Explaining the causes of sleep deprivation – Part 1

Lack of sleep is as varied as each of our DNA. Insomnia Pathology indicates that causes are either psychological, physical, biological, environmental, or a combination of any of these four factors. For some people it can be a short-term disruption (transient or acute); for others it can be debilitating and long-term (Chronic). Determining the etiology of sleep deprivation requires thorough examination of a person’s history and their physical well, or non-well-being.

Sleep Clinic specialists usually cite life-style as the number one contributing factor in sleep deprivation. Never underestimate the power of stress. Our ability to cope with life’s curve-balls , demands of work, family, friends, society and notions of success contribute to disruptions in the various levels of rest that our bodies need daily. Consider that the demands of today’s way of living (possibly due to double incomes; financial debts; work hours & expectations; juggling children & spouses’ needs; household work & our innate need for social lives) actually permeate our sleep cycles and it becomes pretty obvious that we might need to revisit HOW we live. People no longer wake up, grow their food & families, eat the fruits of their labours and go to bed according to when the sun rises and sets, and the seasons dictate. Life’s labours, having been industrialized to maximize productivity and profits, mean more mental woes & strife when our heads hit the pillow. Machines don’t need rest; humans do.

In response to the industrialization of life and urbanization of humankind, Medicine has helped humankind (as a well-oiled machine) become more efficient, live longer and cope with MORE. Iatrogenic illness (sickness created by Western/Allopathic Medicine) is the third leading cause of death in America (according to the American Medical Association) BUT brings acute relief to soaring cases of depression, mental illness, heart disease, cancer, anxiety, headaches, digestive disturbances and alarming numbers of allergies. However, there is a cost to this environmental factor called Medicine. Aside from the deaths of 225,000 Americans (only one demographic) annually, and 106,000 of those deaths being specifically drug-related, sleep deprivation is one of the major side-effects of a multitude of medicines. Left long enough, insomnia (called Chronic Insomnia) can kill a person – most likely due to impaired functioning. Interestingly 40% of Insomnia sufferers are women compared to 30% Men (not

What Is Sleep?

Sleep is one of the essential routines in our daily lives. We start to feel a bit drowsy as the clock reaches a certain time and we know it is time to lie down and close our eyes for a while. We have to sleep so that our bodies can refuel for the next day. Sleep is something that is simply programmed into our bodies. We know this because it is commonly seen that people eventually sleep even if they don’t want to! This is because their bodies simply demand it.

Sleep goes on for roughly one-third of our total life which shows how important it really is. It is an important activity that, if not spent wisely, will eventually detract from your work and cause severe problems in your life. People just aren’t as good at anything as they are when they have had enough sleep. We know that we should not neglect our sleep because it is crucial for our motor and our cognitive functions. In order for us to survive in this world, we simply need to sleep.

In a test on rats, those who were deprived of sleep died within two to three weeks. Scientists have learned that it is crucial for both animals and people to sleep in order to be alert and functioning each day. In scientific terms, we now know that the activity of the brain regulates the amount of sleep that is needed by the body. Researchers use electrodes and electroencephalograms (EEG’s) to measure electrical activity in the brain, eye movement, and muscle tension. These are all examined to determine many facts about sleep in general. The results show certain patterns which then lead to finding out about the various stages of sleep.

There are two basic stages of sleep which are rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM). NREM sleep is composed of four stages in terms of the amplitude and frequency of the activity of the brain waves. The pattern of NREM sleep on the brain waves is slower, more regular, and of a higher voltage than that of wakefulness. When you are in a deep sleep, the brain waves move slower and have bigger amplitude. The first stage of NREM sleep is very light sleep. Stage two NREM, however, has two kinds of brain waves that are present. They are called sleep spindles and K complexes. Stage three and four of NREM has incrementally higher voltages and slower waves. By stage four NREM, it is extremely hard to wake a person up. This could also be referred to as “sleeping like a log”.

REM sleep is the second basic stage of sleep. It is described by eye movements that bounce around underneath a person’s eyelids in an extremely rapid fashion. The eye movements do not necessarily move all the time but they may suddenly zoom up and down or back and forth, stop for a while and then dart back and forth again intermittently. During REM sleep, the activity shows very fast and irregular activity. It is a lot more spontaneous than in the NREM sleep. The person’s muscle tone also goes limp although the major muscles like the heart, diaphragm, eye muscles and

blood vessels are still active. The state of the body in this stage is almost like being paralyzed. This is because the electrical activities in the muscles are almost completely stopped. There may be some small twitching in these muscles but mostly there is nothing during this stage.

Sleep is a cyclical process where NREM and REM sleep will repeat in cycles. It starts with an NREM phase which last for roughly ninety to one hundred and ten minutes. Then it recurs four to six times per night. As the night progresses, the extent of NREM sleep decreases and the extent of REM sleep increases. Also, blood flow to the brain, airway resistance, sexual arousal, respiration and blood pressure increase. Sleep is a broad topic and it is intimately connected to a person’s age in how it functions. Biological clocks, homeostasis, dreams, and sleep practices all play a part in how living things sleep. The science of sleep is so complex that we should all take care to get the correct amount of sleep. It is one of the most important things you will ever do!

Chinese Medicine – How Do They Know What I Need?

Finding a Diagnosis with Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine doesn’t use the technology of Western conventional medicine that checks the heart rate and sets you up to a monitor. Because of this it is hard to see how a practitioner can discover what you need without the instrumentation and tools made available by modern science. Chinese medicine as an alternative relies mainly on observation and description on the nature of infections for creating remedies. Determining where your Qi is off indicates what type of help you need.

Physical affects that are causing differences in how you function is the basic principle that will be used when determining a diagnosis for your health and Chinese medicine practitioners use the exterior as a guidance to what is happening in the interior. Most will use what they see as a way to speak with what your body needs.

Chinese medicine uses the exterior of the body as a basis to determine your condition and you will most likely be taken through a series of questions that help with the diagnosis. These can consist to up to one-hundred questions and are based on a series of ten categories – temperature, perspiration, digestion, sleep energy, exercise, urine, thirst, appetite, reproduction and stools. All of these will reflect parts of the Qi that need to be worked on.

Various areas of your body are diagnosed to determine the imbalance that is present, starting with how you are breathing. This includes both the steadiness of your breath and the way that your voice sounds. The smell of your body will also be diagnosed in order to make sure that your temperature elements are balanced.

Various other areas of your body are looked at to see where the imbalance is present. Diagrams for the tongue are important as they are seen as a reflection of the way in which the internal system is working. Practitioners will also listen to your pulse to see what the rate is and to see if it is even in comparison to the rest of your body functions.

Working from the outside in the proper diagnosis in Chinese medicine by examining the various parts of your body, a practitioner is able to find what is best for you and what parts of your body are either imbalanced or not receiving the right amount of energy. From this point, they are able to use the proper methods in moving things back to a normal pace.

How To Treat Sleep Deprivation Using CPAP

Treating sleep deprivation using CPAP is considered as an effective treatment strategy. Sleep derivation is the condition in which the patient cannot experience a continuous sleep. It is considered to be one of the serious disorders since it may lead to many other risky medical conditions. The usual sleep deprivation treatment methods focus on the cure of the underlying cause of the disorder and its associated symptoms, to give a permanent cure for the patient. However, the discovery of the cause will not be easy most times, hence, the medical field has been constantly searching for a solution for sleep deprivation. Today, CPAP is considered as one of the best solution for sleep deprivation.

CPAP, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, is a treatment method for sleep deprivation mainly for the types caused because of breathing problems such as sleep apnea and hypnoapneas. The breathing problems while sleeping may be due to obstructions such as relaxed muscles in the air passage while normal breathing pressure will not be sufficient to overcome these obstructions. The principle of CPAP is based on this fact and it is designed in such a manner to provide compressed air with necessary pressure, which will be sufficient to induce the normal respiration.

In CPAP treatment, a mechanical device is the main part, which can control the air pressure. The CPAP apparatus includes the machine and air outlet, which looks like a mask. The modern versions of CPAP are designed in convenient shapes such as pillows. While lying on the bed, the mask has to be put on the face and air path will be directed straight into the nostrils. During the sleep it will provide the air in the required pressure continuously, as its name indicates, and avoids the disturbances in the sleep.

The amount of pressure to be used for air supply, called titrated pressure, is the most important factor in the CPAP treatment. It has to be determined from overnight sleep studies in the laboratory. Sleep technician can program the particular titrated pressure value in the machine and the machine will deliver air in the particular value every night. There are different types of machines available in the market. In automatic CPAP machines, the usually recommended pressure values will be already recorded in it and the sleep technician has to just choose the value. In some models humidifiers are integrated in CPAP apparatus to avoid the dryness of the compressed air.

CPAP is considered as a successful treatment method for sleep deprivation since in most cases, patients can completely recover from their sleep problem. However, it will be uncomfortable for some patients to start the treatment as the masks will be disturbing for them. In conclusion, the evidences show that they will soon get ride of the uneasiness and will become comfortable with it. CPAP in sleep deprivation treatment can thus, attribute a good quality sleep to many people and save them from the danger of serious risks.

In addition to sleep treatment in adults, it is also useful to treat premature infants.

Insomnia treatment – Part 5

It’s personal! No two people are the same. Individuals who only suffer once or twice with insomnia, maybe able to find a solution doing these simple options:

* Read a part of a good book.

* Try meditation for 15 minute before going to bed.

* Take a relaxing bubble bath, with candles lit somewhere in the bathroom area. Then turn out the light.

* If you have children, make time for cuddling on the couch with the lights on dim. This may help your mind feel more relaxed, by ending the day this way.

* Put an eye mask on. Some stores sell eye mask, that are made to be stuck in the freezer. When the mask is cool, it reduces sinus pressure. This may help many individuals.

* Wear ear plugs, to block out any annoying noise, that might me bothing you.

* Exercise daily.

All of these have been known to help individuals sleep better. These options don’t usually help, just by doing these things alone, except for an occasional sleepless night. Everyone is made differently. If someone has Fibromyalgia, these options stated above, may not help, however more care is needed. A individual’s, family physician, is a great place to go, to find the right kind of treatment for their unique situation. Individuals suffering from Fibromyalgia usually have insomnia. Studies have shown that individuals who suffer from this condition, may need to be on an antidepressant. There has been much research done on this condition. All individuals need to tell their doctor everything. Doctors may set their patient up with a counselor. Studies have shown, that this is helpful.

There has been studies that magnetic mattresses may help to promote better sleep. Nikken is one brand name. This brand has been proven to have more magnets in it than any other brand. This product is not sold in stores. A person can find information online. There are many different types of mattresses ,that claim to help promote better sleep. Which one is best, is for each individual to decide.

Each individual who suffers with insomnia, needs to identify, and find answers to their specific problems. No two people are alike. One person’s answer may not be another person’s answer. A medication used for one person’s insomnia, doesn’t necessarily help the next person’s insomnia.

Studies have shown that by going to a Chiropractor on a regular basis, this may help individuals sleeping better. This is another option to talk over with your doctor.

Herbs have help many individuals sleep better. Talk to your doctor first, and make sure it’s alright to try a certain herb, that may help insomnia. Herbs may counteract with certain medications. Discuss all options with your doctor first.

Testimonies have been told about Mona Vie. It’s a blend of 19 fruits, and has many people sleeping better. It has been proven that it will not hurt a patient even if there on chemotherapy. This just another option to consider.

Every individual needs to give their body, mind, and spirit, the right type of care. Practicing yoga daily may be all you need. It helps relax the mind. When this happens, insomnia may be just a bad memory. This is a type of exercise that entitles stretching. Your doctor should always be consulted first.

There are many options that are available. Chose wisely!

Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) treatments – Part 2

Are you a “night owl?” Do you find it difficult to get to sleep before 2 a.m.? You may think “I’m just not a morning person,” but you could have a chronic sleeping disorder called DSPS (Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome), caused by an interruption in your body’s “circadian rhythm.”

The term “circadian rhythm” comes from the Latin word “circa” (24 hours) and “diem” (day). The circadian rhythm regulates your body temperature (which regulates your sleeping patterns), as well as your gland and hormone functions, airway functions, and kidney (renal) functions. DSPS occurs when your internal biological clock and your external environment are not in sync with each other.

Did you know that there are actually two peak times of day when we are most susceptible to falling asleep? They are inconvenient times for most people 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., but it explains why we get sleepy and want to take a nap after eating lunch. It also explains why a disproportionate amount of accidents occur between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. when there aren’t as many cars on the road.

The ultimate goal in treating DSPS is to get your sleep patterns and your lifestyle (i.e., work, school, etc.) in sync through sleep therapy. There are short-term remedies, such as sleeping pills, Vitamin B-12 or melatonin for people who have occasional problems, such as jet lag, but since their efficacy and adverse effects are not known at this time for treatment of people with DSPS. It is suggested that by combining the two therapies below a person can regulate their sleep pattern:

BRIGHT LIGHT THERAPY: Exposing yourself to bright light in the early morning hours will advance sleep at night.

Sitting in front of a Light Box (5,000 to 10,000 lux) for 30 minutes to an hour in the morning (between 6-8 a.m.) or wearing a Light Visor will influence circadian rhythm and advance sleep phase by 1-3 hours at night.

CHRONOTHERAPY:

This treatment manipulates your sleep-wake cycle to change the circadian rhythm. You progressively go to bed and wake up 3 hours later than the previous night, until you move around the clock and can consistently go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier. Most people strive for a bedtime around 10:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. and wakeup time of between 6:00 a.m.-7:00 a.m. Your seven-day adjustment course of sleep pattern may look like this:

Friday Go to sleep at 4 a.m., wake at 12 p.m.

Saturday Go to sleep at 7 a.m., wake at 3 p.m.

Sunday Go to sleep at 10 a.m., wake at 6 p.m.

Monday Go to sleep at 1 p.m., wake at 9 p.m.

Tuesday Go to sleep at 4 p.m., wake at 12 p.m.

Wednesday Go to sleep at 7 p.m., wake at 3 a.m.

Thursday Go to sleep at 10 p.m., wake at 6 a.m.

There are other ways to help you fall asleep easier, such as avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, exercising in the morning instead of the evening, and making slight adjustments in your sleep and wake up times.

Even though many people outgrow DSPS naturally, anywhere from a few months to a few years, modifying our lifestyle and forming better sleep habits may help you get a better night’s sleep.

Sleep Apnea – 7 Tips to Help You Sleep

If your snoring is keeping your partner awake at night and you’re excessively tired yourself during the day, then you could be suffering from sleep apnea. This article looks at 7 simple ways to help overcome your daytime tiredness.

Do you keep your partner awake at night with your snoring? Are you often tired during the day? Do you sometimes find yourself suffering from morning headaches, being a bit forgetful, unable to concentrate and irritable? If so, you may be suffering from sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a very common and often undiagnosed sleep disorder that, according to some estimates, affects five percent of the adult population. Characterized in particular by loud snoring and daytime tiredness, sleep apnea occurs because you stop breathing during sleep. This can occur literally hundreds of times each night and your breathing can be interrupted by up to a minute or more on each occasion.

Your breathing is interrupted either by a physical blockage to your airway (for example, loose skin in the back of your throat, or perhaps your tongue, blocking your airway), in which case you are said to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, or by a failure on the part of your brain to send out the necessary signals to the muscles of your body that control breathing, in which event your condition is described as central sleep apnea.

It is also possible to suffer from mixed sleep apnea which, as the name suggests, is a combination of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Both men and women suffer from sleep apnea, although the condition is more commonly seen in men and, in particular, men who are over 40 and overweight.

The main consequence of sleep apnea is that, because your sleep is very light, fragmented and of poor quality, you also suffer from insomnia, or excessive daytime tiredness. Your partner would probably disagree and say that the main problem is your snoring, but that’s a different story!

There are a range of treatments available for sleep apnea (including surgery in particularly severe cases), but in the vast majority of cases your quality of life can be improved considerably with a few simple lifestyle changes and natural remedies. Indeed, in mild cases, this is often all that is needed.

Here are 7 simple tips to offset the effects of sleep apnea related insomnia and restore some of that lost daytime ‘get up and go’.

Tip 1. Look at your weight.

If you’re overweight then this is undoubtedly contributing to your problem. Losing just a few pounds can make a significant difference.

Tip 2. Avoid alcohol.

Alcohol relaxes your throat muscles and this makes it much easier for these muscles to ‘collapse’ during sleep and block your airway. There’s no need to cut out alcohol altogether, but you should restrict your intake and certainly cut out alcohol in the three or four hours before going to bed.

Tip 3. Avoid sleeping pills.

Sleeping pills can also relax your throat muscles and cause similar problems to those seen for alcohol. Sleeping pills, however, can also cause a variety of other problems as well and there use is not recommended in cases of sleep apnea.

Tip 4. Avoid tobacco.

Smoking inflames your nasal tissues causing them to swell and restrict your nasal airway. Ideally, you should give up smoking altogether but, if this is too high a fence to jump, then try to cut down and, in particular, reduce your smoking during the evening.

Tip 5. Sleep on your side.

If you’re typical of the majority of sleep apnea sufferers you sleep on your back, making it far easier for the tissues in your throat, and for your tongue, to block your airway. Even if you go to sleep on your side, you probably roll onto your back shortly after falling asleep.

Try propping yourself up with pillows or cushions so that you sleep on your side. If this doesn’t work then sew something like a tennis ball into the back of your pajamas. You’ll find that rolling onto the tennis ball will be quite uncomfortable and it will soon condition you to sleep on your side.

If you can’t sew, find a shirt or tee-shirt with a breast pocket. Pop the tennis ball into the pocket and then wear the shirt back-to-front.

Tip 6. Improve your nasal breathing.

If you suffer from a ‘stuffed up’ nose, then try using a nasal spray to help open up your nasal airway. Nasal sprays should not however be used regularly or for prolonged periods, as they can cause damage to the tissues of the nose.

As an alternative, pop along to the drug store or chemist and buy yourself one of many very cheap devices that are available today to help keep your nose open while you sleep. Your pharmacist or chemist will be happy to show you what’s on offer and to help you to make the right choice.

Tip 7. Avoid sleep deprivation.

Make sure that you are getting enough sleep and that you’re following a regular bedtime routine. Also make sure that your bedroom conditions are set for sleep (the right temperature, quiet, dark etc.) and that you’ve dealt with the worries of the day and are relaxed and ready for sleep each night.

One of the major consequences of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea is insomnia, and curing the insomnia associated with sleep apnea is a major step in the management of the condition.

These are just a few simple tips but you’ll be amazed at just what a difference they can make.

How To Find Sleep Clinics

Imagine this scenario. Thousands of tired, sleep deprived patients are walking around in their pajamas trying to find a sleep clinic to cure their insomnia! Do you think they will have much success if they don’t receive any guidance? How can they be expected to find a sleep clinic when they haven’t even slept for a week? These people need guidance and that is exactly why we are here! Finding a sleep clinic doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Most people can get out of bed early in the morning and find a sleep clinic before 9 AM just searching through the phone book. They may even find themselves sitting in the waiting room of the clinic just before lunchtime! It really is pretty simple.

The internet is one of the best ways to find a sleep clinic or sleep center. Many people forget to search on the internet these days because the web is still such a new phenomenon. We are all still stuck in the bad habit of using the phone book! Once you get on the Internet, you will find that there is an organization called the American Academy of Sleep Medicine or AASM which gives its accreditation to certain sleep centers that pass specific guidelines for approval. You can easily find out which AASM accredited clinics exist in your state and which one is the closest to your home. There are also some advanced clinics that have special services. These clinics are called “Specialty Laboratories for Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders” and will usually be designated as such on the websites you search. All the other programs should at least be accredited full service Sleep Disorder Centers in order to have the necessary equipment that you will need. It is really that simple.

As an example, the state of California has over 40 accredited sleep centers to choose from. Most major cities, such as San Diego or San Francisco, usually have three or more centers to choose from so it is very likely that you can find a center that is within driving distance of your home.

Those who suffer from sleep deprivation or sleep disorders may want to be extra vigilant in determining the direction to the clinic! You don’t want to waste your day driving all over the highways trying to find your way through a half dazed state of mind! It is best to get the phone number of the clinic and ask the secretary for detailed direction to the center. You can even schedule an appointment so that they will be expecting you when you arrive. Keep the phone number with you when you leave for the clinic in case you get lost! You can pull over somewhere and make another phone call to get yourself back on track. This is some very worthwhile advice for someone who hasn’t been getting any quality sleep lately!

Finding a good sleep clinic is really not that hard but just takes a little careful planning and a few hours to schedule an appointment and drive to the clinic. Once you get there, you will begin to see how much these places have to offer and you will be very glad you took the time to consider the importance of your sleep habits. You may even be surprised to discover that your problem was more serious than you had first imagined and that there is a lot that you haven’t been doing to get yourself the correct amount of sleep.

Next time you have the thought that maybe you aren’t getting the right quality of sleep, don’t just ignore the idea and hope that it goes away. Take the time to look on the Internet for a convenient sleep clinic near you. Make an appointment for yourself and get the directions so that it will be easy for you to go there at your convenience. Sleep centers are there for you to make the best out of your life and get you the required sleep you need. It is a lot more important than you think and it might save you from something much more serious in the future. Happy searching and happy sleeping!

Sleep Well – be Strong

Many older people don’t get enough sleep, which can them to prevent  risk of serious health problems such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, says the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
While sleep patterns do change as people age, disturbed sleep and waking up tired every day aren’t a normal part of aging.
“As we get older, the amount of nightly rest that we need remains the same as that of what we needed when we were younger. However the ability to get the sleep that we need changes. Older people have a hard time getting the sleep they need because of the interference of medical illness, the medications they take for those illnesses, and changes in their biological clock,” Sonia Ancoli-Israel, a professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine and director of the sleep disorders clinic at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, said in a prepared statement.
Ancoli-Israel, who is also co-director of the Laboratory for Sleep and Chronobiology at the UCSD General Clinic Research Center, cited a number of common sleep disorders in the elderly:
Insomnia affects almost half of adults aged 60 and older.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects almost 40 percent of adults, and is more common among older adults. OSA can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and cognitive problems.
Restless legs syndrome, which affects more than 20 percent of people aged 80 and older, includes uncomfortable feelings in the legs, such as tingling, or pins and needles.Periodic limb movements cause people to jerk and kick their legs every 20 to 40 seconds during sleep. One study found that about 40 percent of older adults have a least a mild form of this condition.

Older adults who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to feel depressed, have attention and memory problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, more nighttime falls, and to use more over-the-counter or prescription sleep medications.

In order to get a better night’s sleep, older adults should:

Establish a routine sleep schedule.

Avoid using the bed for activities other than sleep or intimacy.

Avoid substances that disturb sleep, such as caffeine and alcohol.

Avoid napping during the day. If you have to nap, limit it to less than one hour and do it no later than 3 p.m.

Develop pre-sleep rituals that help you relax, such as a warm bath, a light snack or a few minutes of reading.

Leave worries behind. Bedtime is a time to relax, not replay the stresses of the day.

Keep your bedroom dark, quiet and a little cool.

If you can’t fall asleep, leave the bedroom and do a quiet activity. Go back to bed only when you’re tired.

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Sleep Apnea Machine Can Cure Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a painful and arduous sleeping disorder that affects many adults. Not only does the sleeping disorder affect the amount of rejuvenating sleep a person receives, but it also affects their daytime activities and attitude. Many people who suffer from sleep apnea may not be aware of their sleeping disorder and will try to pursue medications and alternative healing to alleviate the daytime problems without realizing that they are not receiving adequate sleep. Luckily, for those who can recognize the symptoms and seek consultation from a doctor, there is a cure. These machines have been helping patients with sleep apnea for nearly three decades. With the proper maintenance and attention, a sleep apnea machine can help rid a person of sleep apnea for the rest of their lives.

Due to the lack of oxygen entering the brain during the sleep cycles, sleep apnea can cause severe headaches during the day. Additionally, many people who suffer from this sleeping disorder report irritability, persistent drowsiness, and a constant feeling of not getting a good night’s sleep. While sleeping, patients and their spouses report loud snoring and obstructed breathing (which is a characteristic of sleep apnea). Sleep apnea can negatively affect a person’s job performance, as well as their self esteem.

Sleep apnea can continue undiagnosed for long periods of time. In fact, it is usually the spouse of the person with sleep apnea that reports a sleeping problem with their mate. When the problem remains undiagnosed, problem sleepers pursue a variety of alternatives. Some may buy over the counter sleeping aides hoping it helps them achieve a deeper sleep, and others may seek prescription sleep medications to try and alleviate the nighttime arousal. Others may approach alternative healing by pursuing yoga or meditation classes.

Once diagnosed, a person with sleep apnea only needs a prescription for a sleep apnea machine to alleviate their problems. There are a few different types of sleep apnea machines that can help aid sleepers. Apart from the CPAP, there is an APAP. The APAP automatically tunes the pressurized air on a breath by breath basis. There is also the VPAP, which is for more extreme cases of sleep apnea. The VPAP helps with both the inhale and exhale functions during sleep. Sleep apnea machines also offer several optional pieces that can help make the process more comfortable for users. A humidifier moistens the air and can help alleviate the discomfort of dry compressed air. A ramp is another optional feature that temporarily lowers air pressure to help the sleeper fall asleep. Another option is the exhalation pressure relief, which adjusts the pressure during exhalation. Finally, flexible chin straps can be added to help keep the candidate from breathing through the mouth.

These sleep apnea machines are relatively easy to take care of, and are highly portable. The owner’s manual can provide detailed information for how to properly care for the specific sleep apnea machine. In most cases, the required maintenance entails a regular cleaning of the hoses and masks, and regularly changing the filters. Additionally, the machine must be checked regularly for any worn out attachments or tears in the connections or fabrics. If the sleep apnea machine contains a humidifying devise, it is pertinent to keep the devise clean of mold and algae. Since continuous unobstructed use of the machine is imperative to successful treatment, the machine is designed to be highly portable. Newer models of machines are incredibly light and compact. The sleep apnea machines usually come with a carrying case and international power units for electric sockets.

These incredibly portable and low maintenance machines are the perfect solution for people with sleep apnea. After several nights with the sleep apnea machines’ assistance, sleepers will feel rested and more energetic than they have felt in while.

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