Customer Service and Live Chat available M-F from 8:30AM - 4:30PM EST

Free Shipping on orders over $99

100% Price Protection

Monthly Archives: May 2016

Women and Sleep Apnea: It’s More Damaging Than You Think

CPAP-Blog-Central-Women-and-Sleep-Apnea

There’s some bad news for women with sleep apnea. Recent studies by from the University of California, Los Angeles show that women who have sleep apnea experience more damage to their brain cells than men.

The link between sleep apnea and brain cell damage in men is not new. But more recent studies show that women experience more damage than men to certain brain cells.  These cells are in the part of the brain that is involved in the regulation of moods and decision-making.

How common is sleep apnea?

  • 4 to 9 percent of middle aged men experience obstructive sleep apnea.
  • 2 to 4 percent of middle aged women experience sleep apnea.

If you thought that the numbers would be higher, you’re not alone. Research shows that as many as 90 percent of people with obstructive sleep apnea have not been diagnosed.

Even after diagnosis has been made, 10 percent of newly diagnosed women had not received treatment. That’s still better than the 20 percent of men who had not received treatment.

In addition to finding a higher severity of brain cell damage in the women with sleep apnea than the men, they also found that the women with the sleep condition had more symptoms of depression and anxiety than the men.

Do you think you may have sleep apnea? Ask your significant other or your family if you snore or wake often during sleep and don’t be embarrassed by the answers. Keep a sleep diary to record how you feel in the morning and throughout the day. Ladies, please get tested for sleep apnea. Husbands and families, please encourage a woman in your life to get tested if you even suspect she may have the disorder. We have amazing treatment options, but you’ll need to be tested first.

There’s a good night sleep waiting, just for you!

Better Sleep and a Better Mattress

CPAP-Blog-Your-Mattress

Remember the Princess and the Pea? No matter how many mattresses she piled up, she could still feel that pod at the bottom. How about Goldilocks and the Three Bears? That blonde little girl tried out all of the bears’ beds.  One was too hard, one was too soft, and one was just right.

 

What about your bed and mattress? Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether it’s time to buy a new mattress and box spring/foundation. It may be time to get a new sleep set if:

 

  • Your mattress is five to seven years old
  • You wake up with stiffness, numbness, or aches and pains
  • You had a better night’s sleep somewhere other than your own bed (such as a hotel or friend’s guest room)
  • Your mattress shows signs of overuse (it sags, has lumps, etc.)

Evaluate your pillow too. In general, pillows should be replaced every year.

 

How big should your mattress be? There is no one answer for that, just suggestions and guidelines. There are many things to consider like the ability to get a large bed up the stairs and if it will fit in the room without taking up all of the space.  If you sleep with a partner, your mattress should allow each of you enough space to move easily. A queen mattress is ideal for two people sharing a mattress.

 

Keeping in mind the space you have available in your bedroom, here’s a basic size chart of modern beds:

 

  • A California King is 72” x 84”
  • A standard King is 76” x 80”
  • A Queen is 60” x 80”
  • A Full size or Double is 53” x 75”
  • And a Twin is 38” x 75”

 

If you have sleep apnea, the right CPAP or BiPAP machine will make even more difference than the right mattress.  CPAP Central has experts in sleep apnea therapy, and we carry the best supplies from the best manufacturers.  Visit our website and find the key to getting a better night’s sleep.

PS, we think Papa Bear used a CPAP too.

 

The Connection between Sleep Apnea and Juvenile Arthritis

CPAP-Blog-Sleep-Apnea-and-Juvenile

May is National Arthritis Month and CPAP Central wanted to bring awareness to Juvenile Arthritis (JA) and how it can impact young lives.

While there is no direct correlation between having sleep apnea and Juvenile Arthritis, it is important to note that there is also no conclusive cause and no cure for JA, only treatment to manage symptoms. If your child has JA and sleep apnea, please talk to your doctor right away. These two conditions can be downright dangerous when combined. We have CPAP machines and CPAP masks to accommodate younger patients.

What is JA? How common is it? Here are some things you probably didn’t know about Juvenile Arthritis.

  • The CDC estimates that 294,000 U.S. children under age 18 (or 1 in 250 children) have been diagnosed with arthritis or other rheumatic conditions.
  • Childhood arthritis-related diagnoses range from a low of 500 children in Wyoming to a high of 38,000 children in California.
  • Children diagnosed with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions account for approximately 827,000 doctor visits each year, including an average of 83,000 emergency department room visits.
  • (JA) is an umbrella term used to describe the many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions that can develop in children ages 16 (or 18) and younger.

Although there is no known cause for the disease and no known cure, there are many treatments available.  Most treatment plans involve a combination of medication, physical activity, eye care and healthy eating. Medications used to treat JA can be divided into two groups:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, corticosteroids and analgesics that help relieve pain and inflammation
  • Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs that can alter the course of the disease, put it into remission and prevent joint damage.

If a person, young or older, in your life has any type of arthritis and uses a CPAP machine or BiPAP, CPAP Central can help you find solutions to make the sleep apnea system more comfortable and easier to use.

The Connection between Sleep Apnea and Rheumatoid Arthritis

CPAP-Blog-Sleep-Apnea-and-Rheumatoid

May is National Arthritis Month, and because of that, CPAP Central would like to direct your attention to the connection between arthritis and sleep apnea. Recent studies have shown that people with sleep apnea have double the chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis compared to those who do not snore.

Sleep apnea is characterized by pauses or stops in breathing while a person is sleeping.  Age, obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption all increase the chances for sleep apnea.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of joints and the surrounding tissues. It is most common in women and develops mostly as people reach middle age. Hormone changes, infections, and some genetic factors all play a role in developing the disease.

Researchers compared 1,411 sleep apnea patients against 7,000 healthy adults for over five years. The subjects were continuously monitored for immune system-related conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Findings showed that the apnea-affected group had a 91 percent higher chance of developing arthritis conditions.

Why would snoring and sleep apnea increase the risk for rheumatoid arthritis? Studies show that chronic sleep apnea leads to inflammation in blood vessels present in the body and this acts as a catalyst for the development of arthritis.

Untreated rheumatoid arthritis and sleep apnea can be debilitating individually, but knowing that sleep apnea may put you at higher risk for RA makes treatment even more important.  So what can you do to avoid getting RA or other arthritis related conditions? If you snore or have been told you snore, get tested for sleep apnea.  Your family doctor can help you find a sleep lab.

 

If you are diagnosed, CPAP Central can help. We specialize in all things CPAP and BiPAP, and can make sure you have the right CPAP machine and CPAP mask for you, thus lowering your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.