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Snoring Part II

If you read part one of this topic you will remember the personal story I shared about my Dad and the snoring problem that he deals with.

In this article we will discuss one effective nonsurgical option that is available if the snoring problem is serious enough that is it causing breathing to be interrupted repeatedly during sleep. (Also known as sleep apnea.)

Read Part I – Here:  Its Raining, It’s Pouring, The Old Man is SNORING!

As mentioned previously, here are some major symptoms you may be experiencing that could indicate that it would be good to meet with your doctor.

–  You snore loudly and heavily and are tired during the day.

–  You stop breathing, gasp, or choke during sleep.

–  You fall asleep at inappropriate times, such as during a conversation or a meal.

Keep in mind that it may be easier for your bed partner to notice if the above symptoms apply to you.  With that being said, let’s discuss the continuous positive airway pressure machine, otherwise known as CPAP.

What is the Cpap?

This is a machine whose function is to provide continuous warm, humid airflow into the airway through a machine which is connected to a tube through a mask that is worn over the nose and mouth during sleep.

The CPAP machine will gently force the airway open, so that it does not collapse during sleep.

What does this mean to you? The probability of a restful night’s sleep!

Things to consider when thinking about the CPAP machine:

1. If you have health insurance, what is covered?

2. Your doctor may need to prescribe a sleep test in order to diagnose your sleeping/snoring problem before you can try using CPAP

3. Once you begin using the machine it may take several months to find the correct settings for you and get used to wearing the mask. So being patient is helpful.

4. Although the CPAP machine can cause issues for some initially in adapting to the mask during sleep it has been proven to be nearly 100% effective when used properly.

If you are struggling with the snoring and feeling tired during the day, you may want to make an appointment with your doctor to discuss the CPAP machine.

Here’s to a good night’s sleep.