Sunday, September 20, 2009

How to Know When You Have a Sleep Apnea

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How to Know When You Have a Sleep Apnea

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition in which the upper airway collapses during sleep, causing breathing to periodically stop at night, is an under diagnosed disorder that can lead to serious health problems as well as impaired quality of life. However, with proper treatment, you can conquer your apnea and improve your heath tremendously. Here are some guidelines on what to do if you suspect that you have apnea.

Steps

If you routinely wake up feeling unrefreshed, fall asleep during the day, feel a decline in your mental sharpness, notice yourself sometimes waking up gasping or out of breath every few minutes, or have feelings of depression, consider talking to your doctor about a sleep study. If you wake several times during the night, and maybe more frequently towards the end of your sleep cycle - when sleep apnea is at its worst. If you sometimes do not remember covering the last few miles while driving, or drift off most times you are the passenger in a car traveling any distance, you also should consider that discussion. These are all signs of unrestorative sleep, and OSA is a major cause of unrestorative sleep. You may have accepted any or all of these issues as part of your life, and so not be aware of their impact on your life's quality.
Ask your sleeping partner if they hear you snoring loudly or a steady rise and fall of snore volume, snorting or stopping breathing entirely at any point during the night, or during nap times in the day. Sleep apnea can sound a lot like snoring, often mistaken for steady breathing. Apnea is, in fact, a small step beyond snoring, if you snore chances are you will eventually develop some form of apnea as you get older.
If your doctor agrees you might have OSA, they will write a prescription for a sleep study. In a sleep study, you will go to a sleep laboratory and be hooked up to electrodes to monitor your breathing, blood oxygen saturation, sleep state, and general physical state overnight. Some sleep centers and insurance companies require two separate studies, one for diagnosis and a second, called the titration study, which will identify whether some variation on CPAP therapy will fix your OSA. In some cases, these two studies will be combined in one night, but the results of that first study are always used by a doctor to diagnose OSA.
If you have OSA, your doctor may discuss treatment options with you. The most common treatment, CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines and their variations, use air pressure in your airway to keep that airway open. Other treatments include several types of operations to remove part of the tissue that blocks the airway and tracheotomy for extreme cases.
If your study results show that you have apnea, and your doctor believes a CPAP or variant is the right treatment for you, they will write you a prescription for a CPAP machine. You will then have to deal with your health insurance company and a DME (Durable Medical Equipment supplier) to get the equipment you need to successfully treat your apnea. The DME supplier will be responsible for supplying the equipment, setting it to your prescription, fitting whatever mask or nasal plugs you'll be using, fitting whatever headgear you will be using, and training you in how to clean and maintain your equipment. They should also check back regularly, to replenish filters, to replace masks and headgear as needed (roughly twice year, usually), to check the accuracy of your CPAP settings, and to answer any questions you might have.
Find a mask that works well for you. Mask options range from nasal pillows to nasal masks to full face masks. Your DME may not provide you with a variety of options, but be assured that they are out there. Many people find fitting their mask properly to be the most crucial part of adapting to CPAP therapy.
Request a heated humidifier and extra bacterial filters for your machine. Most DMEs do not provide these as a matter of course, but they should be standard to help protect the delicate mucous membranes of the nasal passages and lungs.
Take it slowly. Many people find getting used to CPAP difficult. Try wearing your mask and machine for progressively longer periods during the day, until you are ready to sleep with it.
Be patient and determined. It takes time to iron out the wrinkles in CPAP therapy, and you may not see the benefits immediately, especially if your body has a large "sleep debt" to make up. However, rest assured that your health and well-being will improve tremendously when your apnea is treated.
Enjoy your new life as a properly rested person!

Video

Tips

Older people and those who are overweight are at a higher risk for developing sleep apnea, but the condition can happen to anyone, even those who don't fit the profile.
Be assertive when dealing with your insurance company and DME. These people are out to make money for themselves, and they do not have your interests in mind. Stand up for yourself!
If you have trouble with the high CPAP pressure, consider an APAP (Automatic Positive Airway Pressure) machine. This machine will stay on a lower pressure for most of the night and increase the pressure when it senses that your airway is collapsing. This machine can behave in a seemingly erratic fashion, sometimes causing irritation during pressure changes.
People with muscles weakness affecting the diaphragm (whether from spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy or other neuromuscular disorder) often experience nocturnal hypoventilation, a condition symptomatically similar to sleep apnea, in which breathing becomes too shallow at night. This problem can be easily treated with a BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) machine on specific settings (high IPAP, low EPAP) to support breathing overnight.
Seriously consider joining an online sleep apnea support group. These forums can be invaluable resources for new CPAP users.
The blowing air from the CPAP can cause a painfully dry mouth. If this happens it may be your mouth falling open during sleep, most commonly during REM, a "chin strap" could be used to alleviate this problem. Also, you should have a humidifier that attaches to your CPAP. You can also use an OTC product like "Oasis" from Sensodyne to help keep your mouth moist.
If you have to pay for a CPAP machine out of your own pocket, don't buy one from your doctor. Have the doctor write you a prescription and then buy the machine over the Internet. It can cost you two or three times as much to buy it from your doctor.
Purchasing from an Internet vendor is the best choice for those who have no insurance, limited insurance, or a very high deductible. Some patients don't even realize they have this choice. Shop around. Prices vary greatly from site to site and customer service is paramount when dealing with your health.

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Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Know When You Have a Sleep Apnea. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Click Here to Discover An All Natural Method That Permanently Eliminates Snoring And Gives You An Awesome Sleep Every Night

Saturday, September 19, 2009

How to Stop Snoring by Using an Anti Snoring Mouthpiece

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Mouthpiece devices[1] are also known as dental appliances, or mandibular advancement splints. They have been effective for many snorers, including those suffering from mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea, in fact they have been in use for the last 10 years and clinical trials have reported an 85% success rate. They are small plastic devices worn in the mouth during sleep to prevent the soft throat tissues from collapsing and obstructing the airway. They do this by bringing your lower jaw forward and/or by lifting your soft palate.

Steps

Place the mouthpiece in the upright position as in diagram
Insert the spatula into the holes in the front of the mouthpiece
Practice moving your bottom jaw forward and find a comfortable forward position.

Moulding Instructions:

Boil the water.
Pour the water into the container or remove the pot from the heat source. Hold the mouthpiece using the spatula (be aware of the mouthpiece upright position).
Place the mouthpiece in the boiled water for 12 seconds. The mouthpiece will appear clear and the plastic will be soft.
Place the mouthpiece into your mouth (the right way up) still holding the mouthpiece by the spatula.
Push your lower jaw forward and bite down hard. Suck the air out and use your fingers to push the plastic against your teeth to produce a firm custom fit.
Use your tongue to push from the other side. Remove the mouthpiece and hold it in cold water to set the shape.
You can now remove the spatula from the mouthpiece.

Tips

It may take a few nights to get accustomed to sleeping with the mouthpiece.
If you do not stop snoring completely, remould with your jaw extended a little further forward.

Warnings

Sleep apnea

Things You'll Need

A Clear surface near to where the water will be boiled.
Choose a kettle or a pot to boil water.
If you have chosen a kettle, then you will need a container or mug deep enough to submerge the mouthpiece.
You will need a watch, clock or timing device which can measure in seconds.

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Sources and Citations

↑ http://www.snoremeds.com

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Stop Snoring by Using an Anti Snoring Mouthpiece. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Click Here to learn How to Stop Snoring

How to Sleep when Someone Is Snoring

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Is your husband or wife a constant snorer? Is your lack of sleep really starting to affect you, in your social, personal, and working life? Read on for some tips on how to sleep with the person next to you that sounds like they're starting an earthquake.

Steps

First, see if you can avoid the problem completely. Is the brother or sister you share a room with the one keeping you up? If so, ask for permission to move into another room. It might be time for separate bedrooms, or see if you can trade with another sibling who's a deeper sleeper and won't be as affected. You don't need any more tips if you can avoid sleeping with the snorer.
If sleeping in the same room can't be avoided, try muffling the sound with earplugs. This can greatly decrease the amount of sound reaching your ears.
Use a sound generator to drown out the snores. A sound generator allows you to select from a number of different background noises (rushing stream, rain falling, 'white noise', etc.) that are good at blocking out other noises. Particularly loud snoring might require the use of earphones, but be very careful not to turn it too loud—sound levels that don't seem too excessive under normal circumstances can cause ear damage if you have the earphones on all night. Use the generator without earphones if at all possible. Also works for drowning out barking dogs, noisy neighbors, construction racket...
Ask the person to sleep on their side, turned away from you. This usually helps, although if you have a very keen sense of hearing, you may not hear a difference. The person can fall asleep on their side, which you can get you to sleep. If you wake up during the night because of the snoring, gently roll the person back onto their side, not their stomach. You may seal of all sources of air if their head is in the pillow. See the Warnings.
If you and the snorer have separate beds, try putting up a partition. This can be a simple as a flowery curtain or a large as bookcases stacked up together in the middle of the room. This might give you and your little sister some privacy, or just keep your brother's snoring on his side of the room.
If all else fails, ask your doctor for other suggestions. He may be able to give you a sleep aid, or just have some tips like this article. Whatever the reason, a lack of sleep isn't healthy, so always check with your doctor.
Count the snores! Start with 100 and count backwards, once for each snore. Since most people snore at very regular intervals, the counting will soon put you to sleep.

Tips

If you do not have earplugs, try headphones with light classical music or natural sounds. The music, rain sounds or white noise will drown out the snores, but will not keep you awake. If you prefer natural sounds, sound generators are available; or you can download nature sounds from an online music site, load on to your portable music device, set it to loop with no pauses, put your earphones on, and drown out the snores. Be careful not to set it too loud—don't want to damage your hearing!
Sleep apnea could be a cause of snoring. Check with your doctior. If sleep apnea is the cause, there are breathing machines to assist in proper breathing, thus eliminating the sleep-depriving monster of snoring.
Get a Slumber Guard Anti-snoring Device - they come with a Money Back Guarantee and are available in pharmacies across Australia. You can also purchase online on their website.

Warnings

Never place anything over the snorer's mouth or head to prevent the sound from keeping you up. Suffocation can occur. While it might seem safe, you may be trading in your loved one's life for a couple hours of sleep.

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Sources and Citations

[1]www.slumberguard.com.au

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Sleep when Someone Is Snoring. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Click Here to Discover An All Natural Method That Permanently Eliminates Snoring And Gives You An Awesome Sleep Every Night

How To Control Snoring

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Sunday, September 20, 2009