Living with Sleep Apnea

Breathing is something most of us take for granted. It's an involuntary action that sustains us from the moment we're born until our last breath. However, not all breathing is created equal. While most of us naturally breathe through our noses, some individuals are habitual mouth breathers. In the medical sense, this seemingly innocuous habit and natural style of breathing can have significant consequences, particularly when it comes to sleep apnea and overall sleep quality.

As a new sleep apnea patient, it’s natural and sensible to research the least invasive (and least expensive!) treatment options to try first. This blog wants to close the case for you on the best sleep position for sleep apnea, best positions to keep heartburn and GERD at bay, and also teach you what positions to avoid for the sake of your overall quality of life. 

When shopping for your CPAP essentials online, seeing distributors offering products at differing prices can be confusing (and tempting). You may wonder: how and why are these places selling supplies for less? Why do supplies cost more on authorized websites than they do on Ebay, Amazon, and Facebook? Could there really be risks in buying a product that's priced lower? In this blog, we’ll walk you through the answers to these questions (and provide some harsh realities of buying from non-authorized sellers that are sometimes not talked about). We'll also cover the best practices for buying CPAP products online in the safest way for you!

There are three main types of CPAP masks - full face masks, nasal masks, and nasal pillow masks. Each of the three mask options has the same basic components: mask frame, headgear, and cushion. Since the CPAP mask is the interface between you and your CPAP machine, it needs to provide a comfortable fit. Otherwise you’ll be less likely to keep it on all night and your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment will be less effective. Don’t worry, the best CPAP mask for you is out there, read on to find out how to find it.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can be dangerous if not treated. Common symptoms include snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, and agitation. It’s also known to increase your risk of cardiovascular problems and other health conditions. Recent studies have explored the link between sleep apnea and tinnitus. Some have found that people with sleep apnea have a higher risk of developing both tinnitus and hearing loss. 

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that can cause loud snoring at night and a wide range of daytime symptoms. Although sleep apnea is common, it is a serious condition. If it is left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to cardiovascular trouble, hypertension, and other complications.

Increasingly, there is more public awareness of how engaging in lifestyle changes can prevent or reverse health conditions across the medical spectrum, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These same lifestyle changes can have a nice economic benefit as well - lowered healthcare costs! So let’s dive in discuss the role of lifestyle changes in treating sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea exercises are a hot topic for those who want to try non-invasive (and free!) lifestyle adjustments to reduce the severity of their breathing and sleep disorders. If you are serious about treating your loud snoring or obstructive sleep apnea more holistically, exercises can definitely help!

Feeling too hot to sleep? The summer months roar in with a scorching sun, and humidity can make you feel sticky and uncomfortable, wanting to forgo blankets entirely. You may want to burn your duvet, but this is not the way. Why is getting quality sleep so difficult when you feel hot?

As a new or curious obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patient, you may be wondering if alcohol use is linked to your condition. A good night’s sleep may not seem as tempting as a wild night of heavy drinking, but hangovers are only the beginning in the world of an OSA patient!