Sleep Apnea What You Need To Know
With as many as 18 million Americans suffering from some form of apnea, the war to reclaim restful, healthy and safe sleep is definitely on. The scary reality is that undiagnosed, a sleep apnea sufferer is four times more likely to have a stroke and three times more likely to develop heart disease. As many as 38,000 cardiovascular deaths per year are attributed to sleep problems, according to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research. Given that one in 50 or between 2% and 4% of Americans have undiagnosed sleep apnea, the need for greater awareness and intervention is clear.
Sleep apnea is a disorder, which causes a sufferer to have what are called apneas — periods during which they stop breathing — while sleeping, thus cutting off oxygen supply to the body and brain. Obstructive sleep panes can result in as many s 60 of these apnea incidents every hour. Almost twice as many men are diagnosed with sleep apnea as women.
Once diagnosed, a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure therapy) machine is usually recommended to ensure that the sufferer is able to breathe throughout the night. The machine keeps the airway open allowing the person to breathe. CPAP use should be consistent for the best results and experts recommend that sufferers use it 70% of the time for at least four hours a night in any 30 day period. Up to 50% of all sleep apnea sufferers stop using the machine within one to three weeks, according to studies, and of those who do use it, 80% do not use it enough.
Most insurers cover CPAP machines, but coverage for supplies such as replacement nasal pillow masks or full face CPAP masks differ from insurer to insurer, meaning that many sufferers search for good quality discount CPAP supplies online. Other discount CPAP supplies options include investing in a used CPAP machine and sourcing masks and replacement parts from smaller dealers.