If you are suffering from abnormal breathing during sleep, you should immediately discuss your condition with your doctor. It may be something serious. Obstructive sleep apner is a reality among men ages 30 and above, but it can virtually affect everyone, including women and infants.
Obstructive sleep apner has a number of treatments, one of which is CPAP therapy (continuous positive airway pressure). This procedure often uses a sleep apner machine, more popularly referred to as the CPAP machine, to assist the patient in gaining stability in breathing when sleeping.
In order to try a sleep apner machine yourself, you should be able to consult with your doctor. He will conduct a sleep study test where you would be monitored using electrodes on your body and evaluate you heart rate and breathing when you are asleep. Before you purchase a sleep apner machine, you need to show your doctor's prescription.
A CPAP machine helps a patient with OSA achieve a better sleep by creating a stream of airflow into a person's lungs. This way the airway would be open to allow for a more comfortable breathing. Breathing interruption episodes would be lessened because of a person's airways is freed of obstructions.
A CPAP mask is an integral component of a sleep apner machine. It is worn over the face and is often held against a person's nasal area. The CPAP machine pumps just enough air pressure into the mask. This way, your airway remaines opened all through out the night. This results to better breathing and uninterrupted sleep. Sleep apner machines can also effectively reduce snoring.
Sleep apner machines are recommended to be used every night during the entire duration of your sleep. Even if you take naps in the afternoon, you can also use this device. A lot of people may find it difficult to get used to a CPAP machine. If you are a first time user, what you can do is to use the device for a few hours whenever you sleep. Get familiar with the machine and know the different sleeping positions where you are most comfortable. Soon enough, you would get comfortable using the device every night. Most patient swith OSA can get used to sleep apner machines in one or two weeks time.
Although a sleep apner machine allows for a better, uninterrupted sleep, unfortunately it does not cure obstructive sleep apner itself. What it can only do is to reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea including snoring and REM (rapid eye movement). A sleep apner machine's primary purpose it to give the patient a more comfortable sleep.
To get the best out of your sleep apner machine, you must also change your lifestyle for the better. Getting enough exercise during the day can improve your heart condition. You should also avoid eating heavy meals a few hours before getting into bed. Drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes are absolute no-no's.
If used properly and as directed by your doctor, sleep apner machines can effectively relieve the symptoms of obstructive sleep apner and make way for a better and restful sleep every night.
Visit the homepage to watch sleep apner video's, talk about sleep apner with other sufferers in the chat forums and to find out a lot more about sleep, snoring, OSA and CPAP in general.
P.S. The official British spelling is "sleep apnoea" whilst in the US they write "sleep apnea"!