Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder where a person experiences episodic pauses in breathing during sleep. If you snore loudly, wake up choking or gasping, and feel excessively fatigued during the day, you may be suffering from sleep apnea and should consider consulting your doctor.
If you are interested in learning more about Sleep Apnea you can read our article
What is Sleep Apnea? which goes in depth into this common sleeping disorder.
There are a range of
treatment options available if you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea.
These can include treatment devices aimed at opening the airway and allowing you to breathe easier at night.
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Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Generally, the first line of treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure are machines that supply pressurised air through a flexible tube and mask fitted over the nose and mouth while you sleep. It is most commonly used for obstructive sleep apnea sufferers as they don't receive enough air into the lungs.
Bi-Level Airway Pressure (BiPap)
These are similar to CPAPs with the general exception that bi-level (or two level) positive airway pressure delivers two pressures, an inhalation and an exhalation positive pressure, whereas as CPAP delivers single continuous pressure.
BiPAPs can also be set to deliver a breath when a person sleeping doesn't breathe for a programmed amount of time.
BiPAPs are suited for those suffering from central sleep apnea, complex sleep apnea,, or those that don't tolerate CPAPs well. CPAP users can find it difficult to exhale against the constant pressurised air and feel as though they are required to force their breath out.