Sleep apnea is a very serious disease. It can cause premature death. Right now, the only real help for those who suffer sleep apnea is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. This requires the user to wear a mask at night which some people can find objectionable. However,the benefits derived from using sleep apnea machines significantly outweigh any inconveniences the user might experience.
Sleep apnea is a very common disease. According to the National Institutes of Health, over twelve million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. You are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea if you are male, overweight, and over forty. But you do not need to fall into these categories to have sleep apnea. Anyone can suffer the disease, even children. So, if your spouse, partner, or bed-mate has ever complained of your loud snoring, especially if you have been told that you are gasping for breath, you may have sleep apnea. You should discuss this with your doctor and have them prescribe a sleep study for you. If you suffer from sleep apnea, you are likely to be prescribed a CPAP or sleep apnea machine.
A CPAP machine works by blowing air at a certain pressure through a tube which is connected to the user via a nasal or nasal/mouth mask. This pressurized air helps keep the airway from collapsing upon itself and allows the wearer to experience a full nights sleep. This in turn, ultimately reduces the complications associated with sleep apnea. The machine itself has no side effects, and basically “cures” the user of sleep apnea since wearing the mask during sleep alleviates the condition entirely However, the sufferer must use the CPAP machine nightly, as the apnea is only controlled by the positive airway pressure created by the machine.
Sleep apnea, while usually not severe enough to threaten life, is a risk factor for premature death. People who suffer from sleep apnea are much more likely to die of stroke or heart attack than the general population. Sleep apnea can also cause weight gain, impotency, memory problems and headaches. People who suffer sleep apnea are also much more likely to fall asleep in inappropriate situations than those who do not suffer from the disease. While falling asleep in a movie or even during a meeting may not have negative repercussions, the consequences of falling asleep while driving can be fatal. All of theses issues are alleviated by the use of a sleep apnea machine.
Sleep apnea is a serious disease and should be treated as such. But this disease is much easier to treat than many others. There are very minimal side effects associated with using a CPAP machine, some users suffer a slight skin rash. Sleep apnea machine benefits are many. This is the best solution available today to sufferers of sleep apnea.