Sleep apnea is a serious illness than effects a large number of people without them even realizing it. According to recent studies, one out of every five American adults suffers from mild sleep apnea, while one in fifteen American adults suffer from severe sleep apnea. The problem is that the majority of those suffering from sleep apnea go undiagnosed, and therefore, untreated.
Sleep Apnea can cause persistent fatigue and sleep deprivation due to the individual’s inability to get a proper amount of sleep. When suffering from sleep apnea, the individual struggles to breathe while in their sleep and will actually wake up dozens of times throughout the night as their body struggles to get oxygen. The individual does not fully wake-up, so they may or may not remember waking up throughout the night.
Excessive and loud snoring can also be a symptom of sleep apnea. Multiple research studies have shown the damage to an individual’s health that can be caused by persistent sleep deprivation.
The most common treatment for sleep apnea is a cpap machine. These are purchased through medical supply stores and are often covered by insurance. Along with the machine, the patient will need cpap supplies, which includes hoses and a cpap mask or pillow. Again, these cpap supplies can be purchased through a medical equipment supply store.
The downside to cpap machines is that they make noise and many people find the masks uncomfortable to wear. This leads to them not wearing it as often as prescribed, which leads to the persistence of the sleep apnea symptoms and complications.
The majority of patients report discontinuing the use of the cpap machine within the first month. This is unfortunate since sleep apnea is treatable, but also because those that continue use report the impact of the discomfort diminishing over time. In other words, when they stick it out, they get use to the nose and the feel.
Like any other condition that requires supplies, it is important to monitor cpap supplies to make sure you always have what you need. Depending on where you live, the needed supplies may not be available same day. If it turns out you need to order new supplies, you don’t want to have to go without while you wait. Make sure you always have extras of everything you need.
