CPAP machines keep patients who have sleep apnea breathing during the night. Apnea must be treated, because it tends to be a risk factor for serious, potentially terminal diseases. A sleep study will confirm an apnea diagnosis, after which patients may begin to use their machines. The mask will be fitted to suit the patient’s needs, and most insurance policies will pay for the cost of a machine, and for periodic replacement of parts.
Sleep apnea happens when patients are roused during sleep, because they are not breathing. Patients will either have obstructive apnea, or will have central apnea. With obstructive apnea, the tissues of the soft palate and throat constrict during sleep, causing an airway obstruction. With central apnea, the brain sends faulty signals to the breathing muscles, which causes the cessation of breathing during sleep.
Many risk factors may cause sleep apnea to develop. Physical causes may include hypertension, a naturally narrow throat, excess neck circumference, and excess weight. Also, patients with a family history that includes apnea, who are over sixty-five, and male, have a greater chance of developing apnea. Certain behaviors, like smoking, use of sedatives and alcohol, and prolonged sitting may also cause apnea to develop. In addition, patients with a brain tumor, or who have experienced a stroke, may send faulty signals from the brain, to the muscles which control breathing.
More serious problems may occur as a result of sleep apnea. The rapid drop of oxygen in the blood, during apnea episodes, places strain on cardiovascular system components. During the daytime, many apnea patients feel fatigued and irritable, because they have experienced minimal restorative sleep. Drivers, or operators of heavy machinery, are especially vulnerable to the dangers of daytime fatigue.
Apnea is diagnosed through a sleep study. Patients usually spend the night at a sleep disorder clinic, where doctors conduct a test called nocturnal polysomnography. The test involves attaching electrodes to patients’ body parts, to monitor lung, heart, and brain activity, along with the levels of oxygen in the blood.
CPAP is an abbreviation for continuous positive airway pressure. CPAP machines keep the air passages inflated during the night, preventing sleep from being interrupted. Depending on whether patients breathe through their nose, or through their mouth, a wide array of masks is available. Insurance companies will usually pay to replace masks and other parts twice yearly, because silicone breaks down, causing the mask to form a faulty seal.
Finding the right mask may take time. Unfortunately, most patients go through a trial and error period, as they work to find the mask which allows them to get a good night’s sleep. Communicating with a physician is important, and many CPAP manufacturers offer toll-free access to an expert, who may be able to advise patients, to make their experience more comfortable.
Most patients add a humidifier to their CPAP machine, to prevent dried-out nasal passages. Regular care of the mask will maintain performance, as long as patients do not use antibacterial soap, which breaks down silicone. To put an end to sleep apnea once and for all, people should investigate the advantages of using a CPAP machine.
Battling sleep apnea in Ottawa? Get more information today on symptoms, where to get CPAP machines in Ottawa, and the next steps to take.