This thread was started for the benefit of discussion for people that might not know about sleep apnea and those that have ask me about it!
I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 8 years ago (A temporary suspension of breathing occurring repeatedly during sleep that often affects overweight people or those having an obstruction in the breathing tract, an abnormally small throat opening, or a neurological disorder.) It's a serious condition and can cause death. Don't remember his name, but a pro football player died this year as a result of having severe sleep apnea and didn't realize it. My brother was diagnosed first and when I started falling asleep at red lights after working a midnight shift I knew it was time to do something. I could fall asleep anywhere and even if I got 14 hours a sleep I still felt tired. With sleep apnea you never fall into the DEEP sleep required for proper rest.
The treatment is to wear a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) mask at night. Serious conditions require surgery. Most people think "there is no way I could sleep with that thing hanging of my face". All are designed to cover the nose and apply positive pressure on the airway while sleeping. The pumps (machines) they attach to usually are supplimented with a humidifier to keep the passage from drying.
Wearing the CPAP changed my life!! You definitely get use to it and the benefit is great sleep. My wife even likes it cause it has a wave machine affect when she's sleeping.....
. Not to comfortable when your doing the nasty though..........
! I now only require 6 hours of sleep a day, have much more energy and never require a nap to get by. Due to new insurance I had to complete a sleep study (perscribed by your doctor for diagnosis) for a new machine. You spend a night in the hospital and they put a bunch of monitoring equipment on you. It collects data on respirations, pulse, blood O2, BP etc. Nothing to it but a bunch of wires hanging off you. I wore no CPAP for the study and it was the most miserable night I had in 8 years, just terrible. If you snore heavily, have a neck larger than 18 and your spouse notices a stuttering in your snore you more than likely stop breathing during sleep. If you suspect apnea, see your doctor!
I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 8 years ago (A temporary suspension of breathing occurring repeatedly during sleep that often affects overweight people or those having an obstruction in the breathing tract, an abnormally small throat opening, or a neurological disorder.) It's a serious condition and can cause death. Don't remember his name, but a pro football player died this year as a result of having severe sleep apnea and didn't realize it. My brother was diagnosed first and when I started falling asleep at red lights after working a midnight shift I knew it was time to do something. I could fall asleep anywhere and even if I got 14 hours a sleep I still felt tired. With sleep apnea you never fall into the DEEP sleep required for proper rest.
The treatment is to wear a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) mask at night. Serious conditions require surgery. Most people think "there is no way I could sleep with that thing hanging of my face". All are designed to cover the nose and apply positive pressure on the airway while sleeping. The pumps (machines) they attach to usually are supplimented with a humidifier to keep the passage from drying.
Wearing the CPAP changed my life!! You definitely get use to it and the benefit is great sleep. My wife even likes it cause it has a wave machine affect when she's sleeping.....
. Not to comfortable when your doing the nasty though..........! I now only require 6 hours of sleep a day, have much more energy and never require a nap to get by. Due to new insurance I had to complete a sleep study (perscribed by your doctor for diagnosis) for a new machine. You spend a night in the hospital and they put a bunch of monitoring equipment on you. It collects data on respirations, pulse, blood O2, BP etc. Nothing to it but a bunch of wires hanging off you. I wore no CPAP for the study and it was the most miserable night I had in 8 years, just terrible. If you snore heavily, have a neck larger than 18 and your spouse notices a stuttering in your snore you more than likely stop breathing during sleep. If you suspect apnea, see your doctor!
