Many people fear being able to sleep with a bulky CPAP mask and loud CPAP device, but this fear is unfounded. With the latest CPAP advancements, sleeping is not as bad as you may be imagining.
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Topics:
CPAP compliance,
CPAP Masks,
CPAP
Unlike sleep disorders that are easier to diagnose and understand,
central sleep apnea (CSA) can be baffling. CSA patients might not snore, may be at their ideal weight, and may have not had a history of sleep disorders yet still find themselves with the condition characterized by pauses in breathing many times during the night. Central sleep apnea is a neurological condition—in other words, the brain is not sending the correct signals to the respiratory system to keep breathing while the patient sleeps. Sometimes another medical condition causes CSA; sometimes, pain medication can lead to it; and sometimes, the apnea occurs for no known reason. Whatever the cause, treatments are available for central sleep apnea. Here five of the most effective ways to help the CSA patient:
Central Sleep Apnea Treatments
- Treating the medical condition that is also causing central sleep apnea. Congestive heart failure or the aftermath of a stroke can interfere with night-time breathing and lead to CSA. The solution here is simple: Treat the heart failure or the stroke and the apnea will likely subside.
- Cutting back or eliminating the use of opiods. Studies have proved that more powerful pain medications such as morphine, codeine and oxycodone can cause central sleep apnea. Reducing the dosage or not taking them altogether can help, but discussing this option with your doctor and with a sleep specialist is important. Pain medications do just that—help with pain, and trying to fix the apnea might not be worth additional suffering when you are awake.
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). More commonly associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a CPAP device can also help CSA sufferers, particularly those who are recovering from heart failure. With this treatment, the patient wears a mask that continuously delivers a constant pressure of air to the lungs, thus countering any inclination the body might have to pause breathing.
- Bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP). This is another treatment used for OSA sufferers that can be effective for central sleep apnea patients. Similar to a CPAP mask, a BPAP device adjusts the amount of air delivered to the lungs depending on whether the patient is inhaling or exhaling.
- Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV). Yet another device that uses a mask, ASV goes one step further by continuously detecting and adjusting to the patient’s breathing needs and delivering the correct amount of oxygen. If the user is breathing fine, the device reduces the air it provides. It the patient’s breathing begins to pause, ASV increases the oxygen.
Of course, the most effective treatment will vary from patient to patient, so discussing these options with a sleep specialist is crucial in determining how best to alleviate central sleep apnea.
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Topics:
obstructive sleep apnea,
sleep disorders,
CPAP,
BPAP
A new pregnancy is exciting and brings with it the classic discussions about morning sickness, food cravings, and having that "special glow."
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Topics:
CPAP,
pregnancy,
depression,
OSA,
baby,
high blood pressure
Today is Paul McCartney's 76th birthday! Sir Paul may not use a CPAP machine; but he definitely appreciates good sleep! After all, he and John Lennon did write these lyrics:
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Topics:
CPAP Masks,
CPAP,
cpap accessories
One of the most common questions we get asked here at The Alaska Sleep Clinic is "how can I travel with my CPAP machine?" Many of our patients travel frequently to the "lower 48" for vacations and to visit family, and quite a few of our residents have "slope" jobs which require them to be away from home for long periods of time between R&R breaks.
Living with sleep apnea can be difficult enough without all of the extra hassles associated with travel. Many patients find having to use a CPAP machine every night at home challenging enough (at least initially), and the idea of having to travel with their machine almost too much to bear.
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Topics:
CPAP,
travel
One of the biggest complaints about using a CPAP machine is how uncomfortable wearing a mask can be or how claustrophobic the mask makes you feel — none of which helps you in your attempt at a good night’s rest.
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Topics:
CPAP success,
CPAP Masks,
CPAP,
cpap alternatives
Does this scenario sound familiar? You have a snoring problem. You come into a sleep lab to have a sleep study conducted and find out you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.
The next thought is “ok, so how do I treat my sleep apnea?”
The most common way to treat sleep apnea is to be put on a positive airway pressure (PAP) machine while you sleep. PAP Therapy involves placing a small mask or nasal pillows over the nose or nose and mouth and blowing compressed air into the lungs.
PAP machines are also known as Durable Medical Equipment (DME). DME is the medical term for long lasting medical equipment prescribed by a doctor for use in your home.
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Topics:
CPAP Masks,
CPAP,
cpap accessories
Traveling can be a hassle, especially for the CPAP user.
Alaska Sleep Clinic wants to make your on-the-road CPAP experience a breeze. Here are some tips to help you sleep better while traveling with your CPAP.
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Topics:
CPAP Masks,
alaska sleep clinic,
CPAP,
travel,
cpap accessories
