A common sleep disorder that deprives the individual of a good night's rest is commonly known by the term Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This type of apnea is more likely to be present in individuals who snore. Waking up several times per night, due to not being able to breathe, the person struggles to catch his breath, but may not be aware of it at all the next morning. In fact, the decision to seek a diagnosis is usually made because the person may become so tired during the day, it interferes with employment or schooling on a day-to-day basis. There are two types of sleep apnea, with obstructive being more common. The second type, called central sleep apnea, is a condition whereby the brain fails to send the message to the respiratory muscles to breathe. The individual then stops breathing as often as eighty times per night. There are successful treatments, such as the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine and its accessories that provides the level of oxygen necessary for good health and restful sleep.
Machines that supply oxygen when the person is asleep may dry out the nose and throat. This leads to a cough or congestion and sometimes an irritated nasal lining. Some individuals begin breathing through their mouths to avoid the dryness and because their noses are congested. Fortunately, when warm moist air is added, a return to breathing through the nose is normal again. Because most machines contain CPAP accessories, deciding upon which best serves the individual is a personal choice. There are different methods of delivering moisture and means of attachment to the unit. Additionally, sleep apnea warm air humidifiers heat the air, thereby adding much-needed moisture to the user. There are cool air humidifiers, too.
For example, a passover humidifier passes room temperature air over a container of water attached to the machine. Although helpful, this type of moisture does is less effective in preventing nasal congestion and irritation if the individual lives in areas where the climate becomes quite cold in winter. The sleep apnea warm air humidifiers, on the other hand, significantly reduce irritation and mouth breathing, and keep airways open for better breathing overall. These are available in an upright, integrated or built in type. The integrated fits to the machine meaning no extra cords or tubing is necessary. The built-in is advantageous because the user simply needs to remove the container, wash it out, pour in distilled water, and replace it back into its holder. One notable disadvantage is the humidifier may not be detached for travel purposes. Lastly is the stand-alone model, which may be attached to any CPAP machine. Although larger than most containers, they contain more water, and they are detachable. The choice of which type of accessory to use is a personal one that every user makes with the advice of his physician to create easier breathing.
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