Millions of people around the world suffer from sleep apnea. This serious respiratory disease means that sufferers may experience their airway collapsing repeatedly throughout the night, which could cause them to stop breathing. Worryingly this shortness of breath may last for up to a minute or more. Not only do sleep apnea sufferers have to deal with oxygen deprivation, but they also have to suffer sleep deprivation. This lack of sleep will have the knock on effect into their daily life in that they will have difficulty paying attention and may fall asleep at inappropriate times. The additional long term effects from lack of oxygen can be very serious, causing heart disease, high blood pressure and even memory loss. The term ‘apnea’ stems from Greek origins and literally means “without breath”. Thankfully, there are means and treatments for those suffering from this disease.

Thanks to ongoing medical research, these days there are ways of treating most conditions. When it comes to dealing with sleep apnea, there are many ways in which the sufferer can be treated in order to aid breathing throughout the night. Natural treatments may include simple weight loss or perhaps sleeping on your side whilst elevating the head 4-6 inches above you bed. The action of sleeping in this position naturally opens the airway and offers some relief from the stress of sleep apnea. An alternative option would be surgery where a doctor could increase the size of your airway by removing the tonsils, adenoid or any excess tissues that may be restricting the airway. Removal of tissue is the most drastic type of treatment and would only be considered in the event that all other sleep apnea treatments have been tried.

If you are looking for a less invasive form of treatment then the most effective option would be with the use of a nasal CPAP mask. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) masks make use of pressurized air as a means of preventing the patient’s airway from collapsing. There are many different types of CPAP masks available so you should have no trouble in finding one that will fit comfortable. It is important that the mask fits correctly as it will enable you to have more sleeping positions, decrease the chances of any skin irritation, minimise any leakage and cause less noise.

Not only are there a variety of masks available, but improvements are constantly being made on the existing range of models. As an example you can now purchase a sleep apnea mask which is made from cloth, making for a much more comfortable breathing experience. The cloth in itself is very soft and breathable which will greatly reduce skin irritation. At the same time the light and soft texture of the CPAP mask helps to make sleeping in various positions a lot more comfortable.

If you suffer from sleep apnea then you should look into CPA therapy and research the various options that are available to you. It would also be wise to have a discussion with your doctor as they will be able to advise you on a suitable course of treatment.

Author Bio: Trevor Richards is writing on behalf of Pure O2, a leading UK supplier of oxygen therapy equipment.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: oxygen, sleep, sleep apnea, CPAP, respiration, breathing, sleep difficuly, concentrator