Sleep apnea is when someone involuntarily does not breath during sleep. It can be either central or obstructive. Central apnea, which is less common, is when the brain forgets to tell the body to breath. Obstructive apnea occurs when the muscles or soft tissue in the throat prevents the normal movement of air. The signs of obstructive sleep apnea include severe snoring, breath holding, fatigue, and morning headache.
Sleep apnea must be diagnosed by a sleep study. A sleep study measures the heart rate, breathing patterns, and brain waves of the patient while they sleep. It is absolutely essential that this study be done on anyone suspected of having sleep apnea.
The treatments for sleep apnea include weight loss, avoidence of sleep depressants (alcohol, sleeping pills, etc), CPAP ( a mask used at night to keep the airway open), dental repositioning devices, and surgery.
During normal breathing, air passes through the throat on its way to the lungs. The air travels past the soft palate, uvula, tonsils, and tongue. When a person is awake, the muscles in the back of the throat tighten to hold these structures in place preventing them from collapsing into the airway. During sleep, these structures can fall into the airway causing snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with or without tonsillectomy are surgical procedures designed to circumvent this sleep releated collapse of these structures. The new Laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is a laser surgical procedure designed to sequentially trim and shorten the palate preventing or reducing snoring. Its effect on sleep apnea is unproven.
Sleep Apnea In Adults
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP is the most commonly prescribed treatment for Sleep Apnea. CPAP machines and supplies can be found at durable medical equipment (DME) providers like Colonial Medical Supplies Orlando, Florida or on the Internet at colonial medical when your DME provider receives the physician's orders for a CPAP they will verify insurance coverage. The insurance company will let the DME provider know the patients benefits like coverage details, deductibles, co payments, and effective dates. However, the insurance company will not guarantee payment for services at the time benefits are verified.
Once benefits are verified the DME provider will call the patient to inform them of the benefits and schedule an appointment to set up the CPAP equipment. Many DME providers are moving towards setting up the equipment at there business location rather than the patient home. Setting up equipment at the business location allows the patient greater access to numerous CPAP mask like the Resmed Ultra Mirage, Micro, Swift Lt, Quattro or Respironics comfort gel and comfort select.
The patient can expect the CPAP set up to take about an hour for instructions. Colonial Medical Supplies Respiratory Clinician set ups are individualized to every patient allowing the patient more time for comprehension and retention. The Respiratory Clinician will instruct the patient on how to use the machine like the Resmed Elite II ,Respironics Remstar Plus M series, or Fisher Paykel HC604 just to name a few. The Clinician will instruct on cleaning/disinfecting of supplies, and the recommended replacement schedule for those supplies. Written information like an owners manual and company recommendation are provided as additional resources to patients. Lastly, the Respiratory Clinician will follow up with patients to ensure compliance and comfort with the CPAP machine and all related supplies. Patients are encouraged to call Colonial Medical Supplies with any question about there equipment.
Both Vital Streak & Colonial Medical Supplies are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Vital Streak has sinced written about articles on various topics from Hoodia, Irritable Bowel and Sleep Apnea. For more information visit: vitalstreak.com/melatrol/vitalstreak.com/. Vital Streak's top article generates over 880 views. Bookmark Vital Streak to your Favourites.
Colonial Medical Supplies has sinced written about articles on various topics from Sleep Apnea, Health and Fitness Equipment. Lori Luther is a Registered Repsiratory Therapist. She has been helping patients get started on CPAP therapy and Oxygen Therapy since graduating from Valencia College with a degree in Respiratory Therapy. She currently is the Lead RT at Colonial Medical. Colonial Medical Supplies's top article generates over 880 views. Bookmark Colonial Medical Supplies to your Favourites.