How-to Alleviate Sleeping Disorders With a Sleep Apnea Mask

Have you ever felt tired despite what seems to be eight hours of restful sleep? Most probably restful isn’t the right word to describe your sleep. Do you also experience the need to have daytime naps during the day despite sleeping enough hours during the night? Then most probably you are suffering in some form of sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea and Sleep Disorders

What is sleep apnea? Obtrusive sleep apnea, or commonly known as sleep apnea, is a kind of sleeping disorder which is distinguished by unconscious pauses during one’s sleep cycle wherein it happens long enough that one or more breaths are missed. The apnea, an episode, usually lasts at least ten seconds. This is also caused when the upper airway become narrow due to the relaxation of the muscles during sleep.

As taken from scientific studies, subjects without sleep apnea masks, in a great deal of the time aren’t aware of having breathing problems during their sleep nor after waking from it, regardless of the type of sleep apnea. And depending on the level of sleep disturbance, this causes a new kind of health stress on the person in the form of fatigue and daytime sleepiness. In parallel to this, the more this disorder disturbs one’s sleep, the more prone the person is to the above-mentioned side effects.

Sleep Apnea Masks Alleviating Sleep Apnea

A Sleep Apnea Mask, also known as a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) Machine, is a form of ventilation system used originally and mainly for patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) in hospitals. Nowadays it is also used in the treatment of sleep disorders such as Obtrusive sleep apnea. This machine was developed by Professor Colin Sullivan (Australia) in 1981.

See also Types of Sleep Disorders

A CPAP machine helps the patient by blowing pressurized air prescribed to them by their physician. The necessary pressure is normally determined by the doctor after reviewing the patient’s records after polysomnography. Polysomnography is the multi-parametric test used in the study of sleep. Sleep apnea masks allow the patient suffering from such a sleep disorder to have a steady flow of pressurized air, allowing the patient to breath normally even when sleeping.

With the help of the sleep apnea mask, the patient is able to sleep better, knowing that despite pauses in his sleep, the pressurized airflow will force him to continue breathing. Because of this, you sleep better and uninterrupted, leaving you well-rested and ready for a new day.

Purchasing a Sleep Apnea Mask

If you think you are suffering from Obtrusive Sleep Apnea, you should consult your physician. Depending on the country you live in, sleep apnea masks vary in availability. In some countries like Canada, it is available to everyone by purchasing it or renting it. In other countries, it is available only at the prescription of your doctor. Also, it is necessary to have yourself checked in order to know what degree of sleep apnea you have. The more they know about it, the better they can calibrate the CPAP machine to your medical needs.

Also, it is a wise course of action that once you have bought or rented your CPAP mask that you check out the manufacturer’s website to know more about how to maintain it properly on a daily or weekly basis, depending on how long your treatment will last. These machines, depending on its model and design, can vary from prices. Yet they are still not that cheap. So it’s best to maintain them well in case you need to use them again in the future.