I forgot to mention the treatments listed for central and complex sleep apnea in the previous Sleep Apnea and the Mayo Clinic article. Sorry.
Obtain Treatment for associated medical issues – Heart and neuromuscular disorders are potential causes for central sleep apnea. Treating these issues may help. An example given is that treating heart failure with optimizing therapy may eliminate central sleep apnea.
Supplemental Oxygen – Using supplemental oxygen while sleeping could potentially help if you have central sleep apnea.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) – This was mentioned in the previous article under obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP may eliminate sleep apnea as well as snoring. Basically it is a CPAP mask attached to a pump or CPAP machine that pushes air through your airway to keep it from collapsing.
Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) – Unlike CPAP which maintains continuous air pressure, BiPap builds to a higher pressure when you inhale and a lower pressure when you exhale.
Adaptive Servo-Ventilation (ASV) – This new type of device measures your normal breathing pattern. It then takes that information and stores it in a built in computer. While you are sleeping the machine uses pressure to normalize your breathing pattern.
Remember to check with your physician to see which treatment will work best for your type of sleep apnea.
Well I heard about this famous place for treating patient called The Mayo Clinic. Its headquarters are located in Rochester, Minnesota. I figured if they were famous they might have some good advice for treating sleep apnea.
In fact, there are a couple of types of sleep apnea. Those listed at the Mayo Clinic are obstructive sleep apnea and central and complex sleep apnea. They indicate for mild cases of sleep apnea that your doctor might recommend quitting smoking, losing weight as well as other potential lifestyle changes. Hopefully these lifestyle changes will be all that you need. However, if they don’t work fear not, there are other treatments available for sleep apnea.
The listed therapies for obstructive sleep apnea are:
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) – This is listed as the preferred method of treating sleep apnea. They also indicate you may have to try more than one type of CPAP mask in order to find one that has a comfortable fit. Some people use a humidifier along with their CPAP system.
Adjustable Airway Pressure Device – If CPAP is problematic for you then you might be able to use a different type of airway pressure device.
Oral Appliances – These are designed to keep your throat open. They are easier to use however, the Mayo Clinic article indicates that CPAP is more effective then oral appliance.
Surgery – This is to remove excess tissue that might be causing sleep apnea by blocking your airway.
Remember to check with your physician to determine if you have sleep apnea and if so what type. Then you should discuss which type of treatment will work best in your case (CPAP, appliances, etc). I hope that you find this information helpful.
I found an interesting health site familydoctor.org. I had a difficult time finding information about sleep apnea on their sight why because it was only listed under the seniors tab. Not only sleep apnea but info about CPAP machines and CPAP masks are also only included in the seniors tab. I know several people who use CPAP machines and not all of them are even close to being seniors. Anyway the main reason for this post. The article listed several problems that are associated with CPAP devices. Talk with your doctor first about any changes you want to make to your CPAP machine or CPAP mask.
CPAP mask makes you feel uncomfortable – People come in all shapes and sizes, so in this case one size doesn’t fit all. Try several CPAP masks to see which one(s) work best for you. People who breathe through their mouths might not do as well with CPAP nose masks. Wearing a dental device that pushes their tongue forward seems to help some people.
CPAP mask causes irritation to your skin - Because the CPAP mask must fit firmly it may bother your skin. Same advice as above. In addition, there are also special skin moisturizers made for CPAP device users. Talk to your doctor for more information. Swapping between a CPAP mask one night and a nasal pillow the next might also help.
You take the CPAP mask off while you sleep or choose not wear it nightly – Solving your comfort problems first will help alleviate these issues. If not, they will at least make it easier to work your way up to wearing it every night.
CPAP mask leaks air – First make sure the mask isn’t defective. Because you need a tight seal a chin strap may help, especially if you can’t keep your jaw closed.
CPAP mask leaves your nose feeling dry and stuffy - You can try using a humidifier to moisten the air from the CPAP device.
The air pressure keeps you from sleeping - Talk to your doctor he may need to adjust the settings or try a different type of machine.
If there are other common problems associated with CPAP machines or CPAP masks that you know of feel free to let us know.
OK folks first let me say get your mind out of the gutter. This video is PG rated, since this is a family friendly blog. I said that I would explore the further virtues of YouTube for CPAP machines, CPAP masks as well as CPAP information in general. Of course what should jump out and catch my attention a video titled CPAP Sex and as the old saying goes sex sells. I was thinking why would they have something like this on YouTube. Upon closer examination it is a video commentary on the problem of intimate relations when hooked up to a CPAP Mask, an issue that I never really considered. I wonder if the CPAP companies are taking this into account when they design the CPAP masks. I must explore this issue further.
I found a CPAP Machine on YouTube. I don’t know why but for some reason I am surprised to see a CPAP machine on YouTube. With all the content variety on the site I should have envisioned a CPAP machine there. I happen to notice doing a search that ResMed S8 was there. The link to that video is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD2sK4sBZk4 unfortunately I don’t have sound my speakers don’t work. Well maybe it is fortunate I guess it depends on your point of view. I am going to have to explore this some more.
Respironics Inc. is a provider of solutions for the global sleep and respiratory markets. The Company’s success spans more than three decades. Respironics released the world’s first commercially available Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device in 1985. It has made Respironics a name acknowledged worldwide. They provide products that improve the lives of people with such disorders like sleep apnea.
Respironics was founded by Jerry McGinnis in 1976. They expanded manufacturing operations overseas in 1982. Forbes Magazine names Respironics one of America’s best small companies in 1990. In 1997, Respironics expanded its International presence, opening an office in France. On March 17, 2008 Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE:PHG, AEX:PHI) (”Philips”) and Respironics Inc. (NASDAQ:RESP) (”Respironics“) today announced that Philips has completed the acquisition of Respironics through the merger of its indirect wholly owned subsidiary with and into Respironics. As a result of the merger, Respironics has become an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Philips.
Respironics is organized into three primary groups:
Sleep and Home Respiratory Group
Hospital Group
International Group
The Sleep Well Ventures product line moves Respironics beyond our core obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) business into the broader sleep market, which encompasses the millions of people who suffer from undiagnosed and untreated sleep and sleep-related movement disorders.
There are so many products available for both domestic (U.S.A.) as well as international that I have only chosen their REMstar® model line of their CPAP machines as an example from their product lines.
AEIOMed, Inc. is a company that deals in development, and production of respiratory medical devices. They provide products that improve the lives of people with sleep disorders like sleep apnea.
AEIOMed founder and CEO Steve Bordewick started his company in 2002 in a shed in his backyard to construct prototypes of what he hoped would be a better CPAP and nasal interface. His concept is smaller is better when it came to CPAP units. For its CPAP interface, AEIOMed removed the straps generally associated with CPAP systems.
There are several product options produced by AEIOMed:
Everest® CPAP system which consists of The Everest® CPAP, Everest® Integrated System Humidifier, Everest® Integrated System Battery, Headrest® with Nasal Seal Kit, DataRest® Compliance System
Apparently travelling with certain CPAP machines is not as difficult as you may think. AEIOMed has a CPAP machine that is small and lightweight. The CPAP’s dimensions are 5″ x 6″ x 5″ with a weight of 2.1 pounds without the humidifier. In addition, the AEIOMed travel bag is 12″ long by 7″ wide by 10″ high and is designed to hold the entire Everest integrated CPAP system including hose, manuals, power supply, battery and humidifier. Not only is the CPAP machine small and light weight it is travel friendly. The Everest has been approved for use by United and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). Check with your airline for their regulations. The battery has less than eight grams of Equivalent Lithium Content (ELC) which conforms to the FAA requirement in document 49CFR Part 171.8. The CPAP is a medical device and as such it has never been advisable to check it as luggage (it may be damaged or lost), and it is important to your health to use the CPAP every night, even if you will be away from home for even just one night. Plus you don’t have to worry about checking it as baggage. The American Sleep Apnea Association indicates the rule by the Department of Transportation that limits carry-on luggage to one piece plus a personal bag such as a purse or briefcase does not apply to medical supplies and/or assistive devices. You can see what they are referring to at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/rules/20011029.htm Not only can this CPAP machine fly domestically in the U.S.A. AEIOMed’s Everest CPAP machine can be taken overseas. CPAP machine’s power supply will automatically convert local power sources rated between 100-240 volts to standard operating power. However in addition a plug adapter is needed which transforms the standard U.S. 2-prong power plug into the appropriate foreign power plug. They also indicate a separate power transformer is not required and should not be used. If you are travelling in the mountains the Everest CPAP machine automatically adjusts to any elevation up to 9,000 feet. If you decide to climb the Matterhorn you will only make it about 2/3 of the way to the top.
John Moehler has a PDF giving the Who, What, Why and When of CPAP. Since I’ve been told some people want to know what the indications for CPAP are in emergency medical situations, namely when you would need CPAP in an ambulance or other EMS action, and John says what you should look for:
The application of CPAP in emergency medical services is appropriate for the following: – Pulmonary edema – Near drowning Each state or service many have different indications or approved clinical applications for CPAP.