Breathe Easier and Sleep Better With Sleep Apnea Machines

In the old days, when people had sleep apnea, they just had to deal with it, the best way possible, most of the time it didn't work and only made sleeping worse. However, throughout the years, through technology and generous research, we now have sleep apnea machines that completely treat sleep apnea!

These apnea machines are called CPAP machines for continuous positive airway pressure. This ingenious little machine was actually invented in 1981 by a professor named Colin Sullivan at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, located in New South Wales, and was originally invented for use at home.

Nowadays, these machines are much cheaper, much more convenient and much smaller than they used to be. The selection is pretty much endless, even for masks.

How would you know which brand should you buy? Well, the Respironics CPAP and Respironics CPAP mask get really great reviews on some of the top apnea forums online.

For more info, visit us at www.cpapmart.com and browse through our large selection of sleep apnea machines, respironics CPAPs, sleep apnea masks, respironics CPAP masks and sleep tight, all night!

Finding the Right Sleep Apnea Masks and Machines

Doctors agree that sleep apnea masks and machines are the most effective ways to treat the disorder, but many new patients have trouble getting used to their new devices. Some even give up.

Here are some tips to help you feel comfortable in your CPAP mask and machine:

• Some new CPAP users complain that their machines are too loud. If so, try placing the machine unit underneath your bed to muffle the noise.
• If congestion to the nose is contributing to your sleep apnea, try using a decongestant or saline nasal spray.
• Get to know your mask by using it first in small increments throughout the day, raising air pressure slowly as you feel comfortable.
• Clean your CPAP mask and tubing regularly, in addition to changing the filters on your humidifiers and CPAP devices.
• Join a group of sleep apnea patients, online or in person, to exchange advice on finding the right CPAP equipment.

But above all else, making sure your mask is comfortable is your top priority—after all, that’s the part touching your face. Experts recommend considering all the different CPAP mask sizes and shapes, many of which you can find online at www.CPAPmart.com. For example, patients whose masks are normally uncomfortable around the nose might enjoy masks with nasal pillows. Finally, be sure to explore the different strap and tubing settings for your new Respironics CPAP mask to make it as comfortable as possible.

What Really Causes Sleep Apnea?

When you’re shopping for sleep apnea machines online, you might wonder: Why do I have sleep apnea? What really causes it?

Most people think sleep apnea is caused by being overweight and/or a smoker, and although these are two risk factors, they do not describe everyone with sleep apnea. In fact, half of all sleep apnea patients are not obese.

The breathing interruptions characteristic of sleep apnea occur when the airway is obstructed, which can result from a number of factors, including:

• Being obese or overweight
• Certain physical qualities, such as large tonsils or enlarged tongue, deviated septum, receding chin, or even the structure of the neck and head
• Nasal blockage, which can be caused by allergies, illness, sinuses, or smoking
• Throat muscles that relax too much as you sleep, potentially the result of alcohol, sleeping pills, or old age

As some of these physical attributes and conditions are genetic, sleep apnea is often runs in families.

Of course, understanding sleep apnea is only half the battle—you also have to treat it. Visit www.CPAPmart.com for quality Respironics CPAP machines and masks that can help you breathe easier.

Sleep Apnea and Heart Related Issues

People may be unaware that medical research is beginning to show a very strong association between sleep apnea and heart related issues, such as strokes and heart attacks. Most people are aware that smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can have a great impact on your heart, but they fail to realize that sleeping disorders can have the same devastating effect.

One of the methods of effectively treating sleep disorders is the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device, commonly known as a CPAP Machine. The masks create pressure, allowing you to breath normally without obstructing your airway. Abnormal breathing can cause oxygen levels in the brain to drop and cause adrenaline and hormones to rise. The rise in hormones and adrenalin can cause high blood pressure and heart irregularities which can result in a heart attack.

In addition to heart related issues it's worthwhile to note that sleep apnea has been linked to teeth grinding, what is medically known as bruxism. Teeth grinding can cause a variety of problems such as jaw and teeth damage, pain fracturing, tooth loosening, or loss of teeth. Jaw damage can result in hearing loss, and can cause or worsen TMJ. Facial appearance can also be affected by severe teeth grinding.

"The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and sleep bruxism is usually related to an arousal response. The ending of an apneic event may be accompanied by a number of mouth phenomena, such as snoring, gasps, mumbles, and teeth grinding," said Shyam Subramanian, MD, FCCP, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. "Men typically have more severe sleep apnea, and perhaps may have more arousal responses, which may explain the higher prevalence of teeth grinding in men. Besides, men characteristically tend to report more symptoms of sleep apnea than women, such as snoring, loud grunting, and witnessed apneas."

If you are looking for solutions to sleep apnea you can find a variety of CPAP and Sleep Apnea machines at www.cpapmart.com