Untreated sleep apnea can lead to Type 2 Diabetes; weight gain; absent-mindedness or memory problems and incidentally poses a real risk for drivers who are unaware that they are sufferers, as extreme exhaustion can result in falling asleep behind the wheel.

According to Dr Naresh Punjabi of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, even an average level of sleep apnea can increase a person’s risk of mortality, with the highest correlation with sleep apnea and cardio vascular disorders being among men between the ages of 40-70.

One of the main difficulties in the diagnosis of sleep apnea is that many physicians are unaware of the risks of sleep apnea and the impact they can have on general health: few doctors consider sleep apnea as a factor to diagnosis, despite findings that the condition dramatically affects patients and prompts cardio vascular problems and other serious diseases.

Most people who suffer from sleep apnea, and this represents 90 – 95% of sufferers, are unaware they have a sleeping disorder and in fact do not remember having sleeping difficulties during the night.  They are aware that they are over tired and unable to function normally through exhaustion, yet have no idea of the cause behind their fatigue or their nocturnal sleep dysfunction.

Tiredness, over time, can produce some alarming health problems and sleep apnea should be checked diagnosed early and treated as soon as possible.  Luckily, the treatment is straight forward and easily available through Aviisha Medical Wellness Institute, in the form of medical consultation with sleep specialists followed by CPAP therapy to regulate breathing and restore normal sleep function.

The CPAP system of therapy requires the sleeper to wear a mask throughout the night, which administers a regulated flow of air through the nasal passage.  The mask is comfortable and restores normality to a sleeping routine within a very short time.  The remedy, therefore, is simple, painless and inexpensive.

Home sleep tests are available via the Aviisha Medical Wellness Institute website; preferable to taking a sleep test in a laboratory which can be both inconvenient and costly.

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OSA can be the underlying cause behind traffic accidents as those who are suffering with the disorder become over tired through lack of restful night time sleep and susceptible to memory lapses, lack in concentration and general exhaustion over time.  Even more worrying, most sufferers of sleep apnea are not diagnosed as they have no idea they are affected by it.

Sleep apnea is not a subject many doctors are expert in and a test for sleep apnea in laboratories has traditionally been costly. As a result, the condition has managed to slip the net and up to 95% of sufferers remain unaware they have a problem, although recently there has been a sharper community awareness of the importance of sleep health.

The problem of sleep apnea is now being addressed by the availability of a home sleeping test, eliminating the costly inconvenience of attending a test in a sleep laboratory; a home sleep test costs a minimal amount compared with the expense of a laboratory test.

The home sleep test may be order directly via the aviisha.com website.  It is simple to use and information on sleep patterns are collated overnight before Aviisha staff assess the information to ascertain whether a diagnosis of sleep apnea is appropriate.  Aviisha is the only company to offer a patient consultation with a sleep physician as part of the assessment process at no extra charge.

For those who are diagnosed with sleep apnea, the most effective remedy for OSA is available through CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy.  A CPAP mask delivers a regulated flow of air through the nasal passage, eliminating obstruction that can cause the airway to block.

CPAP therapy can improve the patient’s quality of life by promoting a healthy night time sleep and home assessment is comfortable, convenient and considerably less expensive than laboratory sleep tests.

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Though BIPAP therapy is similar to CPAP and will get the same results for the sufferer using it, it does have some differences. CPAP therapy gives one constant pressure for both inhalation and exhalation when breathing. BIPAP has two settings, instead of a constant one. When a person breathes in the pressure is higher and when they exhale, it is lower.

Some patients have difficulty with the pressure of CPAP, especially when exhaling, so BIPAP can be a solution for that.

Another difference between BIPAP and CPAP is that BIPAP is used to treat more than just obstructive sleep apnea. Some BIPAP machines can be set to give a person a breath. This would be used with central sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea, when the patient is having apneas because the brain signal does not make it to the chest muscles properly.

It is also a good device for a person with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). People with COPD have low oxygen levels during the night when they sleep. Their lungs are stressed. A BIPAP unit can help them to breathe more comfortably, while also sustaining their oxygen levels at a normal percentage.

Some of the new BIPAP machines have a feature called Biflex. This is a comfort setting which provides a smoother transition from the end of inspiration to the beginning of expiration.

Complications from BIPAP are similar to those of CPAP. There may be mask discomfort. It is crucial to find the best fitting mask or sores may develop at certain pressure points on the mask.

Bloating from swallowing air can be another complication, but does not happen very often.

Your doctor can help decide which form of PAP therapy will be best for you by taking your history and the results of your tests into consideration.

If you think you may have sleep apnea, you can avoid long term complications by seeking out a sleep disorders physician and being tested. The sooner you start your therapy for sleep apnea, the less likely you will be to develop other health problems associated with it.

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When sleep is upset throughout the night the next day can be one of fatigue and sleepiness. A person with sleep apnea does not get restful sleep because:

Brief episodes of increased airway resistance and breathing pauses occur many times throughout the night
You may experience many brief drops in the oxygen levels in your blood
Poor sleep quality occurs because you move out of deep sleep and into light sleep several times during the night.
Loud snoring is often a characteristic common to people who have sleep apnea. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea and there are people with sleep apnea that do not know they snore.

Sleep apnea happen more often in people who are overweight, however thin people can also have the condition. The majority of people with sleep apnea do not know they have it, and they do not know they are having problems breathing while they are asleep. A family member and/or bed partner may notice the signs of sleep apnea first.

An increase in the chance of having blood pressure which can lead to heart attack or stroke is one of the consequences of untreated sleep apnea. Sleep apnea left untreated can also increase the risk of diabetes and the risk for work-related accidents and driving accidents.

There is an estimation of over 12 million American who have obstructive sleep apnea. More than half of these people are overweight and most of them “snore” heavily. Sleep apnea is more common in men, and is more common in African Americans, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders than in Caucasians. It tends to run in families as well. It can also occur in children. If your child snores, you should discuss it with your doctor or health care provider.

Common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:

Loud snoring
Choking or gasping during sleep
Fighting sleepiness during the day (even at work or while driving)
Morning headaches
Memory or learning problems
Feeling irritable
Not being able to concentrate on your work
Mood swings or personality changes
Feelings of depression
Dry throat upon awakening
Frequent urination at night

Treatment of sleep apnea:

The goal of treatment is to restore regular nighttime breathing and relieve symptoms such as very loud snoring and daytime sleepiness. Appropriate treatment will also help the associated problems of high blood pressure and reduce risk for heart attack and stroke.

Tips of self-help for sleep apnea include:

Avoid alcohol, smoking and or medicines that can make you sleepy.
Lose weight if you are overweight
Try sleeping on your side instead of your back.

One of the most common treatments for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This treatment is wearing a mask over your nose during sleep.

If you snore, treating sleep apnea may help stop snoring, however, this does not mean you no longer have sleep apnea or that you should stop using CPAP. If CPAP is stopped or not used correctly, sleep apnea will return.
Possible side effects of CPAP include:

Dry or stuffy nose
Irritation of the skin on your face
Bloating of your stomach
Sore eyes
Headaches

For people who have side effects working with sleep medicine specialists and technicians can help reduce the side effects. Some things that can be done include:

Use a nasal spray to relieve a dry, stuffy, or runny nose
Adjust the CPAP settings
Adjust the size/fit of the mask
Add moisture to the air as it flows through the mask
Use a CPAP machine that can automatically adjust the amount of air pressure to the level that is required to keep the airway open
Use a CPAP machine that will start with low air pressure and slowly increase the air pressure as you fall asleep.

People with severe sleep apnea symptoms usually feel better once they begin treatment with CPAP. It is important to follow-up with your doctor and to discuss any side effects with your doctor.

Other sleep apnea treatments include:

Mouthpiece (oral appliance) for people with mild sleep apnea
Surgery: The type of surgery depends upon the cause of the sleep apnea.

Types of surgery include:

Surgery to remove tonsils and adenoids if they block the airway, this is especially helpful for children
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty
Tracheostomy
Rebuilding the lower jaw
Surgery on the nose
Surgery to treat obesity.

Source: The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

Disclaimer: *This article is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any kind of a health problem. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Always consult with your health care provider about any kind of a health problem and especially before beginning any kind of an exercise routine.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box. Article written 4-2007.

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Airline Travel

When traveling with a CPAP machine, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Where you will be traveling is one of? the considerations. It is an exceptionally good idea to purchase a plug adapter for your machine if you will be traveling out of the country. For airplane travel, if the flight is going to be long enough to require sleeping, the power source is EmPower.

The options here are either to buy an adapter which converts the CPAP to the power on the plane or purchase an inverter. An inverter will work when you plug it into a 12V outlet or an EmPower outlet. Then simply plug your regular power cord into the inverter and you are all set.

Another option that has just become available in the last few years is a travel model CPAP machine. There are now battery powered machines that were designed for the traveler. The battery can be charged to last for about 11 hours depending upon the setting. If needed, the machine can be run from an outlet which charges the battery even while it is running.

There are travel bags designed to carry your machine and any accessories you will need to use it such as an extension cord, an adapter and extra fuses. This may be carried on according to regulations on most airlines. The need for the CPAP machine is becoming more widely known therefore the transporting of the device is more acceptable. The best idea is to carry a letter from your physician containing his telephone number for verification of the need for the machine.

Traveling by Car/Camping Trips

When traveling by car or going on a camping trip, there are adapters that will allow various options when it comes to charging your CPAP machine. A good idea, of course is to make sure your battery is fully charged before leaving. This will keep it operable for a few hours before having to recharge. There are campsites with electrical connections which you can use for your CPAP machine. If necessary an adapter may be attached.

However, many power cords are made to allow connections to the cigarette lighter in your vehicle. So if remote camping is on your agenda you are always close to a power source for your machine. This is a great idea for truck drivers who travel across country and use their sleeper cabs for resting in between picking up loads and dropping them.

With the wide array of machines made today, you can go practically anywhere and still have access to power for you device.? If you travel quite frequently, you will want to check the different types of travel CPAP machines that are available today.

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