Why You Need to Get Your Sleep Apnea Treated (and How to Do It)

Did you know that around 18 million Americans have sleep apnea? Unfortunately, around two to four percent of these individuals haven’t gotten it diagnosed — that’s one in 50 people — which means they aren’t seeking treatment. Not treating your sleep apnea can have negative effects on the rest of your health — from increasing your risk of cardiovascular issues to raising your blood pressure, so it’s important to get checked out by your doctor, and seek a course of action. One of the best ways to treat sleep apnea is using a CPAP machine or a BiPAP machine. If you’re not keen on getting a brand new machine, you can browse a pre-owned inventory of certified CPAP and BiPAP machines at various retailers. And there are plenty of CPAP supplies on line, if you need replacement parts or want to try out different types of masks.

Why is Sleep Apnea Such a Problem?
When you have sleep apnea, your airway is obstructed or blocked, making it difficult for you to breathe. The loud snores, gagging or choking noises that are often a symptom of sleep apnea is your way of drawing another breath. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, you could have as many as 60 apneas per hour and you will often wake up feeling not well rested. You may be prone to drifting off during the day or being in a constant state of fatigue, which can be dangerous if you drive regularly or operate machinery.

Additionally, the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research reports that there are almost 40,000 deaths every year that are in some way related to cardiovascular problems that have some kind of root in sleep apnea. Furthermore, those who don’t treat their sleep apnea have a four times greater risk of stroke than those without sleep apnea, and are three times more likely to have heart disease.

So not only does it keep you — or your partner — up all night, it can also have longer reaching implications for your health.

How Can CPAP and BiPAP Machines Help?

Both CPAP and BiPAP machines help keep your airway open by introducing a steady stream of continuous air pressure into your airway. Hence, the names: CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure therapy and BiPAP stands for Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure.

The machines attach to a mask which you wear as you sleep — there are different types of masks and nasal pillows that you can use. It may take some time to figure out what works best for you — a full face CPAP mask, CPAP nasal masks, etc., — but finding one and sticking with it is advised in order to effectively treat your sleep apnea. Unfortunately, as many as 80% of patients who say that they use their CPAP machine don’t use it as much as they should be in order to stay safe.

Why Should I Look at a Pre-Owned Inventory of Certified CPAP and BiPAP Machines?

Looking at a pre-owned inventory of certified CPAP and BiPAP machines can offer you more options if you’re not sure you want to spring for a brand new one right away. These machines still offer premium care, but at a lower cost, and must pass a rigorous inspection to be listed as certified. With a pre-owned inventory of certified CPAP and BiPAP machines, chances are good that you won’t be getting a much older CPAP or BiPAP machine that only has a few years left. Many machines in this inventory are newer models with only a few blower hours on them from their previous owners.

Before browsing, figure out what kind of CPAP or BiPAP machine you’re looking for — this might be good to discuss with your doctor — and make sure you have your CPAP prescription on hand before ordering.

As benign as it may seem now, you shouldn’t brush off your sleep apnea and leave it untreated! Be proactive and keep yourself low risk by getting a CPAP or BiPAP machine to treat your apnea.