Sleep apnea has become a significant disorder across the nation, affecting around 22 million people — with 80 percent of moderate to severe cases being undiagnosed. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to a slew of health problems including hypertension (high blood pressure), stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and more. It’s a serious issue that needs to be understood, and the numbers can show just how critical sleep apnea is.
Types of sleep apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
In Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA, breathing is frequently interrupted with spells of breathing cessation. The soft tissues of the throat keep the airway from remaining open, and oxygen often drops.
Sufferers of Obstructive Sleep Apnea often snore or choke while having multiple arousals during sleep, preventing them from getting adequate rest. Many people with OSA suffer from daytime sleepiness and have difficulty with normal activities because of exhaustion.
Central Sleep Apnea
While the symptoms of Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) are typically the same as OSA, this type of sleep apnea is a consequence of the brain failing to send signals to breathe. This can be caused by a number of conditions but is common in people with underlying conditions such as brainstem and spinal injuries, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and chronic heart failure. CSA can also be induced by drugs like opiates. In other cases, the cause of central sleep apnea is unknown (idiopathic).
Complex Sleep Apnea
In this rarer form of sleep apnea, characteristics of both OSA and CSA take place. People with complex sleep apnea sometimes fail to breathe even when the obstructive component is resolved with positive airway pressure.
What are the statistics of sleep apnea?
- 22 million Americans are estimated to have sleep apnea
- OSA has been rising over the past two decades, with an estimated 26% of adults between 30-70 years old having sleep apnea. The correlation coincides with the obesity epidemic.
- An estimated 80% of moderate to severe sleep apnea go undiagnosed
- Childhood OSA is estimated to be prevalent in a minimum of 2-3% of kids, with a possibility of up to 10-20% in children who snore.
- A study done among a Brazilian population found that cardiac arrhythmias during the night occurred in a majority (92%) of sleep apnea sufferers vs. people without sleep apnea
- In people with severe sleep apnea, 42% of deaths were attributed to cardiovascular disease or stroke
- About 70% of individuals with sleep apnea are overweight or obese
How to treat sleep apnea
The first line treatment for sleep apnea (especially obstructive sleep apnea) is CPAP therapy. A CPAP machine provides a continuous level of positive airway pressure, allowing the airway to remain patent and prevent collapse during sleep.
Patients with central sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea may need BiPAP, which has a second level of pressure and set respiratory rate to help initiate breaths during sleep.
While these two therapies are typically the most common treatments, other options include:
- Custom oral appliances
- Neuro-stimulation therapy
- Medication for daytime sleepiness
- Weight loss
- Nasal decongestants
- Positional adjustments
- Surgery
Cleaning a CPAP machine properly
If you have a CPAP machine, it’s crucial to adequately sanitize the hose and other components after each use to prevent a buildup of germs.
One of the best ways to accomplish this task is with an ozone cleaner, which thoroughly disinfects CPAP parts with ozone.
What is Sleep8?
The Sleep8 is a unique and effective ozone cleaning device for your CPAP components. If you’re still using soap and water, you spend quite a bit of time cleaning your parts, and it isn’t the most effective way.
With the Sleep8, you simply place your hose, mask, and other washable parts in the bag, hook it to the device, and press start. It’s as simple as that!
After the cleaning cycle is complete, you’ll have a fresh and clean set of parts ready to go for the night.
Visit https://mysleep8.com/pages/faq for more information.
Sources:
American Sleep Apnea Association: https://www.sleepapnea.org/
American Academy of Sleep Medicine: https://aasm.org/
Sleepfoundation.org: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/
Written by: Amanda Peterson
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