June 25th, 2008 by Gideon George
Snoring isn’t just annoying; it’s linked to serious health problem. How do you feel when you wake up one fateful morning to hear a sad story of one of your love ones death! Overnight? Snoring is a very dangerous silent killer, people die of chronic snoring though its rear but it has to be tackled before it’s too late.
Snoring alone does not kill until its graduate to sleep apnea. Not all snorers have sleep apnea but almost all apnea patients are chronic snorers.
Snoring is not just a problem that is experienced by adults, there parents need to be concerned about their child’s well being if the habitually snore and it is loud and obnoxious.
Your child may be distracted in the classroom or even at home, your child may also seem to be too tired all the time these may all be cause due to loosing some sleep in the night. A lot of risk is also associated with snoring in pregnant women.
Snoring can also run in families as it is hereditary, Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital found Children whose parents snore have a three-fold increased risk of being noisy sleepers themselves.
Other risk associated with snoring include frequent headache, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart attack and stroke infact snoring increases stroke by 65%.
All individuals that habitually snore should consider taking medication now! Because it is 100% curable
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June 24th, 2008 by Gideon George
The Risk Associated with CPAP.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has become a mainstay of therapy for sleep apnea. However, intolerance to CPAP often leads to attrition and the device is abandoned as theraphy.
A single night off CPAP has been shown to be associated with recurrence of apnea, hypersomia, and impairment of alertness. And also what you have to know is that a CPAP decreases blood pressures in patients.
When using a CPAP make sure you check it well and don’t forget to get the best one with all the features you want because a failed CPAP titration polysomnography increases the cost of care of sleep apnea patients
Below are some of the Problems that may occur with using a CPAP machine
• Leaks around the mask because it does not fit properly
• Headaches.
• Nightmares and excessive dreaming during early use.
• Dry nose, nosebleeds, and sore throat.
• Nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing.
• Irritation of the eyes and the skin on the face.
• Abdominal bloating.
Rare complications of CPAP may include:
• Bacterial infection in the lining around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
• Severe nosebleeds.
You can expect mild discomfort in the morning when you first start using CPAP. Talk with your doctor if you do not feel comfortable after a few days.
Relieving side effects
You may be able to limit or stop some of the side effects:
• Your doctor may be able to adjust your CPAP to reduce or eliminate problems.
• Be sure the mask or nasal prongs fit you properly. Air should not leak around the mask.
• Use a humidifier or a corticosteroid nasal spray medicine to reduce nasal irritation and drainage.
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June 20th, 2008 by Gideon George
What is continuous Positive Airway pressure (CPAP)?
Continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) is a device that uses a machine to help a person who has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to breathe more easily during sleep. The Nasal CPAP delivers air into your airway through a specially designed nasal mask or pillows while the flow of air creates enough pressure when you inhale to keep your airways open.
A CPAP machine is usually about the size of a shoebox but can be smaller. A flexible tube connects the machine with a mask or other interface device that is worn over the nose or mouth. CPAP is considered the most effective non-surgical treatment for the alleviation of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, it is the first treatment choice and the most widely used.
CPAP is also useful for children with collapsible airways, small lung volumes, or muscle weakness that interferes with adequate ventilation, and also used for adults with CORD, acute respiratory failure.
As a sleep apnea patient you are required to wear the nasal mask every night.
CPAP does not cure your sleep apnea completely but it has been found to be nearly 100 percent effective.
There are several CPAP manufacturers that offer different types of machines with different features.
In deciding which CPAP machine to use, think about what features you want or need. Options include
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A carrying case, the ability to convert to foreign currents (automatically or with additional equipment),
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The capability to adjust for different altitudes,
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An attached heated humidifier,
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Ramping (which allows for a gradual increase in pressure),
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D.C (direct current) operations via a car or boat battery
Bi-level devices with two different pressures–one for inhalation and a lower pressure for exhalation–are also available.
Some machines can monitor how often you use the CPAP, while others can also record if you had any apneas while using the machine (this can indicate a need to adjust the pressure).
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June 20th, 2008 by Gideon George
Waking up to the sound of someone snoring only to roll over and find your bed partner sound asleep is never fun. That is mainly because of the fact that if you woke up because someone was snoring and it wasn’t them, it had to be you. That is when you have to decide to look for some sort of snoring relief to keep that from happening again. There are actually some very simple solutions that can give you the snoring relief that you need.
Attaining snoring relief can actually be accomplished by some very simple things such as using a different pillow. Several people like to sleep with pillows stacked beneath their heads. Doesn’t work for me but many say they can sleep without their mountain of pillows. By using one pillow instead of two or three, you are leveling out your airways and reducing the chances of snoring.
If your snoring only occurs seasonally then most likely your snoring would be from seasonal allergies. If that is the case then you can try something as simple as taking allergy medication. There are several over the counter allergy medications that could be the snoring relief that you need. Along with allergy medications for your snoring relief there are some pillows that are made to help people with allergies. You can find these types of pillow in most any store and they aren’t all that expensive, especially if you taking into consideration all of the peaceful sleep you will be getting.
Being overweight is something that can lead to some serous snoring problems. A change in lifestyle is something that can not only give you snoring relief but also prevent many life threatening diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, risk of stroke and these are just a few. So to lose weight will not only give you snoring relief, it will give you a whole new lease on life.
Another way to obtain snoring relief is to try a different sleeping position. Many that have trouble with snoring sleep on either their side or their back. But if you sleep on your stomach then you will no doubt have less trouble with your snoring. By sleeping on your stomach you are keeping less stress on your airways and causing them to have less trouble getting the air through them.
There are a few different contraptions that you can use that will give you snoring relief. Simple things like trying a nasal strip can give you the snoring relief that you desire. Nasal strips are placed over the bridge of your nose and will work to open your airways leaving the passages wider for the air to travel through. Less restriction will lead to less chances of that dreadful snore. Dentists have a type of oral appliance that can also be used to reduce snoring. So if all of the attempts for snoring relief have failed you then you might talk to your dentist to see if there is something he can suggest.
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June 19th, 2008 by Gideon George
•Sleep positions: Don’t sleep on your back because most people who sleeps straight on the back snores, whereas snoring doesn’t occur when one sleeps on one’s side(This is the best position for you to sleep). When you sleep on your back, your tongue falls backwards into your throat, which can narrow your airway and partially block airflow.
•Obesity: Lose weight to increase the airway space; to prevent snoring, it is advisable to cut down on fat consumption through proper exercise and a good diet. Daily exercise also improves muscle tone
•Alternative therapies: Hypnosis, gem and crystal therapy, and magnetic therapy are other techniques that can alleviate snoring.
•Homeopathic medicines: Some homeopathic medicines are also used to stop snoring. The popular ones are Y-snore which decongests the nose and allows air to flow freely to the trachea. The other one goes under the name of Snore Stop
•Avoid taking caffeinated drinks
•Relaxation techniques and busting stress: Stress can be a reason for snoring. Job pressures, traffic, and relationship pressures can be a cause for snoring. These can be alleviated through meditation, color therapy, and aromatherapy. Apart from this, Yoga, massage, will help.
• Homeopathic medicines: Some homeopathic medicines are also used to stop snoring. The popular ones are Y-snore which decongests the nose and allows air to flow freely to the trachea. The other one goes under the name of Snore Stop.
What to do before bedtime
•Drinking warm beverages like honey and warm water helps coat the wall of the trachea. Drinking a cup of hot milk with a pinch of turmeric and pepper is also a good option.
•Drinking green tea and organic tulsi tea is also a good idea. Teas which contains chamomile is usually sleep inducive and may keep the trachea open.
•A hot water bath can help to a certain extent
•Mind what you eat! avoid alcohol and heavy meals as from 10:00pm.
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