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Sleep Apneawww.sleepapneaassistance.com |
Sleep Apnea MasksSleep Apnea Masks- What Are They And How Do They Work?Sleep apnea, the sleeping disorder that is characterized by the occurrence of intervals of non-breathing during periods of sleep, has been treated through the usage of positive airway pressure devices for years. Positive airway pressure devices, or PAP devices, utilize a nose or facemask to force regular intervals of pressurized air into the airways to keep them open while an individual sleeps. When the PAP devices were first introduced many people found that the facemasks were cumbersome and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there have been some changes made to the sleep apnea masks making them less obstructive and more comfortable. In order to understand the necessity of the sleep apnea masks, one must understand why they are used with the positive airway pressure device, and how the PAP device works. The positive airway pressure treatment is generally used to treat a type of sleep apnea called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is caused by the relaxation of breathing muscles during sleep. When the muscles relax the air passages become narrow or blocked causing periods of suspended breathing. In order to counter this, the PAP device delivers pressurized air through the sleep apnea masks, which forces the airway open. This allows the breathing to continue normally during sleep, which reduces and sometimes prevents sleep apnea. The sleep apnea masks, in combination with the tanks of pressurized air, work together to ease the symptoms of sleep apnea very successfully. The first iterations of the technology were quite troublesome. Not only was it quite expensive, especially for those without insurance, but it also tended to be extremely cumbersome because the air tanks were much larger, as were the masks. In addition, they were also very loud when they released the pressurized air. Thankfully, as time has passed, this technology has improved significantly. The sleep apnea masks have become much more manageable. Today, they come in three main forms: partial facemasks, full face masks, and nose masks. Each of these can be used with air tanks or smaller electronic devices that house smaller air pumps. Perhaps the greatest improvement is that the air pumps are now lined with sound-absorbing material that keeps the sound to a minimum, making it easier to get restful nights sleep.How Can I get the PAP device and sleep apnea mask?In order to obtain a sleep apnea mask and PAP device, one must generally have one prescribed. In order for this to happen, you will need to visit your doctor who will more than likely recommend that you have a sleep study done to determine if you really do have sleep apnea and if so the severity of it. From there, you can work with your doctor to figure out the best treatment option for you, which may or may not involve the usage of the PAP device and sleep apnea masks. |
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