Benefits of Using Home Medical Equipment for Sleep Apnea

It can sometimes be difficult to diagnose a sleep disorder on your own. Research shows that around 42 million adults in the United States have breathing difficulties from sleep disorders. One of the most common sleep disorders is sleep apnea. One out of five adults has a mild form of obstructive sleep apnea. In addition, 1 in 15 adults have more severe obstructive sleep apnea. If you are or suspect you might be suffering from sleep apnea, there is a solution. Home medical equipment designed to improve your breathing can greatly improve sleep apnea symptoms.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder that affects your breathing while you sleep. There are various forms of sleep apnea that a person can suffer from. An apnea is a term used for when breathing stops. If you have a mild form of sleep apnea, you will have less frequent breathing disruptions. However, if you have a severe form of this disorder, you will have much more apneas throughout the night. Those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea may have 60 apneas per hour which are about 400 every night! People that tend to snore during sleep are more likely to have sleep apnea.

Research shows that 75 percent of severe cases of breathing disorders during sleep are undiagnosed. There are facilities that can observe your sleeping, in order to see if you have sleep apnea. There are times when those who snore are at greater risk for having this disorder. However, those who snore aren’t always affected by sleep apnea.

What Problems are Caused by this Disorder?

Sufferers of sleep apnea will regularly experience disrupted breathing. Your body requires a steady stream of oxygen to keep you going. When oxygen regularly gets disrupted, it can start to affect critical organs. Nightly breathing disruptions can cause blood pressure levels to jump all over the place. As your blood pressure changes, your heart works to adjust to the changes. Over time, apneas can place continuous stress on your heart. Using home medical equipment for sleep apnea can greatly reduce your risk for heart problems.

Your brain can also suffer greatly from sleep apnea. These disruptions in breathing can affect the brain. The brain requires a steady stream of oxygen to function properly. Sleep apnea takes away normal breathing patterns. When the brain can’t get the oxygen it needs, damage can occur.

What Treatment Methods are Available for Sleep Apnea?

One of the most popular methods for treating sleep apnea is a CPAP machine. Many home medical equipment stores sell CPAP supplies. These machines are easy to setup in the home and are convenient enough to use while sleeping. A medical supply store can help you to find the right CPAP machine for your needs. You might know it but sleep apnea can greatly affect how you function during the day. CPAP machines can give you a greater quality of sleep which has many benefits to your next morning.

First, a CPAP machine can reduce the grogginess you feel in the morning. Sleep apnea can also have a negative effect on your concentration. Sleeping with constant and small disruptions makes for poor quality of sleep. Not sleeping well enough can lead you to not be able to concentrate. CPAP machines have been shown to help the brain tissue that is affected by sleep apnea. One other perk of using a CPAP machine is that it cuts back on snoring. If someone you live with hates your snoring, a CPAP device can usually stop that from happening.

In conclusion, sleep apnea can be quite a harmful disorder. Sleep apnea affects many adults in the United States. However, since this disorder happens during sleep it can be difficult to diagnose. There are many problems, both short and long term, that can be caused by sleep apnea. Apneas, or disruptions in breathing, can increase the risk of developing various heart conditions. However, there are treatments methods for sleep apnea that can help protect your heart. A piece of home medical equipment known as a CPAP machine is one of those treatment methods. Follow the previously mentioned tips to stop sleep apnea from affecting your daily life.