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Monthly Archives: July 2015

Sleep Tests to Help Diagnose Sleep Apnea

Sleep tests are the most common ways to detect if you’re dealing with sleep apnea.

Whether you’re experiencing symptoms like repeated daytime fatigue, snoring, or waking up suddenly feeling short of breath, it’s probably time to stop ignoring the symptoms and face the possibility that you may be dealing with sleep apnea.

Having sleep apnea is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a sleep disorder that impacts millions of Americans and can be controlled with treatment. But first, you have to figure out if you have sleep apnea, and if so, what type of sleep apnea. In most cases, the easiest way to diagnose sleep apnea is with a sleep test, and CPAPCentral.com wants you to be prepared for what you’ll encounter during that sleep test.

The Lab Sleep Test

As the name points out, this sleep test takes place in a sleep lab setting. These tests most often require an overnight stay in a sleep center, hospital, or even a hotel room. While sleeping away from home is rarely as comfortable and relaxing as a good night sleep in your own bed, most sleep centers take extra steps to ensure your comfort. From hotel room like settings, to giving you time to read, watch TV, or relax and unwind as you fall asleep, sleep centers have your well-being in mind. Even though few people sleep as well in the sleep lab environment as they do at home, almost everyone eventually falls asleep, and sleeps long enough for data to be collected and a diagnosis to be made.

For the sleep test, sensors will be attached to your body so that you can be fully monitored while you sleep. The sensors are painless and are attached to wires which allow you to move around as usual during your sleep. While you’re asleep, a team will monitor your heart rate, your breathing levels, your brain waves and any movement in your arms and legs, among other things. In the morning a sleep technologist will remove the sensors and members of the sleep team will review the information gathered during the sleep study. It can take several days to weeks for your sleep study to be fully evaluated. If the results show you stop breathing, or breathe abnormally throughout the night, you likely have sleep apnea.

The Home Sleep Test

Particularly when your doctor suspects you may have obstructive sleep apnea, your doctor may prescribe a home sleep test. With a home sleep test, you conduct a sleep test at home using home sleep testing equipment. In most cases you set the equipment up by yourself. You may pick the equipment up from your doctor’s office, or it may be delivered to your home. You will be given instructions on how to set up and use the equipment. A home sleep test allows you the opportunity to experience the comfort of your normal sleeping environment while monitoring your sleep habits, breathing, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels. Before you go to sleep you will attach sensors to your body, and possibly turn on the monitoring device. The device will record data as you sleep. When you wake up in the morning you will remove the sensors and return the testing equipment. As with a lab sleep test, members of the sleep team will review and analyze your data and a board certified sleep physician will contact you to discuss the results.

Whether you go to a sleep lab, or use a home sleep test, sleep tests are most likely to be accurate when you maintain your normal daily routine beforehand. This will also help you relax and prepare for as restful of a night sleep as possible. The exception to this rule is if you tend to take naps during the day, you should avoid napping on the day of your sleep test. You should also avoid caffeine after lunch on the day of your sleep test as well.

If your sleep test reveals that you have sleep apnea, CPAPCentral.com is here for you. We have the CPAP machines, CPAP masks and accessories you need to start sleeping more effectively each night.

CPAPs & Severe Weather

Make sure you’re prepared for severe weather with this extra CPAP equipment.

There has been enough severe weather in the news in recent weeks that we’ve likely all taken a moment to wonder if we’re truly prepared should the skies darken. And while many of us have plans in place for where we should go in the case of severe weather, less of us are likely to think about what needs to come with us.

Sure, grabbing the essentials like water and maybe non-perishable foods is always a good idea, but for those of us with health concerns, additional preparation can be very important. Your sleep therapy doesn’t have to be disrupted by severe weather, and CPAPCentral.com wants to remind you that there are supplies you need to have for your CPAP machine in case the power goes out.

Remember Your CPAP Batteries

A backup CPAP battery is handy for camping and boating excursions, but if the power goes out, you’ll be extremely glad that you have one. A lot of the CPAP machines available today are equipped to handle add-on options for CPAP batteries. Backup batteries can help you use your CPAP machine for up to 15 hours without AC power.

Don’t Forget Battery Chargers

Your backup battery won’t do you much good for very long if you can’t recharge it. In case of a severe weather emergency, it is important to make sure you also have a battery charger to keep your CPAP battery going strong as long as necessary. If your power goes out for an extended period of time, DC adaptors can be extremely useful, as they can be used in your car. If you have a Transcend CPAP machine, you can use the Transcend Solar Power Battery Charger, which uses sunlight to help recharge your CPAP machine’s battery.

Having an emergency plan in place for severe weather is never a bad idea. CPAPCentral.com encourages to come up with a plan that will keep you and your family not only safe, but prepared for different scenarios. Whether you need CPAP supplies for daily use, or to help you prepare for an emergency, CPAPCentral.com is here for you. Contact us to learn more about the products we offer.

Four Surprising Activities to Ease COPD

At CPAPCentral.com, we know all about the problems that come with not being able to breathe properly. And while we tend to deal mostly with individuals who have trouble breathing at night due to sleep apnea and need CPAP machines to help them sleep, there are millions of people across America who have trouble breathing normally while they’re awake.

“Imagine what life would be like if you had to breathe through a straw all the time,” said Aimee Bulthuis of the COPD Foundation. “That’s what it feels like for people living with COPD.”

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic lung condition that makes breathing very difficult for the 24 million Americans that have it. For those living with the disease, daily tasks can be both physically and mentally exhausting.

In fact, many individuals at risk for developing COPD can also be at risk for developing obstructive sleep apnea, especially those who smoke. COPD and obstructive sleep apnea can actually overlap in individuals, known as Overlap Syndrome, which makes both conditions worse.

Luckily, there are many resources available to help ease the impact of the disease. Below are 4 non-traditional remedies from an article in Everyday Health that can help alleviate COPD symptoms!

Harmonica Therapy

The harmonica is one of the few instruments that requires breathing in and out. This exercise helps stimulate breathing control which can help expand lung capacity and reduce COPD symptoms. Harmonica Therapy also helps ease the anxiety that often arises from the disease.

Yoga

Yoga has great benefits for COPD patients. Primarily, the exercise helps teach COPD patients to listen to their body. Additionally, it has great benefits for lung function. According to a study in the American Journal of Therapeutics, one hour of yoga three times a week can improve lung function!

Walking

Maintaining a healthy weight is important for people living with COPD. However, the physical activity required to do so can be scary when breathing is difficult. Walking is less daunting and can be a very effective form of exercise!

Volunteering

Volunteering may not seem like it’d help people with COPD, but Sandra Adams, MD, MS, a pulmonologist at University Hospital and the South Veterans Health Care System says it is.

“It’s a great coping mechanism for people with COPD because it boosts their mood and helps them see that they’re not alone with their medical ills,” she states.

If you have COPD, we hope you’ll consider one of these remedies to help ease your COPD symptoms. If you also have obstructive sleep apnea, CPAPCentral.com is here for you with a wide variety of CPAP machines, CPAP masks and other accessories to help you sleep more comfortably.

There are steps you can take to help relieve the symptoms of COPD.

The Amara View Full Face CPAP Mask

The Amara View Full Face CPAP Mask gives you flexibility and better vision while using your CPAP machine.

Sleep apnea affects millions of people every night. For those who have been diagnosed, CPAP therapy offers the best relief from the symptoms of sleep apnea with the use of a CPAP machine and CPAP mask.

There are advances being made all the time in CPAP technology, and one of the latest advances will be of huge benefit for CPAP users who wear a full face mask when they use their CPAP machines. The Amara View Full Face Mask from Philips Respironics, makes wearing a full face CPAP mask a lot easier and more comfortable.

The Amara View features a brand-new, innovative design that you won’t find anywhere else. You’ll get the same therapy and effectiveness of other full face CPAP masks, but feel more comfortable with increased functionality. Thanks to its new, under-the-nose design, the Amara View doesn’t sit on the bridge of your nose like other full face masks. As a result, you don’t have to worry about nasal pressure or waking up with red marks on the bridge of your nose. Additionally, you’ll be able to save money on replacing mask liners and be more comfortable when you sleep!

The Amara View also helps the user relax. The under-the-nose design is paired with a unique headgear which doesn’t feature forehead stabilization, so you get a wider field of vision that allows you to wear glasses, read, watch television and use the computer while using your CPAP mask and machine. The Amara View also has the added benefit of being the smallest and most lightweight full face mask available.

You can pre-order the Amara View Full Face Mask from CPAPCentral.com right now! If you’re looking to do more while still using your CPAP mask, or are tired of waking up with red marks on the bridge of your nose, the Amara View is the answer you’ve been waiting for. You can learn more about the Amara View, or place an order, by calling us at 877-629-1316.

Take Your CPAP Therapy Anywhere: The Z1 Travel CPAP Machine

Take your CPAP therapy anywhere with one of the Z1 Travel CPAP machines

At some point, almost everyone has to spend some time away from home. Whether it’s for a vacation, a business trip, visiting family or friends, many of us will spend a night away from home at some point or another. For those with sleep apnea, this requires some extra thinking to make sure your CPAP therapy can continue even when you are away from home.

CPAPCentral.com has a solution to make sure you can keep up with your CPAP therapy, no matter where you are: The Z1™ Travel CPAP Machine. This machine comes in several different models, all featuring a lightweight, easy-to-transport design, providing you the CPAP therapy you need. Let us take you through a brief description of each of the Z1 models.

The Z1™ Travel CPAP Machine

Weighing just 10 ounces and sitting at 6.5 inches long, the Z1™ takes up about as much space as your cell phone when placed in your luggage. Designed to operate quietly, the machine produces about 26 dBA, about the same as a whisper. The machine also features three pressure relief settings using the Z-Breathe™ Pressure Relief technology.

The Z1™ Unplugged Travel CPAP System

Keep your CPAP machine running on the road, even when you’re away from a power outlet. The Z1™ Unplugged has a small battery built right into the machine, and gives up to eight hours of battery life when running without a cord. The PowerShell™ allows your machine and battery to securely fit together while remaining easy to carry.

The Z1™ Auto Travel CPAP Machine

Don’t worry about manually adjusting your pressure for your CPAP therapy with the Z1™ Auto. Combining the portability and lightweight design of the original Z1™, the Z1™ Auto features auto-adjusting technology, meaning the machine will do the job of adjusting the air pressure for you. This machine can also be synced to the Nitelog™ mobile app.

The Z1™ Auto Unplugged Travel CPAP System

The Z1™ Auto Unplugged gives you a lot of options for your CPAP therapy when traveling. Capable of automatically adjusting your CPAP air pressure, as well as operating on batter power, you can take the Z1™ Auto Unplugged anywhere and make sure your therapy stays on track. You can also review your sleeping data using the Nitelog™ mobile app and share the information with your doctor.

If you want to learn more about the Z1™ Travel CPAP machines, please feel free to contact us at CPAPCentral.com