This is Why You Need to Get Your Sleep Apnea Checked Out

Did you know that around 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea? Furthermore, one in 50 Americans with sleep apnea aren’t diagnosed, which can have health repercussions down the road. Your doctor may recommend looking into a CPAP machine for sale to help treat your sleep apnea and it’s important to know your options — and why you need to address your sleep apnea. Unfortunately, it’s one of those things that isn’t going to just go away on its own, but it can be managed with a CPAP machine, improving your sleep, and ultimately, your quality of life. And, if you share a room or a bed with someone, you may also relieve them of your loud snoring! Let’s talk about what sleep apnea is, what options you have when looking at a CPAP machine for sale, and the effects of sleep apnea if left untreated.

What Is Sleep Apnea and How Can You Tell If You Have It?
Sleep apnea is when you experience a pause in your breathing during your sleep. These pauses can be anywhere from just a couple of seconds to minutes long. The average amount of times that someone with obstructive sleep apnea may experience pauses in breathing is around 60 per hour. Eventually, normal breathing will resume, usually after a snort, choking or gagging sound, or snore.

The pause in your breathing comes from a collapsed airway, which blocks your ability to draw in air. Usually a hallmark sign of sleep apnea is the choking, gagging, or loud snore that occurs as you sleep. If a roommate or partner remarks on this and you notice that you’ve been feeling more tired when you wake up or are falling asleep at odd hours of the day, you may want to go to your doctor and get checked out.

What Health Repercussions Are There For Leaving My Sleep Apnea Untreated?
The National Commission on Sleep Disorders reports that almost 40,000 deaths happen yearly that are related to cardiovascular issues that are somehow also connected to sleep apnea. So it’s no surprise then, that those who leave their sleep apnea untreated have a four times greater risk of stroke, than those without sleep apnea. Similarly, people who have sleep apnea but aren’t treating it are three times more likely to have heart disease than those without sleep apnea.

It can also lead to higher blood pressure levels, can contribute to obesity or a higher risk of being overweight, and other issues relating to a sleep deficiency or sleep deprivation. For example, not getting enough sleep can make one a danger to others if you operate heavy machinery or have a long commute to work and find yourself nodding off.

In short, sleep apnea isn’t something to take lightly. If you suspect that you are suffering from sleep apnea, get yourself to your doctor and ask if you can do a sleep study to confirm.

What Are My Options When It Comes to Looking at a CPAP Machine For Sale?
CPAP machines can take a little getting used to if one isn’t used to sleeping with them and unfortunately, as many as 80% of patients who use a CPAP machine don’t do it often enough to stay safe. It can sometimes take a little while to figure out what works best for you — a CPAP mask versus a CPAP nasal pillow or nasal masks. Do you require humidification? Would you prefer an oral mask or a full-face mask? Today, there are plenty of options to customize your machine.

These are all good things to consider when looking at a CPAP machine for sale and you shouldn’t feel obligated to stick with something that doesn’t work for you. If you’re over the age of 60, you’re five times more likely to need heated humidification in your CPAP machine to keep yourself comfortable.

Make sure that you’re taking care of your health and addressing your sleep apnea, which can have longer-lasting repercussions that you may not have expected. Your doctor can diagnose your sleep apnea and write you a prescription for a CPAP machine that will do something about it.