Wesper Journal

he CDC estimates that nearly 20% of adults in the US have some form of Sleep Apnea. Additionally, 80-90% of individuals with OSA are undiagnosed. There are many factors that contribute to this high of a percentage.

50% patients with mild-moderate OSA won’t experience any symptoms directly, They may, however, see some long-term effects such as being at a higher risk for chronic health conditions like cardiovascular disease. Many of those with OSA won’t be made aware of their condition until the damage has been done.

 Even if they do have symptoms, they may not realize how problematic they are. OSA symptoms can be as subtle as simply being more tired during the day. This may be easy for some to ignore but it can have detrimental long term effects. 

What is CPAP Therapy and who needs it?

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy utilizes a machine to help a person who has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to breathe more easily during sleep by providing pressure to keep the airway open.

There are usually three types of masks you can choose from:

Full-face CPAP mask which covers the nose and the mouth
Nasal mask which only covers the nose
Nasal pillow which inserts a small prong inside the nose

If you are experiencing pauses in breathing multiple times during your sleep at night, you should consult your doctor about obstructive sleep apnea. OSA causes long pauses in breathing during sleep due to the obstructions in your airway, and CPAP therapy is by far the most effective and most popular non-surgical treatment for OSA.