If you or a loved one currently struggle with, or suspect you may have, sleep apnea, you might be wondering what you can do to ease symptoms and combat the condition. This fairly common sleep disorder can cause disrupted sleep, breathing problems and a host of other health complications. In order to fight it and keep yourself or your loved one healthy, you may want to ask your doctor about getting the best CPAP mask available to you. You can also learn more about breathing exercises that can help sleep apnea. In the meantime, here’s what you should know about this sleep-disrupting health condition.
Why Should You Get A Sleep Apnea Machine
If you’ve thought about purchasing a full face sleep apnea mask, you may already be familiar with the damaging and even debilitating effects of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is defined as a potentially serious sleep disorder wherein breathing continually stops and starts throughout the night. If you’ve experienced loud snoring, have gasped during your sleep, had constant headaches upon waking up, suffered from insomnia, dry mouth and irritability or felt tired all the time, you may be dealing with sleep apnea. There are a few different categories of sleep apnea, namely:
- Central sleep apnea, wherein your brain fails to signal the muscles that control your breathing
- Obstructive sleep apnea, wherein your throat muscles become too relaxed
- Complex sleep apnea, wherein you experience both central and obstructive sleep apnea at once
In some cases, you may be at high risk of developing sleep apnea. For example, smoking, using alcohol, experiencing constant nasal congestion, being male or elderly, having family members already diagnosed with sleep apnea or suffering from certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes can increase your sleep apnea risk. Thankfully, using a sleep apnea machine could:
- Help you breathe easier throughout the night
- Improve your sleep quality and duration
- Lower your risk of hypertension and other serious conditions
How Do CPAP Mask Work
Whether you’re interested in getting a resmed n30i CPAP mask or another type of CPAP mask, you may be interested to learn how the masks work before starting to use them. CPAP, which stands for continuous positive airway pressure, acts as a type of therapy that helps those affected by sleep apnea to enjoy safer and more restful sleep while preventing potential health problems. These masks help to prevent airway blockages so breathing will not be interrupted throughout the night. Keep in mind that your CPAP mask:
- Increases the throat’s air pressure to prevent airway collapse
- Uses tubing, an air pump and a mask
- May be a full-face mask that covers your nose
- May be a nasal pillow mask that inserts prongs directly into your nose
- May be a nasal mask that exclusively covers your nose and no other part of your face
If you struggle with sleep apnea, it’s important to begin using treatments such as a CPAP mask right away to reduce the risk of further health complications. This relatively common sleep condition is treatable and can be partly prevented through the use of appropriate medical devices. Ask your doctor whether using a sleep apnea machine would be the right decision for your health.
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