Approximately 5 to 25 percent of Americans suffer from a disorder called sleep apnea. This disorder causes their breathing to be interrupted while they are sleeping. This interruption can last anywhere from 10 to 20 seconds. While most everyone has this short interruption occasionally, some people have this interruption from 5 to 100 times per hour. These are the people that are considered to have sleep apnea. Men are more likely to be diagnosed While this disorder can affect the quality of sleep for those who suffer with it, there are many treatments available to help them.
For mild apnea, there are simple treatments, such as sleeping on the patients side, in order to keep the airway open. Doctors may also suggest that a patient lose weight as being overweight can be a trigger for sleep apnea. Taking sleeping pills may also cause of sleep apnea, so it is recommended that these patients not take sleeping pills or certain medications that affect breathing.
The most common treatment for those that suffer with sleep apnea is the use of CPAP machines while they are sleeping. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. The first machine came out in 1985 and there have been many improvements on them since then. These machines are normally small, approximately the size of a shoe box, and connect to a mask with a flexible tubing and is worn over the patients nose and mouth. Since the CPAP needs to be prescribed by a physician, it also needs to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
While adjusting to using a CPAP machine at night or when sleeping will take some getting used to, it is far better than interrupted breathing while sleeping. Those that use a CPAP machine on a regular basis have reported feeling much more rested after sleeping than without it. A person who has been prescribed a CPAP machine, must make sure that it fits properly or it may fall off during the night resulting in the return of the apnea and lack of restful sleep. Approximately 20 percent of CPAP users, have to discontinue treatment due to the discomfort of breathing against the pressure that it blows.
While there is advantages and disadvantages of using a CPAP machine, only a patients doctor can determine if it is the appropriate treatment for them. This is generally used if other treatments such as weight loss and sleeping on one's side does not correct the problem.
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