Have you ever considered using a CPAP machine? CPAP (short for continuous positive airway pressure) machines are useful for treating sleep apnea. CPAP machines have been regarded as being useful for people who are overweight, but the truth is that CPAP machines can help improve the health of people who are of healthy weights, too. Here’s what you should know about CPAP machines.

Who Has Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition which causes your airway to close or collapse as you sleep. Anyone can have sleep apnea, though there are some risk factors which increase your likeliness of having sleep apnea. According to the Mayo Clinic, being obese increases your risk of having sleep apnea by four times. Men are twice as likely to have sleep apnea as women, and sleep apnea occurs more in older adults than it does in younger adults.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

The symptoms of sleep apnea are varied, but sleep apnea is most commonly categorized by loud snoring and episodes when you briefly stop breathing as you sleep. You may find that you wake suddenly feeling out of breath, or that your mouth and throat are dry when you wake up. Sleep apnea can cause you to be excessively sleepy during the day, and may cause insomnia.

What CPAP Machines Do

CPAP machines are worn overnight and feature a mask which fits over your nose or your nose and mouth. As you sleep, the machine uses a gentle pressure to help keep your airway from closing or collapsing. By keeping your airway open, CPAP machines help to alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea.

The Benefits of CPAP Machines

CPAP machines help to keep your airway open when you sleep. The act of keeping your airway open can reduce or eliminate your snoring entirely. Because you are receiving sufficient oxygen as you sleep, your overall quality of sleep can improve. Additionally, symptoms resulting from sleep apnea, like insomnia and excessive sleepiness, can be fixed.

The Next Steps

If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea, then it’s time to talk to your doctor. Your doctor may order a sleep study test to confirm the diagnosis. Once it is confirmed that you are suffering from sleep apnea, your doctor will recommend that you start to use a CPAP machine when you go to sleep each night. At MedMart, we offer a variety of CPAP machines. If you have questions about which machine is right for you, please give us a call – we’re happy to help. Using a CPAP machine can truly change your life, leaving you refreshed and ready to take on the day each morning. Get more tips on how to Improve the Quality of Life as You Get Older.