Sleep apnea is a dangerous medical problem in which sufferers stop breathing while asleep, which causes sleep interruption. In addition, it causes the person to be more susceptible to other medical issues such as hypertension, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, weight gain and more. It also causes problems with sleeping partners, since someone with sleep apnea usually has very loud snoring problems.
Treating Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea victims will normally be prescribed a breathing machine for sleep apnea called a CPAP machine. This stands for continuous positive airway pressure. The breathing machine for sleep apnea continuously blows air into the sleeping person’s lungs so that their airway doesn’t collapse and cause them to stop breathing. It is noninvasive and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
In order to get a breathing machine for sleep apnea you will need a prescription. However, if you have health insurance, then the cost is normally covered. A CPAP machine is usually fairly small, about the size of a shoebox. It is made up of three parts: the breathing machine, a nose or full face mask, and flexible tubing to connect the mask to the machine.
Using a CPAP Machine
The first breathing machine for sleep apnea was invented during the 1980s. They have come a long way since that time and are now available in several different styles, sizes, and types. It all depends on the type of sleep apnea the person has and what type of treatment best serves their needs. The newer models are also much quieter than the older, bulkier machines in the past.
Despite the fact that a breather machine for sleep apnea is vital to the health of the user, statistics show that about half the patients prescribed to use on stop after only a short period of time. This is usually due to the fact that it can be awkward or uncomfortable to wear the device.It may normally take several days or longer for someone to get used to wearing a CPAP device, so newcomers to it should be advised to not give up wearing it in the first day or two of treatment.
In order to get these levels up, there are now many kinds of CPAP machine accessories to help make using the machine more comfortable. These include special pillows to cushion the tubing and mask, cloth covering for the tubing, many styles of headbands to hold the mask, devices to hold the tubing next to the bed, and more.
Other Types of Breathing Machines for Sleep Apnea
Besides the CPAP machine, there is two other type of breathing machines for sleep apnea: Bi-Level and Auto Pap.
Bi-Level –This is also called a VPAP machine. It is for those patients that need one level of air pressure for breathing in and a different setting for breathing out. This type of machine automatically changes back and forth.This type of breathing machine for sleep apnea is usually prescribed for someone with central sleep apnea. It can also be set up so that if the wearer stops breathing, it will automatically turn on after a certain amount of seconds.
Auto PAP – This is a new kind of breathing machine for sleep apnea. It is capable of automatically adjusting the machine to provide various air pressures depending on the breathing patterns of the user. This type of a breathing machine for sleep apnea can run either in auto mode or regular CPAP mode. It has special software installed in it that helps to run it when the patient needs it most, plus, it is usually prescribed for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Advantages of Breathing Machine for Sleep Apnea
There are many advantages to using one of the three types of breathing machines for sleep apnea. Of course, the obvious is to reduce the wearer’s risks for problems such as heart attack, stroke, hypertension and weight gain.
In addition, the person wearing it should be much less tired upon waking up from sleep, thus will have less of a risk of falling asleep while performing daily tasks such as driving or operating machinery.
They will also have a better memory and likely will be in a better mood since they will not be tired all of the time. Also, if you have sleep apnea you will be at a greater risk during surgery if the doctors are unaware of your condition since you could stop breathing during the procedure.
Disadvantages of Breathing Machine for Sleep Apnea
Even so, there are a few disadvantages you may face when wearing a breathing machine for sleep apnea. Some users experience issues such as nasal congestion, runny nose, dry eyes or mouth, skin irritation, chest discomfort, or headaches.
However, many of these problems can be solved by wearing the right type and size of mask, as well as using saline nose drops, or some sort of skin moisturizer. Plus, using nasal pillows instead of a mask helps some people, which are soft attachments that go directly into the nostrils instead of wearing a mask.
Some types of breathing machines for sleep apnea also are fitted with a humidifier to help keep a person’s throat and nose from getting too dry. If the noise of the machine bothers users, one solution is to also turn a fan on in the room to provide a low level noise that will block out the breathing machine noises.
To be certain a breathing machine for sleep apnea is working correctly, users should also always double check for any leaking air. If the seal is worn out or not adjusted properly, the mask will leak and you won’t get all the benefits of the breathing machine for sleep apnea.
The bottom line is that sleep apnea is a dangerous, but very treatable problem that affects thousands of people all over the world. If you are having problems with snoring, being tired in the day, day time sleepiness or fatigue and think you may have sleep apnea, you should see your doctor right away.
The brain produces an electrical current that pulsates at a particular frequency. Delta occurs during deep sleep at .5-4 cycles per second; Theta during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep at 4-8 cycles per second; Alpha during a relaxed, wakeful state at 8-13 cycles per second; and Beta during a regular waking activity at 13-39 cycles per second.
Alpha frequency, which produces feelings of well-being, is increasingly recognized as a helpful reference point for mental relaxation.
The Silva Method and Training in Alpha
Jose Silva spent decades researching the creative and rejuvenating effects of living in the Alpha state; after concluding that Alpha held tremendous potential for discovering one’s true purpose, shedding negative habits and relieving stress and anxiety, Silva developed a comprehensive course of training.
The Silva Ultramind ESP System uses a guided meditation backed by a rhythmic sound to train the mind in the alpha state. After attuning oneself to the alpha frequency, the instructors attest that one will be able to alleviate stress, contact higher intelligence for guidance, and use vivid imagery to make goals manifest.
What are Biofeedback Devices?
When the term ‘biofeedback’ was first coined in the 1960s, it was hoped to eliminate the need for medicine. While that has proven untrue, biofeedback is a powerful tool for relieving stress in a long-lasting way – without the need for pharmaceuticals.
Biofeedback refers to using measurements of biological indicators, such as temperature, to change conditions in the body. Recently, the use of a particular class of biofeedback devices for training the mind and relieving stress has come into vogue; these devices provide data on such factors as skin temperature and muscle tension, which relate to stress levels and their associated brain waves.
The Benefits of Training in Biofeedback Therapy
Adults function mainly at the beta level while awake, and the beta state is where people can feel stressed and anxious. For optimal functioning, people could spend most of their time at Alpha; Alpha is restoring and relaxing for the body and mind, while beta is only optimal for involved thinking and times of high activity. Biofeedback therapy provides the biological indicators for people to habituate themselves to the alpha state.
Natural Stress Relief with Wild Divine
Wild Divine produces biofeedback training games for PC and Mac, which immerse the player in a sumptuous and relaxing world of colour and music. The Journey to Wild Divine: The Passage and Wisdom Quest presents a narrative that includes numerous biofeedback training activities. Relaxing Rhythms uses a non-linear format with various modules to centre the mind and deepen one’s familiarity with the alpha state.
The Ferber Method is a sleep technique for infants developed by pediatrician Dr. Richard Ferber that encourages infants to use “self-soothing” techniques to achieve a better night’s sleep. Ferberization is suggested for infants at least 6 months old and has been cited as a highly successful sleep training method for babies that have difficulty sleeping through the night.
Step 1: PROVIDE BABY WITH DAYTIME ACTIVITIES
Ensure that baby’s day is full of fun and exploration so that the infant will indeed be tired at nighttime. Excessive napping during the day can sabotage your efforts for getting baby to bed as they will already be rested. One tactic is to not allow your infant to sleep past 5pm, but the exact time will depend on baby’s wake time, nap schedule, and ideal bedtime.
Step 2: DEVELOP A BEDTIME RITUAL
It’s important that baby can distinguish between daytime (play) and bedtime (sleep). To do this you will need to develop a bedtime ritual that helps the infant calm down and prepare for a good nights sleep. One example of this would be a relaxing bath, story time, and a lullaby followed by goodnight kisses from Mom and Dad. Other popular bedtime rituals include infant massage, lavender scented bubble bath, the playing of a Heartbeat CD, or even listening to a song on a crib mobile. It doesn’t matter which bedtime activities you decide to include, but ensure that the room is dark enough to signal its nighttime, that baby is warm but not too hot, and that the crib is free from any toys that may be distracting.
Step 3: LEAVE BABY IN BED AND LEAVE THE ROOM
At this point you will have completed your planned bedtime rituals and baby is dressed, diaper changed, and ready for bed. Let baby know it is time to sleep and quietly leave the room without hesitation. Your infant may start to cry and become upset, but it is important to leave the room without emotionally reacting to him or her.
Step 4: FOLLOW A “PROGRESSIVE WAITING” SCHEDULE
This final step is critical to success with the Ferber Method and the cornerstone of Dr. Ferber’s sleep training technique. “Progressive waiting” is the practice of progressively waiting longer and longer between comforting the baby at bedtime to encourage the infant to learn how to soothe itself to sleep. For example, on the first night you may wait three minutes before returning to baby’s crib and reassuring him/her and that it is time for sleep. Do not lift the infant out of its crib, but simply comfort the child with pats on the back, stroking of their hair, or giving the baby his pacifier. After briefly comforting the baby, once again leave the room as before. However, instead of waiting only three minutes before re-entering the room, wait five minutes instead. Keep practicing the “progressive waiting” at intervals such as 7 minutes, 9 minutes, and so on until baby falls asleep. The first night will most likely be the hardest, but with time baby will learn to soothe itself to sleep without your intervention.
Step 1
Bring the baby into the room where she will sleep.
Step 2
Keep the stimulus level low. Turn on a dim light, talk in soft voices if at all, and cut out any possible distractions that may exist, no mobile, music, toys, or playing with the baby.
Step 3
Make sure that the baby has a clean diaper and then swaddle him.
Step 4
Feed the baby then burp her on your shoulder. If you breastfeed pump some milk in the morning to give to your baby at night because breast milk is much richer in the morning and will satisfy your baby more.
Step 5
Once you are done burping, keep the baby on your shoulder, do not hold in your arms. This eliminates the feeling of being held tight. If you hold the baby in your arms, she gets accustomed to the warmth and closeness this provides and expects to feel so snug, however, once you lay the baby down she soon realizes that she is missing that security and wakes up.
Step 6
Once the baby is asleep, directly lay him down. Do not rock, sway, or create any extra movement because the baby will expect to feel it while sleeping. If the baby begins to wake up or get fussy, place your hand on his stomach until he drifts off again.
Step 7
Hop into bed and enjoy your two to four hours of sleep until the next round starts. When the day begins, now you can hold your baby in your arms, rock, sway, dance, sing and play!
Stop running around, give some time to your health too! You have every right to give some space to yourself and your mind. Well, if you don’t look after your health, then who will look after your loved ones? To enjoy your holidays with all energy and enthusiasm, you must sleep well and take good rest. Give yourself the gift of sleep!
Sleep Facts: It is said that a person should sleep for 9 hours (approximately), as it is optimal. An average adult person sleeps for 8 hours. Lack of sleep increases the risk of mortality. Researchers have suggested that a person should maintain 8-9 hours of sleep. Sufficient sleep increases alertness, solves memory problems, and reduces risks of accidents. It is clear that sufficient sleep is necessary for better health.
Guide to get a comfortable sleep:
People learn things but they fail to apply in their lives. There are some people who follow everything that is beneficial for their health. You must get a good and comfortable sleep in order to maintain your energy levels high, your spirit at peak. Boost your energy levels!
1) Before Sleeping: Going to hit the bed? Well, now follow some things that would help you for sure. Before going to sleep. Wash your face gently. Look in the mirror and smile. Now time to concentrate on your footsteps. Gently, feel the distance between your body and bed. Go to bed, and lie down.
2) Right Posture: Lie straight, remove all thoughts from your mind. How? Well, it is easy. When you close your eyes, you see ‘blackness’ or ‘designs’, right? Focus on them, think nothing. No negative, no positive. Blank! Make your body light-weighted.
3) Breathing: Concentrate on your breathing pattern. Inhale and exhale at least 5 times. When you inhale, think that you are taking every positive energy available in this world, and while exhaling, think that you are throwing every negative energy that ruled you whole day.
4) Flashback: This helps in sharpening your memory. Think every possible thing you can remember for the particular day. Try to think the moment you got up from sleep and what you did whole day till you came sleep. Try to remember all the good things that happened in your day. And, do not forget to SMILE when you get good thoughts!
5) Music: Not sleepy? Turn on the music. Music plays an important role in life. Some therapists use music as a part of their therapy. It is because it calms one’s nerves in many ways. Music helps people maintain their physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual levels. It plays a vital role in sleep too. When you turn on the music, make sure of your environment, your bedroom’s setting, etc. Preferably, before sleeping, listen to soft music or gentle trance. You can also go for ‘Country Classics’. However, it depends on your choice.
Lack of sleep may result in severe headache or migraine, and other health problems. So? Avoid all the negativities, don’t think much about tomorrow’s holiday or vacation. Grab a glass of water, drink, and hit the bed. Goodnight and sweet dreams!
Sleeping pills are prescribed commonly these days. Ambien, Lunesta and a variety of other medications are supposed to help us get the sleep we need. Unfortunately, not everyone who needs these medicines takes them. Even worse, perhaps, is that many folks who take these prescribed insomnia remedies, don’t take them correctly. Learn how to here.
Sleeping pills are prescribed commonly these days. Ambien, Lunesta and a variety of other medications are supposed to help us get the sleep we need. Unfortunately, not everyone who needs these medicines takes them. Even worse, perhaps, is that many folks who take these prescribed insomnia remedies, don’t take them correctly. As a result, they’re not getting the help they so desperately need.
The new batch of pills including the aforementioned Ambien and Lunesta as well as Rozerem and Sonata are relatively safe and not addictive, compared to the older meds such as Halcion. These medications are also supposed to help you get and stay asleep while waking refreshed, not groggy.
That’s obviously good news for those who use the medications.
However, what is the best way to take the medication for your optimal benefit? Remember – sleep medications are not meant as a long-term solution. They are meant as a temporary aid to help you improve your sleep and prevent the serious side effects that a lack of sleep can cause.
Some advice to follow includes:
1) The first time you take the medication, make sure that you take a low dose and are at home.
2) Take the medication as prescribed. Too much is not a good thing.
3) Ask your doctor to prescribe the newer medications to avoid addiction issues.
4) Combine the medication with therapy so that you can work through the things that are keeping you from sleeping in the first place.
5) Do not take the medication every night. Twice a week is good; five times a week is the maximum.
6) Swallow the pill as you getting ready to go to sleep, preferably right before you lay down. This will help you get to sleep and stay there.
Sleeping pills can be a wonderful way to help your body rest and repair itself. You don’t want to over-use them or take the wrong ones.
High-quality, uninterrupted sleep is an integral factor in how you feel as you go about your day. Even so, many (if not most) Americans are not getting the rest they need on a nightly basis. Those who suffer from insufficient or poor-quality sleep frequently find themselves looking to drugstore shelves for a solution.
Stemulite is one of the latest dietary supplements available that can help the body relax and enter a deep state of sleep with ease. If you’re having trouble hitting the pillow each night, natural dietary supplements such as Stemulite can promote a good night’s rest.
The Process of Healthy Sleep
Ensuring a good night’s rest is good for both your body and mind; sleep is a restorative process, and helps with muscle and tissue repair overnight. Stress from the day is eliminated as the body repairs itself and creates healthy cells and muscle fibers to accommodate for any trauma or changes.
Getting quality sleep helps to:
Improve skintone and leave you with a fresh, youthful complexion
Keep you alert and energetic during the day
Boost your metabolism and curb your cravings
Increase the chances of weight loss
Give you the energy and adaptability you need to handle stress
Improve mental and athletic performance
Simply make you feel better
If you are finding yourself unable to achieve the deep, restful sleep you need in order to wake up feeling refreshed, there are several factors that could be causing this, from the firmness of your mattress to what you ate before going to bed. Sometimes, though, there are no obvious solutions. If you’ve tried everything, it may be time to try an all-natural sleep aid such as Stemulite, which is designed to make deep, rejuvenating sleep easier to achieve.
Helpful Hints for Better Sleep
Studies show that melatonin, a naturally-occurring hormone that helps the body repair itself and encourages REM sleep, can help restore the cells overnight. If your body is not producing enough melatonin on a regular basis, the result is often poor quality sleep and symptoms of insomnia – lethargy, foggy thinking, chronic fatigue, poor memory and reduced athletic performance. A few ways to improve the quality of the sleep cycle and increase melatonin production include:
Clearing clutter from your bedroom to encourage relaxation
Sleeping in a quiet room, without too much light
Cutting down on the consumption of caffeine
Using a body pillow to improve your sleep posture
Making sure you are not taking medication that may disrupt sleep
Taking dietary supplements such as Stemulite that increase melatonin production and promote natural relaxation
Though there are many sleeps aids available over-the-counter, it is prudent to be cautious and aware of any side effects that may occur. One should also avoid becoming dependent on poor-quality supplements, as this can end up negatively affecting sleep. With that said, though, there is no question that all-natural supplements such as Stemulite can offer invaluable assistance in solving sleep issues, so that you can wake up feeling rested and tackle the day’s activities with renewed energy and vigor.
Before I had kids I had some great habits and routines. I ate properly, woke up at 4:30 every morning, exercised hard and often, accomplished so much in my work life that my income soared, and still had plenty of time for fun and relaxation. Somewhere along the road I lost it all. But I know how to get it back.
The road along which I “lost it” is a little path you might have heard of called PARENTHOOD. All my schedules and routines were immediately crushed by the needs of the little people I adopted who were neither aware of my house rules, nor did they care. I slept, ate, cleaned house, and socialized when they allowed it. I lost my business. I lost my mind and I gained weight.
It has taken five years to get my children and family healthy, happy, and adjusted. I guess I just expected my healthy habits and fit body to return as well. It didn’t.
Now I knew that what was missing was my good habits, routines and scheduling and I tried to recapture all that but I kept getting sabatoged by exhaustion. I attributed it to stress, to lack of exercise, to staying up too late, etc. But then I remembered my old sleep strategy! And my life has changed.
The strategy is based on planning your sleep around your body’s natural sleep cycles. Remember when we learned in school about REM (rapid eye movement) and the different phases of sleep? The body sleeps in 90 minutes cycles which are broken down into different phases. For our purposes here we can explain those cycles into 3 phases as follows.
*65 minutes of normal, non REM sleep.
*20 minutes of REM sleep, the very deepest sleep, when dreams occur.
*5 more minutes of of non REM sleep.
That 90 minute cycle is followed by a brief period of almost consciousness as your body prepares for the next 90 minute cycle. You are very easily disturbed at this point and easily awakened. If you plan your wake up call for this moment in your sleep “limbo” you will have the most energetic, refreshing, productive day possible.
It is easy to do.You still want to shoot for 8 hours of sleep. 6 is really the bare minimum and 12 is too much. Keeping those parameters in mind, along with what time you must get up in the morning to be on time at work or school or wherever your day takes you, count backwards in 90 minute increments to find your optimum bed time.
For example. I like to get up at 4:30. Sounds crazy right? But it gives me 2 hours to workout, tidy up the house and simply enjoy some quiet before the kids get up for school. So from 4:30 I count backward in 90 minute increments… 4:30 to 3:00, (1.5 hours, definitely not enough sleep) 3:00 to 1:30 (3 hours, no way!) 1:30 to 12:00 (5.5 hours is still not enough), 12 to 10:30 (7 hours is pretty good. I can handle that if it was a late night of homework with the kids or I rented a good movie) 10:30 to 9:00. (8.5 hours of sleep! Perfect!). So my routine is to be asleep by 9 but I know that if I don’t make it until 10:30 I am in good shape too. By the same token, if I am out very late and don’t get home until the wee hours I would tweek my wake up time to accomodate that 90 minute cycle even if it means 30 minutes less of sleep. Because I know that extra 30 minutes is not going to be as beneficial to me respecting my body’s natural sleep patterns.
I discovered this 90 minute sleep cycle strategy when I was 24 from an amazing and new age-ish co-worker who went on to enrich my life for years with her unconventional wisdom. I used the strategy until I was 35 and went into new mom “just-trying-to-survive” mode. While using the sleep strategy I never had to use an alarm clock, regardless of what time I went to bed. After years without using the strategy I didn’t even hear my alarm clock and I woke up sick and groggy every day despite how early I went to bed.
I don’t know what made me remember the strategy, but I am so glad I did. I suppose it was from finally getting my adopted children settled and coming out of a few years of intensity and challenge. The 90 minute sleep rule changed my life once before and I am enjoying watching it transform my life once again.
Having a good night sleep is important so that you can wake up fresh the next day and be ready for your day. Trouble sleeping is not a great thing for most of us. You’ll have trouble sleeping if you have a medical condition and pain could be keeping you awake. There
some people that will have trouble sleeping from time to time due their particular body response.
You can do several things to help you out in getting a good night sleep. One of those is to exercise or walk around before you go to bed. It works well. When you’re tired you’re most likely to fall asleep better.
The next thing is to avoid drinking coffee, green tea or any drinks that have caffeine in it because it’ll keep you awake. You will want to drink water around bedtime. Coffee will keep you awake for a long time.
The next thing that you can do is to not eat a lot before going to bed. When you eat a lot you can get tire and agitated and feel bad and you will have trouble falling asleep. You’ll get a headache sometimes too.
Next thing that you can do is to keep your room dark and quiet. Keep all noise down in the house. Play soft jazz music to keep neighbor’s noise level down. If you sleep with someone and their snoring or movement is keeping you awake then you should sleep by yourself.
More and More people are being diagnosed with sleep apnea, a problem where you actually are not breathing for periods during the night. I am not a medical professional and will not attempt to explain the reasons why this is happening, but the treatment is usually a machine that is used to keep the air passages open to allow for deep, uninterrupted sleep. There are various types of facial masks used, depending on the need. But, for most everyone, especially those using masks that cover mouth and nose or even the whole face, it requires some adjustment and patience.
While not a medical professional, I am mentioning some things that were helpful to me as I experienced this adjustment. The good news is that it is worth the trouble! You may not realize how little rest you have had until you know what it is to deeply and soundly sleep. For many, like myself, with a serious sleep apnea, it can be life-changing!
Instructions Things You’ll Need:
Step 1
Listen carefully to what your doctors’ and technicians say to you. And don’t hesitate to call them back with questions and problems. At your sleep test, you may begin treatment or determination of prescriptions. IN this setting, a prescription is the setting for your machine. Depending on your severity, the higher settings require a machine that breathes in and out since it would be difficult to exhale against the very high pressure. Usually, they will work you up gradually to the higher pressure. Also the machine has a ramp where it increases from a lower setting as you fall off to sleep.
Step 2
Don’t forget to use distilled water in your machine. not Bottled water but distilled. VERY IMPORTANT> I found that I do better with the heat setting on; I thought I wouldn’t since I am hot all the time with menopausal hot flashes. But, the heat setting seems to be soothing and opens up the airways some. I was having trouble using mine until I turned the heat on.
**Be careful when transporting your machine to empty out the water reservoir first…….It leaks everywhere!(experience)
Step 3
At first it feels very uncomfortable to have the air blowing in your face. Small sessions at a time are good, while watching a favorite tv program or listening to a book on tape. I like to listen to foreign language tapes. It is best not to focus on the actual mechanics of breathing.
Tips & Warnings
