Sleep Apnea Treatment
November 10th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Has your partner told you that you periodically stop breathing at night? You may have sleep apnea and the best thing you can do for yourself is to find a doctor in your area that specializes in sleep disorders. Don’t just take any doctor. Do some research and find a true specialist.
Many people with sleep disorders talk to their family doctor about the problem and are referred to sleep studies at local hospitals or sleep disorder centers. These sleep centers then refer patients to a sleep disorder doctor from a referral rotation list. The doctor assigned from such a list may or may not be experienced in the treatment of sleep apnea.
These referrals are sometimes made to doctors who use lucrative sleep disorder billings as a temporary activity while they are building a practice in another specialty. Some of these doctors are not familiar with the variety of machines and masks that are available. They rely upon the medical equipment providers and sometimes create additional income for their practice with medical supply referrals.
Medicare and most insurance companies allow their insured to select the medical supply provider and almost all such reputable companies accept these insurances. Choose the most reputable medical supply company in your area, as they will be your supply line to the replacement parts for your sleep apnea machine.
To obtain treatment for sleep apnea you should first consult a doctor in your area who specializes in sleep disorders. The doctor will send you to a sleep study center where you will spend the night. During that first study the technician will determine if you do in fact have sleep apnea. If the first sleep study indicates that you do have sleep apnea you will do a second sleep study during which time you will be put on a sleep apnea machine.
There are basically two types of machines:
- CPAP
- BIPAP
Most patients will qualify for the CPAP machine. People who have a problem with negative airflow during exhale generally need the BIPAP.
During the second study the level of the machine’s air volume will be varied to determine the amount of air pressure you need and the amount of air you can tolerate on exhale. If you need more air pressure to solve your sleep apnea than you can comfortably exhale, the BIPAP machine will be the recommended device. If you can exhale against the needed pressure, the CPAP will be the recommendation. Most people will only need the CPAP machine.
There are many different types and sizes of masks and nose pillow devices available for the patient to choose from and during the second sleep study the technician will help the patient choose the best one for them. Most insurance companies supply a new mask or nose pillow device every three to six months so you can try a different mask if you are unhappy with the one you choose.
Setting the machine is done by prescription from your doctor, which is one of the reasons you need a doctor who is thoroughly familiar with the variety of machines and masks available. The wrong setting can actually make your sleep apnea worse. Either too low or two high an air flow setting will cause you to not be able to use the machine comfortably.
Many people believe that sleep apnea is dangerous because it causes the patient to stop breathing. Without the machine many patients wake up choking. The real danger however is not as much the choking as from lack of oxygen in the blood. Lack of oxygen in the blood can cause a sleep apnea patient to NOT wake up choking. In fact lack of oxygen can put the brain in a coma and make the patient not wake up at all.
Your first week on your sleep apnea machine will be amazing to you. Your energy level will be much greater and you will no longer need that mid afternoon catnap. If you choose the right doctor and he or she sets you up with the right equipment it could literally recharge your life.
Sleeping Quick Tip # 8 - Hot Tea or Milk
July 30th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
There is an old wives’ tale that says to drink warm milk before bedtime to help you sleep. You can try it, but a cup of decaffeinated tea may taste better. A warm drink warms your insides, but don’t drink too much to fill your tummy. That could put you right back to having acid reflux, which hurts!
Sleeping Quick Tip # 7 - Try Relaxing Music
July 26th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
A song can soothe the soul. At least for some people. Classical music CD’s playing quietly can set the mood to sleep peacefully at night. In addition, studies have shown that playing them while your baby sleeps improves their think patterns. If it can help them so much, it can’t hurt you either! If the mood is peaceful and relaxed, and if you wake up during the night, you may fall back to sleep easier since it still remains peaceful and relaxed.
Quick Sleeping Tip # 6 - Avoid Greasy Food at Dinner
July 22nd, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Does it feel like a huge grease ball is sitting in your stomach? No matter which way you turn, you can’t get comfortable. After tossing and turning for hours, you get up to find the proper medicine to make it feel better. If you had skipped the big, late and greasy meal, you would be blissfully into dreamland by now.
Quick Sleeping Tip # 5 - Eat an Early Dinner
July 18th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
The sooner you can begin your digestion, the sooner you can have a snack. Early snacks have the proper amount of time needed to digest before laying down, preventing heartburn. Early dinners also burn off more calories, keeping you healthier too!
Quick Sleeping Tip # 4 - Skip Nicotine
July 14th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Nicotine products can interfere with a good night’s sleep. The nicotine in cigarettes and tobacco products is addicting, and if indulged before bedtime, can make the body experience withdrawals right away that interfere with sleep. If you need to use tobacco products, use them an hour or so before you are planning to go to bed. This will give your system adequate time to process the nicotine and withdrawal without harming sleep.
