PajMon Information Blog

Posts Tagged ‘sleep disorders’

To diagnose or identify sleep related illnesses or problems, doctors will prescribe a sleep study, technically known as a polysomnography. The study is two part where the first night or half night is used for diagnosis and the second part is used for titration. This is where the technician will adjust the continuous positive airway pressure to a degree that the symptoms are significantly reduced.

Continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP for short is a form of treatment where a stream of air is blown through the airway to keep it from collapsing. The doctor determines the suitable pressure level from the results of the overnight test or titration. The latest CPAP machines are able to reduce the pressure as you breath out so that it is more comfortable to use and you are more likely to keep up with the treatment.

In a study of sleep apnea, you will be escorted to a bedroom. The room is well equipped with a comfortable bed, will be cool enough for you to sleep, and have clean sheets, pillows and blankets arranged according to your preferences sleeping.

The equipment that you are connected to is not painful in anyway. Most people have little trouble falling asleep while hooked up, as this is extreme tiredness is an overwhelming symptom of what brought them to the sleep study to begin with.

It is important to eliminate the periods where patients with sleep apnea stop breathing as this can lead to oxygen levels dropping critically low. The CPAP titration and sleep study analysis are all steps involved in arriving at this very important resolution.

Determining the right amount of pressure to be used for air pressure, called titration, is the most important factor in the CPAP treatment. It must be determined from studies of sleep in the laboratory. Sleep technicians can program the value of titration pressure in the machine and the machine will blow at that value of each night.

There is no shortage of varying models of CPAP machines to choose form. The mask that is worn with them comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes too. This is a very good thing, because of all the different shapes and sizes of patients’ faces. It can be quite a chore of trial and error to find the best combination, but if you stick with it, it is well worth the effort.

It is reported that many patients have had success in returning to a normal sleep during the first night, making CPAP the best choice to relieve obstructive sleep apnea. There can often be a very long waiting list to get into to a sleep study so you are well advised to talk to your doctor as soon as possible so that you can get your name on the list sooner than later.

CPAP therapy treats sleep apnea more effectively if you replace the cushions, pillows, filters and other CPAP supplies regularly. It is important to be informed of the huge advantages to replacing your CPAP supplies online. As long as you avoid certain costly and dangerous pitfalls often found online then you will come out ahead with your CPAP therapy.

Why is it so important to replace your CPAP supplies? There are two important reasons. First, your CPAP experience will be more effective. New supplies keeps the device working like new by avoiding air leaks that harm your treatment. Also, fresh supplies maintain the comfort of the equipment. Second, new supplies decrease the risk of developing respiratory infection. Even if you are cleaning your equipment every day, eventually tiny crevices and scratches form that become perfect spos for bacteria to collect.

Some people complain that using CPAP regularly is a hassle. The good news is that with clean, fresh CPAP supplies you will more likely use CPAP regularly, which means lowering your risk of diabetes, stroke, cardiac arrest, heart disease, or hypertension. Besides, the added benefit of getting a good nights sleep.

Clearly it is a health risk to not refresh your CPAP supplies. For most of us, now is the time to save money but when it comes to preventing a stroke or diabetes you will find yourself pennywise and pound foolish. Think about the medical bills and lost wages if you develop a lung infection from not using CPAP regularly with fresh supplies.

Sadly, many people suffer unnecessary discomfort with their CPAP because they didnt even realize how often they should be changing their supplies. (In general, you should replace cushions or pillows every 2-3 weeks, filters every 2-4 weeks, hoses about every month, and the entire mask assembly including headgear every 3-6 months).

A small investment in CPAP will save your health. It costs the same as a daily cup of coffee to wake up feeling refreshed from a comfortable and deep night’s sleep morning after morning.

Of course, many people like to buy their CPAP supplies online because it is convenient. Some websites, including MySleepMask.com, will let you set-up a calendar for getting new supplies. Theres no way to beat the convenience of getting supplies online.

If you are on CPAP with little or no insurance then buying your fresh supplies online will save you money. You can get the same CPAP supplies from an authorized online distributor for as much as 50% cheaper than your local medical equipment company.

You will want to scam proof your online shopping for CPAP supplies. Shop around to compare the prices. Soon you’ll realize that you can’t rely on the biggest online vendor for the best prices. Be on the look out for over-charges and hidden fees that add up.

Here are 4 tips for buying online:

1. Avoid websites that offer any brands other than ResMed, F&P or Respironics. Why? Because if a site promotes cheap brands, that is a very good indication that the website is not going to support its customers. Cheap CPAP equipment will mean more problems for their customer service to mess with unless they dont really plan on giving you good customer service.

2. Only buy from websites that are dealers with good reputations and authorized by the manufacturers. Why look for an authorized dealer? Because the website has to meet requirements to be authorized by the manufacturer, such as having good customer service, respecting warranties, etc. The National Apnea Association provides a short list of recommended dealers, which includes MySleepMask.

3. Buy only from a website that offers a mask-exchange program. These programs let you try a new model or size of mask without any risk: if it doesnt fit right then you return it and get a new model or size. MySleepMask is one website that offers this. Simply google cpap mask exchange program to find other dealers that offer this valuable benefit.

4. Make sure the website has respiratory therapists or other CPAP coaches who can help you trouble-shoot any problems you might have. And make sure this is offered for free. Getting this coaching for free will be useful and save you a ton of money: either by avoiding a trip to the doctors office or not paying the $100-$160 that some websites charge. Simply google free CPAP coaching to find a supplier who offers this.

If you regularly suffer from insomnia, you know that it’s a real problem that can cause you considerable difficulties. When you’re short on sleep, it can have a major impact on your ability to carry out your day to day routine.

You can always ask your doctor for a prescription. But sometimes the side effects of insomnia medications are almost as bad as the condition itself. If that’s the case, you might want to consider some herbal options that are considered to be a useful insomnia remedy.

Consider beginning with something relatively mild, such as chamomile. For countless generations, chamomile has been considered an effective means of inducing sleep. It is also believed to have anti-inflammatory qualities. So it might help to relieve your minor aches and pains, which you might not even be aware of. Have a cup of chamomile tea before turning in for the night for the best results.

Another herb you might want to consider is lavender. Lavender is known for its ability to calm down the nervous system. It is an especially effective treatment for people with insomnia that is caused by anxiety or stress. Try spritzing some lavender oil on your pillow before you go to bed at night.

Many people believe passion flower to be a very effective natural remedy for insomnia. It has calming and sleep inducing properties, and can even help to relieve pain. It was used by the ancient Aztecs as a sedative and analgesic.

Another commonly used treatment for insomnia is St. John’s Wort. It’s been used for ages as a treatment for insomnia, as well as for other health concerns like depression and anxiety.

You could also try Valerian Root. People have been treating their insomnia with this herb for countless generations. Because of its natural sedative abilities, it’s become one of the most popular herbs for the treatment of insomnia. Another of its uses is as a muscle relaxant. Not only do its sedative properties fight insomnia, they can also relieve nervous problems and calm your restlessness.

Keep in mind that you must use any of these herbal treatments according to the directions. Just because they’re natural doesn’t mean they’re completely safe. And taking more of them won’t make the condition go away any faster. It might even make it worse.

Any one of these herbal treatments might be successful for managing your insomnia. However, keep in mind that it may take some trial and error until you find the one that works best for you.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a major risk factor for sudden cardiac death (SCD) according to new medical research from the Mayo Clinic. The research points to the importance of prescribed therapy to avoid the risks associated with sleep apnea.

By studying nearly 11,000 adults, researchers discovered that sleep apnea was one of the two biggest risk factors for sudden death among patients with heart disease. (The second trait was an age of 60 years or older.)

Sleep apnea, a relatively common condition, causes the oxygen levels in the blood to decrease. This, in turn, puts a strain on the heart while it tries to pump adequate amounts of oxygen to the brain and body.

There is evidence that low oxygen, caused by sleep apnea, alters the blood vessels in a way that promotes heart disease. Apnea is also associated with hypertension, stroke and Alzheimers.

If you dont get oxygen to the blood, the whole body and brain start to shut down. But with apnea, your throat closes down, suffocating yourself and starving your body of oxygen.

So, what is the most effective form of sleep apnea treatment? Doctors almost always prescribe CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) therapy. CPAP therapy is proven to maintain sufficient oxygen levels in the brain and body and is associated with other benefits, including improved sleep, reduced daytime drowsiness, improved mood, and weight loss.

Medical research points to how important it is to regularly use CPAP therapy. However, for many patients the nightly use of a CPAP mask connected to a CPAP machine is not an easy habit to make. That is why the national compliance average is only 50%.

Here are three strategies outlined by the National Apnea Association (NAA) to increase your chance of CPAP success:

1. Select quality CPAP equipment, not cheap junk. Doctors only recommend three manufacturers, who invest millions in R&D every year: ResMed, Fisher & Paykel, and Respironics. Picking a CPAP machine and mask among these three brands is fairly easy, with some help. Unfortunately, there are many questionable websites that offer a bunch of junk brands that your doctor would never recommend. Junk brands will only waste your money. We are not talking about getting a good bargain on a DVD or flat screen TV. Your health and even your life are at stake.

2. Choose wisely when selecting a CPAP supplier. There are a lot of questionable websites that don’t buy their equipment directly from the manufacturer. They resort to getting inventory from middlemen who often are unethical and sell used equipment. If you buy from anything other than an authorized dealer, then you might get refurbished equipment that just “looks” like new. So it won’t have full warranty coverage and it might not even be sanitary. (Many used machines sold by middlemen are from deceased patients in hospitals and nursing homes.) Your best bet is finding a CPAP vendor certified as a ResMed Preferred Internet Provider and recognized by the National Apnea Association.

3. Get a CPAP coach to help you use your CPAP equipment properly. An expert can help you with using, cleaning, and maintaining your CPAP, especially when you run into problems. Many studies have shown that CPAP chronic care or coaching is very effective: increasing patients probability of success from the national average of only 50% to over 90%. Best of all, some CPAP websites offer coaching for free to their customers.