Did you know there are currently over 10 million cases of undiagnosed sleep apnea in the United States?  If these 10 million Americans suffering from sleep apnea go on untreated, they are facing a huge list of additional diagnoses including heart attack, stroke, obesity, diabetes and heart failure.  This is why CPAP Central wants you to screen yourself and then visit a sleep lab to find out how to treat your sleep apnea RIGHT NOW!

Here are three quick and easy ways to screen yourself for sleep apnea at home:

1 – The Epworth Sleepiness Scale

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale was developed in 1990 by Dr. Murray Johns.  It typically takes less than 3 minutes to complete, and evaluates your daytime sleepiness in order to determine how likely you are to have a sleep disorder.  Take the Epworth Sleepiness Scale now.

2 – The STOP BANG Questionnaire

STOP BANG stands for Snoring, Tiredness during the daytime, Observed apnea, Pressure (high blood pressure), Body mass index, Age, Neck circumference and Gender.  The questionnaire evaluates whether you have an obstruction in your airway that might be contributing to obstructive sleep apnea. Take the Stop Bang Test.

3 – The Appnea App by Zeeba Sleep Center

The Appnea App by Zeeba Sleep Center is available in both Google Play and iTunes App store as AppNea.  This new app offers a questionnaire and a recording sleep feature which evaluates your sleep recording for sleep apnea risks.  Get AppNea at Google Play.

After trying out these three at-home screenings, be sure to follow their advice and seek consultation from your family doctor or a local sleep specialist.  If you discover that you are indeed suffering from sleep apnea, visit CPAPCentral.com for the best deals on all your PAP supplies!

In the past, we’ve informed you of the potential risks of ignoring sleep apnea and letting the condition go untreated. Among those risks are an increased risk of heart disease, liver disease and increased daytime fatigue.

 

For today’s post, CPAP Central would like to go into greater detail about another health problem associated with sleep apnea, and that is the issue of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.

 

High blood pressure, which occurs when the linings of your blood vessels become clogged with materials like fat, can lead to a long list of other issues. With less room in the blood vessels and the same amount of blood pumping, it means your heart is having to work harder to get the blood to the rest of your body. This can lead to a stroke or a heart attack.

 

Sleep apnea is most common among people that are overweight or obese. Those same people are the most at risk for developing hypertension. Several studies have indicated that people with sleep apnea are more likely to develop hypertension. Studies have also shown CPAP therapy can have a positive effect on hypertension and lower your blood pressure.

 

Because of the health risks associated with undiagnosed sleep apnea, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms that accompany the disorder. If you wake up feeling short of breath, if you often wake up with a dry mouth or you’ve been told you snore, especially if the snoring is accompanied by gasping or pauses in breathing, it’s time to contact your doctor.

 

If your doctor does diagnose you with sleep apnea, CPAP Central has the supplies to help start you on your CPAP therapy. We have full lines of CPAP machines, masks and accessories to help you sleep better and start to battle the other health effects associated with sleep apnea. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.

 

 

What are the next steps after being diagnosed with sleep apnea?  Getting a CPAP is the obvious answer, but what about diet and lifestyle changes that could improve your sleep apnea symptoms?  CPAP Central has a few suggestions when it comes to sleep apnea treatment that you can do in addition to CPAP use.

CPAP Use

Read carefully – THE CPAP DOESN’T WORK IF YOU DON’T WEAR IT.  This is the first and most important sleep apnea treatment statement of this article.  Far too often, individuals suffering from sleep apnea opt to wear their CPAP maybe once a week or wear it for only part of the night. If this sounds like you, we recommend trying different CPAP masks to see which fits your face and sleep style best.  For assistance or CPAP mask recommendations, contact CPAP Central today! Our online chat is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST.

Stop Smoking

Besides the increased risk for many other health conditions, smoking actually makes the swelling in your airway worse thus making your sleep apnea symptoms even worse.  CPAP Central recommends that you stop smoking as soon as possible.

Limit Alcohol Consumption

While the occasional drink is fine, too much drinking leads to decreased muscle tone in the back of the throat.  This dramatically interferes with breathing and will aggravate your sleep apnea symptoms.

Lose Weight

Obesity is one of the most common contributing factors to sleep apnea, and can nearly eliminate sleep apnea symptoms if substantial weight loss is achieved.  Not all individuals with sleep apnea are overweight, but large percentages are.  Whether you are overweight or not, having an unhealthy diet also contributes to sleep apnea, so try to stick to a healthy diet either way.  CPAP Central encourages you to lose even a modest amount of weight or maintain a healthy diet to improve sleep apnea symptoms.

In addition to using your CPAP regularly, the healthy lifestyle described above will bring great value to your overall health.  If you have any questions about CPAP supplies or how to treat your sleep apnea, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today!