My Life and Sleep Apnea

There are many sleep apnea treatments and procedures; here are just a few of the main ones. The easy way to help with your sleep apnea is to lose weight . It probably won’t completely end your sleep apnea but it should help, although if you have central sleep apnea this wouldn’t help. The chin strap is simple device that fits around the top of the head and around your chin. The idea behind it is to keep your mouth shut. Some people use it with the cpap machine others just by itself. Dental devices fit in your mouth at night in order to keep the airway open. This is usually only effective with mild sleep apnea. Somnoplasty is a procedure that uses a radio frequency directed at the soft palate and the uvula. This in effect stiffens the soft palate eliminating the snoring. This is an outpatient procedure. Another outpatient surgery is the laser assisted uvula palatoplasty or LAUP . This procedure vaporizes the soft palate and the uvula. Done on an outpatient basis it takes more...

We all know that sleep apnea can do many damaging things to our health. It can put us at risk for heart disease and all the serious troubles that come with that. It can also affect our mental state especially concerning our memory. So it is not surprising that there is a connection between sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that kills off brain cells and gets worse as time goes by. At this time there isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s. However there is quite a bit of research being done to slow down the progression of the disease and even prevent the disease. Loss of memory is one of the first signs in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. For more information on this terrible disease go to the National Site of the Alzheimer’s Association. There are some that suggest that sleep apnea patients are at a higher risk of Alzheimer’s. A compelling argument is made for this case by Dr. Steven Park, an authority on sleep issues. In a recent study it was found that Alzheimer...

When I was using the cpap mask years ago I probably made it through about 4 or 5 hours before I would pull off the cpap mask . After I did that it seemed like I slept better. Although looking back I probably didn’t sleep better with the mask off it just seemed more comfortable than having the mask off. From what I have read I’m not the only person who did that. In sleep apnea forums I have found that it is common for sleep apnea sufferers to wake up in the middle of the night with a dry throat, or dry gums or just irritated from having the mask on. Of course I used a full face mask which creates a whole series of problems for cpap users. The biggest problem with that is leakage; at least it was a problem when I used the cpap. I’m sure that there have been improvements made to the cpap masks now. Another problem is panic, as in panicking because you think that your air is being cut off. That happened to me a few times. I never had a problem with claustrophobia but some folks do ...

Each sleep apnea patient has their cpap setting determined usually at the sleep clinic. Its there they adjust the air pressure coming out of the cpap machine through the hose and into your mouth or nose (depending on which type of mask you have). The pressure ranges from 4 cm h20 to 20 cm h20. I know that doesn’t tell very much. But 4 cm h20 is on the low end of the scale whereas 20 cm h20 is the most powerful. This is all measured by the cpap manometer. On cpap machines, like other sleep apnea breathing machines, the air pressure is ramped up. Which means that when you first put the mask on the pressure is slight and over a period of time it gradually becomes full strength. This makes the breathing adjustment a little easier. Can you adjust the volume of air pressure at home? I was told no because the pressure has to be set by a technician who is familiar with the machine. Usually your doctor will send someone to your house and show you how to run the machine and they will set th...

Adults aren’t the only ones who can have sleep apnea children also may suffer from it. Unlike symptoms found in adults where loud and interrupted snoring occurs, in children it isn’t that easy to detect. Although heavy snoring is also found in kid’s sleep apnea there are other common signs that your child has sleep apnea Attention problems Lack of weight gain Mouth breathing Daytime sleepiness Enlarged tonsils Adults who have Obstructive Sleep Apnea tend to be overweight but that isn’t necessarily the case with children who have it. Although children who do have a weight problem may exacerbate the condition. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are the most common reason that children have sleep apnea. Tonsillectomy is a common surgery for hundreds of thousands of children every year. Children can also be fitted for the cpap machine. A cpap machine delivers air through a hose that is connected to a mask worn over the face. The constant air keeps the air passage open. This usually...

Not all cases of sleep apnea require surgery. There are many treatment procedures for sleep apnea to help control sleep apnea and snoring. cpap machines are often recommended for sleep apnea patients. Air is forced through a hose into a face mask making sure that the patient receives continous oxygen. When you go to a sleep center over night evaluation you might be fitted with a cpap the last half of the evening so a setting on the machine can be determined. As I have stated in a previous post I am no fan of cpap machines. It just didn't work for me. But from what I have read there are many that have found relief with them after an adjustment period. bipap machine is similiar to the cpap but the air moving through the hose to the mask is adjusted for your breathing. Unlike the constant air pressure of a cpap a bipap changes air pressure as you inhale and exhale. Once again I have tried the bipap with no success. Oral appliances is something that I haven't tried. The mouth p...