CPAP as sleep apnea treatment

Sleep apnea literally means "sleep without breath" and can result from respiratory muscle weakness (known as central sleep apnea) or a blockage of the trachea, or airway (known as obstructive sleep apnea.) Obstructive sleep apnea is much more common than central sleep apnea and can be caused by a variety of factors including obesity, congestion in the throat, tonsillitis or mononucleosis.

First, you will be asked for your medical history as well as those of your family members. This is because it seems to run in families, thus, this information is valuable towards making a final diagnosis and determination of the appropriate treatment. Toronto doctors will ask exhaustive questions so it is better to come prepared with basic family medical histories.

There are many people that suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This can make not only their life hard, but it can infringe on the lives of those around the sufferer. Sleep apnea treatments come in many ways. They can be done through self help. The simple act of not taking the sedatives or not drinking the alcohol can, in fact give you a better nights rest. Any substance that may lead to overly relaxed muscles, especially of the neck, jaw and tongue, can cause one to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. 

Many devices have had no medical studies conducted at all and you should stay away from these or you may be taking a chance as to whether they will be a successful form of treatment for you or not. Remember, client feedback and comments are NOT accepted as proven medical test/study results so be sure to ask for medical test evidence rather than just believing user comments and statements. 

Lifestyle and behavioral changes are a must in the treatment of sleep apnea. Mild cases of the disorder respond well to such changes as decreases in alcohol consumption, smoking and sleeping medications. Losing weight is a treatment option recommended for obese individuals. Episodes can also be reduced by using special devices that keep individuals on their side during sleep.

Once these symptoms have been detected, it is important to immediately have children undergo a polysomnography or a sleep test. The sleep test is the most effective tool used to properly determine and diagnose any sleeping disorder that the child might have. 

One of the most simple sleep apnea treatment is to used CPAP is the use of positional therapy as a non-invasive treatment. This is simply the act of changing the sleeping position of the sufferer to provide relief. There are a number of products that can help, from foam wedges, to special pillows and shirts that adjust the position that the sufferer can sleep in.

The medically necessary and accepted treatment for clinically significant OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP is the only treatment for OSA in adults. Unless the patient is intolerant of CPAP which means the patient went through at least a three-month CPAP trial supervised by a sleep medicine specialist.

Sleep specialists use CPAP - and CPAP mask in Toronto or elsewhere - to provide constant air pressure. This keeps the collapse-dilation mechanism of the different sets of throat muscles working. In simpler terms, this sleep apnea treatment procedure prevents your throat muscles from blocking the airway.

According to statistics, there are more than 1.4 million Canadians who suffer from sleep apnea. If you are one of them, you will experience physically debilitating symptoms like excessive daytime sleepiness that can result in driving and work accidents, intermittent headaches morning till night, painful heartburn, leg swelling, chest pains when asleep, and most disturbing to your bed mate.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by breathing difficulty during sleep. This happens when the brain mixes up the signals to the muscles that facilitate breathing or when the airway at the back of your throat gets blocked. Symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring, feeling tired and sleepy during the day, and waking up with a headache.