Have you ever wondered how doctors can tell if you may have a sleep disorder like sleep apnea? There are two barometers used to gauge whether you have sleep apnea or not. The Berlin Questionnaire and Epworth Sleepiness Scale were developed to assess risk factors (like your blood pressure) and persistent behaviors (like snoring) that may indicate that you have sleep apnea.

 

The Berlin Questionnaire was developed in 1996 to help better detect the presence of a sleep disorder, and since has become well-known for its accuracy in indicating that someone has sleep apnea. It is broken up into three categories of questions with multiple answers, some of which are “positive” answers. Each category can be “positive” with a certain number of positive answers, and these help to indicate if you have sleep apnea. For a full look at the scale, click here.

 

On the other hand, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, created in 1990 in Australia bases its indication of sleep apnea by asking your likelihood of falling asleep during certain activities. For example, one of the questions is how likely it is that you would fall asleep while watching television. You would then respond on the following scale: 0- no chance, 1- slight chance, 2- moderate chance, 3- high chance. The responses are then totaled, with any score over a 10 meaning there’s a very likely chance you have sleep apnea. Here’s a closer look at the scale.

 

These are two simple tests used by doctors everywhere to indicate the presence of sleep apnea or another sleep disorder. However, these test are not used to officially diagnose sleep apnea. If you have a positive test, your doctor may recommend you for a sleep test for an official diagnosis.

 

If you think you or someone you know may have sleep apnea, share this post with them and ask them to schedule an appointment with their doctor.

 

Breaking a habit can be a very difficult thing to do. Breaking an involuntary habit that occurs as you are sleeping can be even more difficult. That is the challenge that mouth breathers face if they use a nasal mask for CPAP therapy to treat their sleep apnea because a full face mask feels too claustrophobic.

 

The Problem:

 

Because the air that flows through the mask during treatment pushes the tongue down to keep the airway unobstructed, opening the mouth to breathe causes a vacuum that pulls the tongue up. This can be very uncomfortable and cause you to wake up during the night, something your CPAP therapy is trying to prevent.

 

So, how do you learn how to nose breathe?

 

There are many different techniques out there. While one lifelong mouth breather may swear that one works, it may not work for others. The name of the game here is experimentation.

 

Technique 1:

 

The first technique is to press your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Do this during the day while breathing through your nose to get used to it, and then try it as you are falling asleep.

 

Technique 2:

 

Another way is to gradually block your mouth from opening less and less. In this technique you start by placing tape over your mouth at night, which may seem like a scary thought. However, after three or so nights where you aren’t opening your mouth, you can switch to tucking a small pillow under your chin to prevent mouth breathing.

 

Technique 3:

 

Mind over matter can also be effective! Work on telling yourself that the air coming through the nasal mask is enough so that you don’t have to open your mouth. You can also visualize yourself sleeping with your mouth closed as you’re falling asleep.

 

There are many other techniques out there, or you can create one on your own. If nothing is working, CPAP Central offers chin straps to help prevent your mouth from opening. Our staff can offer helpful advice and tips to get you sleeping better at night. We’re available Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. via our live chat.

 

 

Picture yourself getting ready for bed, putting on your CPAP mask and turning on your CPAP machine – then nothing.  Yes, your CPAP machine has stopped working.  Do you get your tool box out from the garage, call 911, or stay awake all night to avoid rattling the windows with your snoring?  The answer is none of these.  We repeat – DO NOT open up your CPAP machine and try to fix it yourself.  Also, while your CPAP may have greatly improved your quality of life, it is not life sustaining equipment.  Here are some simple steps from CPAP Central that may help when you find yourself without a working CPAP machine.

1 – Check Your Water Chamber or Humidifier

When a CPAP machine isn’t working, it can often be caused by a worn out heated element in your humidifier.  To check if this is the problem, remove the tube going to the humidifier and connect it straight to the CPAP machine, bypassing the humidifier.  Try turning on your CPAP machine again. If it works, then you know that you’ll need to replace the humidifier.  If your CPAP still doesn’t work, you may need to replace your entire CPAP machine.

Replacing the water chamber or humidifier is easy because it does not require a prescription.  It is also a lot cheaper than replacing the entire CPAP machine if you are no longer under warranty.

2 – Check Your Warranty

When a CPAP machine breaks down less than 2 years after purchasing, you are most likely still under warranty.  Checking on warranty status can be done with either your CPAP provider, who should have your prescription on file or by checking with any authorized dealer for Philips Respironics or ResMed.

3 – Check on Copy of Prescription

Another item you will need if replacing your CPAP machine is your prescription.  You can call your doctor to obtain a new prescription right away.   Your prescription will allow you to easily order another CPAP machine quickly to avoid any more difficult nights.

For more questions on what to do if your CPAP machine breaks, visit Cpapcentral.com. We’re available Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. via our live chat.

If you think sleep apnea is only something the common public deals with at night, you are mistaken.  CPAP Central wants to let you know that you are not alone and that some of your favorite celebrities might be wearing the exact same mask that you do at night!  Check out these celebs who wear a CPAP mask to bed:

Randy Jackson

• Has sleep apnea and type-2 diabetes.
• On American Idol.
• Former musician for Bob Dylan, The Divynls, Blue Oyster Cult

Shaquille O’Neal

• Has moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
• Former NBA center/actor
• Featured in a sleep apnea video.

JaMarcus Russell

• Has sleep apnea.
• Number one pick in 2007 NFL draft.
• Before being diagnosed, Russell had fallen asleep in team meetings.

Quincy Jones

• Has sleep apnea.
• Won 27 Grammy Awards.
• Jazz trumpeter and record producer.

Regis Philbin

• Diagnosed with sleep apnea.
• Emmy-award winning talk show host.

Roseanne Barr

• Diagnosed with sleep apnea.
• TV sitcom star.

Larry the Cable Guy

• Has sleep apnea.
• Famous comedian and actor.

William Shatner

• Has sleep apnea.
• Famous actor from Star Trek and Priceline commercials.

Graham Elliot

• Had sleep apnea.
• Judge on MasterChef show.
• After sleeve gastrectomy surgery and losing 147 lbs, Elliot no longer requires CPAP.

Anne Rice

• Has sleep apnea.
• Author of The Vampire Chronicles.

Reggie White (1961-2004)

• Passed away in 2004 from heart attack and possible complications from sleep apnea.
• NFL Hall of Fame, 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
• Sleep Disorders Research & Education Foundation created in Reggie White’s name.

Jerry Garcia (1942-1995)

• Passed away in 1995 from a heart attack and possible complications of sleep apnea.
• Lead singer of the Grateful Dead

Justin Tennison (1977-2011)

• Passed away at age 33 from complications related to sleep apnea.
• Actor featured on Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch.

While most of the celebrities listed have been able to get their sleep apnea under control through CPAP therapy, the final three were unable to overcome their health problems and passed away from health complications that were possibly brought on by years of untreated sleep apnea.  CPAP Central hopes you take this as a reminder to encourage loved ones to get tested for sleep apnea and begin treatment right away to prevent sleep apnea-related conditions.