for sleep apnea have failed, surgery may be considered. Surgery to the palate and base of the tongue may be recommended, particularly in school-aged children and young adults.

Upper airway surgery aims to make extra room in the throat by removing tissue. However, the amount of tissue that may be removed is limited, and it does not prevent the throat from compressing during sleep; thus, it may not be successful.

Any surgery of this sort must be performed by a specialized ear, nose, and throat surgeon (known as an otolaryngologist). Your medical team can answer any concerns you have and assist you in weighing the health benefits.

Is Sleep Apnea Fatal?

Posted on August 19, 2022December 22, 2022 by Sara Larcombe

If you are a direct witness, it might be frightening to discover that someone has stopped breathing while sleeping. While various factors can cause your breathing to stop while you sleep, sleep apnea is a typical reason. Almost 48% of Australian adults have one time experienced a form of sleep disorder, according to research, and more than 22 million Americans (USA) also have had some form of sleep problems.

People frequently inquire, “Can sleep apnea harm you?” The response is that it can have a variety of short- and long-term health implications, some of which are potentially fatal. It is therefore necessary for you to know if sleep apnea is among those fatal sleep disorders people experienced.

Causes of Sleep Breathing Interruptions

Breathing problems during sleep are pretty common. Snoring is probably the most well-known. The characteristic sound is created by vibration in the upper airway tissues while you breathe.

It is also possible for you to temporarily cease breathing. These breathing pauses are known as sleep apnea, which comes from the Greek word for “no breath.” Apnea occurrences must last at least 10 seconds, but they might persist for several minutes.

The sleeping disease known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most prevalent form of apnea. OSA occurs when the upper airway tissues—the tongue, soft palate, and uvula—collapse into the neck and obstruct normal airflow.

Your body may still try to breathe, with the chest and abdomen moving, but the air cannot pass through the barrier. As a result, at certain times, airflow via your nose and mouth is limited or shut entirely.

Another form of sleep apnea is central sleep apnea. Here, breathing pauses are caused by the brain failing to inform the respiratory muscles to perform. This can be caused by a brainstem condition, excessive obesity, or drugs such as opiate pills.

Other probable causes of sleep-disturbed breathing are less common. They are as follows:

Cheyne-Stokes respiration: Alternating heavy and shallow breathing and breathing pauses have been linked to severe heart failure and neurological illnesses such as dementia.
Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (Ondine’s curse): Shallow breathing causes an oxygen shortage and excess carbon dioxide in the blood. The condition is usually caused by a malfunction of the neurological system.

How to Restart Breathing

The oxygen levels in the blood decrease when breathing incorrectly. The brain detects inadequate breathing and elevated carbon dioxide levels and triggers an awakening.

These awakenings are related to bouts of elevated heart rate and blood pressure, which can develop into other issues in the long run. You may wake up gasping or choking, and your partner may hear a loud snort and movement as you awaken from a deep sleep.

When Does Sleep Apnea Become a Serious Problem?

The degree of severity of sleep apnea varies. Breathing pauses are expected to occur up to five times per hour in adults5 and once per hour in children. These occurrences may occur as a result of typical sleep-stage transitions.

A sleep study may be used to diagnose OSA if breathing disturbances occur more frequently. Based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), the following categories are used to classify sleep apnea:

5-14 incidents per hour for mild
15-30 incidents per hour is considered moderate.
More than 30 occurrences per hour is considered severe.

It is also critical to recognize the level of oxygen deprivation that happens as a result of these events. This is referred to as hypoxemia when oxygen levels fall below 90%.

Chronic oxygen deprivation can have both short-term and long-term consequences.

In the presence of heart or lung illness, oxygen levels may fall precipitously with each apnea incident. As a result, the body may experience increased stress overnight.

Can Sleep Apnea Cause Death?

The breathing pauses caused by sleep apnea is exceedingly unlikely to result in death. In other words, you will not stop breathing indefinitely. On the other hand, obstructive sleep apnea can raise your risk of potentially dangerous short-term and chronic health issues, some of which might result in abrupt death.

Short-Term Dangers

Breathing pauses can cause heart arrhythmia, leading to cardiac arrest.
It can also cause atrial fibrillation, a heart attack (myocardial infarction), or a stroke.

These occurrences appear to be more common in the morning when REM sleep is more common and sleep apnea is more likely.

According to studies, patients with OSA have a 2.5-fold increased chance of dying while sleeping between midnight and 6 a.m. 10

The good news is that CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatment appears to reduce the risk of most significant consequences and the likelihood that OSA may cause long-term heart problems.

Chronic Dangers

Long-term sleep-disordered breathing has been shown to have serious health implications. It has been linked to an increase in the prevalence of high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, and heart problems.

It’s also linked to depression and memory issues like Alzheimer’s.

It causes drowsiness during the day and may contribute to accidents.

While OSA is not lethal on its own, many of the complications it can cause can endanger your life. As a result, treating sleep apnea is critical for your health.

When Should You See a Doctor?

If you or someone you care about has frequent pauses in breathing, you should seek medical attention. Don’t dismiss sleep breathing difficulties as insignificant; they can lead to major problems over time.

Other symptoms or indicators may indicate the diagnosis, but only a sleep study will provide a conclusive answer. Fortunately, effective therapeutic alternatives are available, such as using CPAP or an oral appliance.

Speak with your doctor about getting the treatment you need to breathe and sleep better. You will be pleased you did.

Use this info to make better CPAP machine decision

Posted on August 11, 2022December 22, 2022 by Sara Larcombe

A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment is often used to treat sleep apnea, which affects millions of Australians. Many individuals believe that since a CPAP machine is too big for them to comfortably sleep on their side or stomach when using CPAP treatment, CPAP users must always sleep on their backs. There are several different types of CPAP masks, some of which are thicker than others. While some CPAP users must use a certain kind of machine, others are free to choose a machine based on their preferred sleeping position.

Be sure to follow your sleep specialist’s advice while choosing a cpap machine for sleep apnea treatment. Before altering machine types, talk to them to see whether your selected option would be a good fit for you. Each kind of machine has a specific shape that serves a certain function, and not all machine types are appropriate for all CPAP users.

Which CPAP Mask Works Best for Your Sleep Position?

The three kinds of CPAP masks that are most often used are full-face, nasal, and nasal pillow masks. Full-face masks are the bulkiest choice since they also cover the lips, unlike nasal masks which just cover the nose. Nasal pillow masks, which just cover the nostrils and have no hard shell, are the least obtrusive masks.

In addition to being uncomfortable, sleeping with your CPAP machine pressed against your face may lessen the efficiency of your treatment. To stop air leaking, CPAP masks need to be well sealed. A CPAP mask’s headgear may also interfere with sleep, particularly if it features abrasive plastic buckles or inflexible anchor straps. When choosing a CPAP machine, you should consider the mask’s footprint, including its length, width, and depth, as well as where the headgear will rest on your face. The goal is to discover a machine that is both useful and comfortable for sleeping.

Masks for side sleepers using CPAP

On your side, which prevents gravity from impacting your airway the way it does when you’re on your back or stomach, is one of the best sleeping positions for treating sleep apnea. Unfortunately, finding the appropriate CPAP machine may be difficult for side sleepers.

Because they are so high above the cushion, nasal pillow masks are a great choice for side sleepers who can manage them. Nasal pillow masks often retain their seal even in instances when some side sleepers may lean their faces toward the cushion. Nasal masks, which partly or totally surround the nose, are another option that is effective for many side sleepers. The best styles include soft, movable headgear and excellent sealing. However, because these characteristics don’t do much to halt air leakage, side sleepers may still need a CPAP-friendly cushion to support the thickness of even a nasal machine.

Masks for back sleepers using CPAP

Since even full-face masks fit well in this position, back sleepers using CPAP have access to a broad variety of machine choices. Even though lying on your back while using a CPAP machine may be optimal, gravity might cause the airways to collapse. If your doctor is aware that you sleep on your back and has not suggested that you alter positions, you will likely feel at peace wearing any machine that is effective and fits your other requirements. Even while some back sleepers have trouble wearing single-strap headgear, the position also makes it more difficult to take off your machine. For stomach sleepers, CPAP masks

Stomach sleeping is the least frequent sleeping position, and those who do so must take particular care while choosing a CPAP machine. Due to their positioning, the majority of masks press into the face, which is unpleasant and often causes air leakage. Depending on the size of your machine, your head may be pushed into a position that strains your neck and may cause pain or stiffness the next day.

Most people can only use a nasal pillow machine when sleeping on their stomachs for these reasons. Nose pillows are ideal for this because of their low profile; regardless of how you sleep, they won’t likely get unpleasant or dislodge. Check that your actual pillows can accommodate the machine, even if you use a nasal pillow machine. Some masks also include tubes around the temples, which might cause air blockage depending on your sleeping position and the firmness of your pillow.

Where can I get CPAP masks?

CPAP masks also require a prescription, much as CPAP machines. Despite this, there are several locations where you may get a CPAP machine. A prescription is still required by online merchants, and this prescription is often validated by having you upload or fax it to the store. As soon as your prescription is approved, you may make your purchase.

Although physical medical supply shops are also popular options and often more practical if you need a machine right now, the best CPAP machines and masks are frequently accessible through internet suppliers. Finally, a lot of sleep clinics and professionals provide a tiny range of CPAP masks for sale. Purchasing via your sleep specialist allows them to better oversee your treatment, despite their charges often being greater.

Utilizing a CPAP Pillow to Enhance Mask Fit

You should pick your CPAP masks depending on the advice of your sleep doctor since not all CPAP users can successfully use all CPAP machine designs. If the machine you must wear hinders you from sleeping in your preferred position, a CPAP cushion can be the answer. These cushions are more shaped than a conventional pillow to support masks, particularly heavier ones, even when you sleep on your side. Depending on the kind, they could also provide greater cervical support to stop neck strain or machine dislodging.

Final thoughts

A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment is often used to treat sleep apnea, which affects millions of Australians. Many individuals believe that CPAP users must sleep on their backs because a machine is too big for them to comfortably do so while undergoing treatment with a CPAP machine. There are several different types of CPAP masks, some of which are thicker than others. While some CPAP users must use a certain kind of machine, others are free to choose a machine based on their preferred sleeping position.

Using your CPAP machine during hot weather

Posted on August 11, 2022December 22, 2022 by Sara Larcombe

Even in the dead of winter, Australia is recognized and adored for its sunny days and bright weather. Even if it’s fantastic for the developing beach culture, it might be challenging for CPAP machine users to get a good night’s sleep. When it’s hot outside, we just want to throw off all of our covers since it might be unpleasant and sweaty to stay in bed. Unfortunately, covering your face with a mask doesn’t help and may make it much harder for you to get a good night’s sleep.

Even though you may be tempted to stop using the mask when those temperatures start to rise, it’s critical to continue using your sleep apnea devices every night if you want your treatment to be successful. However, it’s simpler than you would imagine to use your CPAP machine in the heat.

In order to help you, we have put together this blog to provide you additional details and some practical advice on controlling your CPAP machine treatment in an effort to make you feel more at ease during those warm evenings.

Effect of Temperature on Sleep

First and foremost, it’s crucial to keep the temperature of the room and body just right since it has a big influence on how well we sleep.

There are various phases of sleep, the first of which is the change from awareness to light sleep. To enter the next stage, known as profound sleep, the body’s core temperature typically has to drop by two to three degrees. However, if our core temperature is too high, the brain is unable to distinguish between the shift from awake to asleep, which directly affects how well we sleep.

Our internal temperatures may be directly influenced by our environment, therefore the temperature of your room can play a role.

The optimal temperature has generally been determined to be between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius2,3, which is because this range is most compatible with the colder temperatures your core experiences in the middle of the night. Low temperatures make sure that your body doesn’t warm up sooner and exit the deep sleep phases too rapidly, encouraging a more peaceful night.

Therefore, the optimal sleeping environment is one that is dark, calm, and cool.

So, what do you do in warm weather?

The advantages and disadvantages of your CPAP machine in hot weather

Higher temperatures may have both beneficial and detrimental impacts on your ability to sleep each night if you use a CPAP device.

The mask is a crucial component of your CPAP treatment, but if you’re trying to stay cool, it might trap the heat in around your face and neck, particularly if it’s the silicon type that covers your mouth and nose. Because of the increased pressure and close contact with your face, there is also insufficient airflow over your skin, which may make you perspire and make you feel uneasy. Your body temperature may rise and you may get restless as a result, which may negatively affect the quality of your sleep.

Despite this, CPAP machine users often discover that the warmer weather, as opposed to the drier winter months, gives some welcome respite because to the increased moisture in the air.

In the summer, the warm air may give enough of moisture to make breathing much more pleasant since it doesn’t dry out your mouth, nose, or throat. For CPAP machine users, humidity can be a lifesaver. Even this, however, has a limit since excessive humidity in the air may fill the tubing and mask with condensation, causing your device to sputter and even slap water on your face through your mask, waking you awake.

Therefore, you must find a technique to balance each of these aspects so that you can sleep well every night. Fortunately, there are several quick and easy tricks you may do to keep your CPAP machine treatment under control when it’s hot outside.

Handling Extra Moisture While Wearing Your CPAP Mask

In order to assist you manage dryness, your CPAP machine may have a humidifier that increases the moisture content of the air you are breathing. You may lower this function since, generally speaking, warmer weather has led to an increase in humidity. Compared to the dry air that most users must endure throughout the winter, the excess moisture from the air in your bedroom easily travels through your machine and into your airways. Regardless of the season, there are several situations when you should keep your humidifier on high.

For instance, you should make sure your humidifier is running at a level to prevent your sinuses and passages from drying up overnight if you live in a dry area of Australia or if the temperature inside your house is higher than the outside (which is often the case).

A buildup of condensation in the mask and hose known as “rainout” may result from excessive moisture, which can be unpleasant.

There are several methods to assist you in managing this:

Place the CPAP on the floor or at a lower position so that the extra moisture doesn’t flow into the mask and splash your face. Try lowering the humidifier’s setting.
To maintain a steady temperature and humidity level, use a tubing.
These suggestions can assist in reducing humidity so that you can breathe more easily and prevent your mask from becoming too wet as you sleep.

Running the humidifier with cooled water

In hot temperatures, some CPAP machine users experience discomfort because they discover that breathing through the mask causes steamy, wet conditions within the silicon shell.

However, a helpful tip is to store distilled water in smaller containers in the refrigerator. This cooled water may be poured into the humidifier chamber just before going to bed, and then the humidifier can be turned to the lowest or off setting. As a consequence, you breathe cooler air that still contains moisture but doesn’t warm up and produce perspiration, rainout, or steam.

This useful technique may help keep excessive heat under control while preventing drying out your mouth, nose, and throat, but it is worth trying with as it might be different for each individual.

Some people attempt freezing the distilled water to make it more solid, but the drawback is that it doesn’t turn back into vapour quickly enough to work while trying to go asleep at first. We don’t recommend this since ice chips could harm the equipment.

The ideal method is to quickly freeze some distilled water in a small container until it is very cold but not frozen.

Just keep in mind to use distilled water as it gets rid of various minerals, pollutants, and live things that might harm your health or your CPAP machine. The best choice is bottled water if you can’t get access to distilled water.

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