You feel sluggish and sleepy, and your headache won’t let up. Your snoring keeps your partner awake all night, so you’re both tired. Sometimes you sleep better sitting more upright in the recliner because it’s easier to breathe. A good night’s sleep is a thing of the past.
Does this sound familiar? Many things can make us tired, and sometimes we just need to practice good sleep habits; however, if you feel extra tired on a regular basis, you may be suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder in which throat muscles relax to the point of collapse, restricting airflow and causing breathing to become shallow, even stopping for seconds or minutes at a time. The lack of regular deep sleep can cause significant fatigue and elevate the risk for serious health problems. Sleep apnea impacts more than 936 million people worldwide, but most people are unaware they have it!¹ Men, women, and children, anyone can have sleep apnea. It’s typically associated with a narrow throat airway, being overweight/obesity, a family history, and increasing age.
How do you know if you have sleep apnea? Begin by contacting your primary care provider. If warranted, they’ll direct you to a sleep disorder specialist at a sleep clinic who will conduct some testing either at home or in a facility, depending on your medical history. The results of this testing will verify if you have sleep apnea.
If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, understand untreated sleep apnea may cause you to lack the energy to enjoy life. It can also be serious. Left untreated, it can lead to health conditions, like high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and obesity.
A sleep apnea diagnosis will likely find you seeking a durable medical equipment company for positive airway pressure (PAP) equipment needed to help you sleep better. Contact your insurance provider to learn what’s covered under your plan, what durable medical equipment provider is in-network for your plan, and any out-of-pocket costs.
Your PAP therapy provider should assign you a respiratory therapist who will educate you further on your diagnosis. How many times did you stop breathing? Did your oxygen levels drop? What is the severity and what are the potential health problems? What equipment is needed?
Your respiratory therapist should spend one-on-one time educating you on the use of your equipment. They should fit you with the proper mask and train you on use to make sure you’re comfortable using the equipment when you leave for home. Proper cleaning methods are essential, and you should be trained and feel competent on how best to clean your equipment.
Another key component to successfully using your PAP equipment is follow-up. Your PAP provider should follow up with you on a regular basis to see how your therapy is progressing. Your quality of sleep should be improving, and problems should be addressed promptly.
Once you and your respiratory therapist feel confident you’re on your way to better sleep, you’ll want to enroll in a good resupply program. PAP masks, headgear, and tubing need to be replaced at regular intervals to avoid deterioration, which can affect your therapy. Each insurance varies as to when they replace PAP supplies, but your provider should be able to contact you when your insurance has authorized new supplies. You’ll want to keep your supplies up to date and clean for best results.
The steps above will ensure you and your sleep partner receive better uninterrupted sleep. You’ll notice you have more energy, your productivity will increase, and you’ll feel better overall. Find a reputable durable medical equipment company for your PAP therapy and get out there and have better days.
1Benjafield, A.V. et al. (2019). Estimation of the global prevalence and burden of obstructive sleep apnoea: a literature-based analysis. Lancet Respir Med, Vol 7:8, pp. 687-698.
Vicki Harkonen is the marketing specialist at HME Home Medical.
Photographs provided by HME Home Medical.
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