News

What Does It Mean If My Breathing Stops When I Sleep?

Perhaps you’ve woken to find yourself short of breath or feeling as though your airway is blocked. Maybe your partner has witnessed your breathing stop temporarily while you’re asleep. No matter how you’ve discovered this phenomenon, it’s important to recognize that it is a serious health concern, and you are not alone.

Why You Should Be Concerned About Obstructive Sleep Apnea

As one of several symptoms of sleep apnea, cessation of breathing poses a major health risk, because it can cut off the supply of oxygen to your brain. Often times, this temporary lack of airflow is caused by the relaxation of muscles in your throat, which naturally narrows your airway. However, people suffering from sleep apnea experience an even more dramatically narrowed airway as a result of biological conditions and health choices.

Affecting millions of people across the US, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is responsible for this airway blockage. In most cases, your body’s natural response to the lack of airflow is to jerk you awake, however, in extreme instances, you may not be fully roused, leading to permanent brain damage and even death.

How Do I Know If I Have OSA?

If you are male, overweight, diabetic or middle-aged or older, you are at a greater risk for obstructive sleep apnea. While other factors may play a role in your periodic cessation of breathing, it is critical that you seek help immediately to ensure you are sleeping safely.

To receive more information about OSA and its health effects, contact My CPAP Club today. One of our knowledgeable and friendly sleep experts will provide you with the information you need to sleep safely and soundly. If you have serious concerns about your health, make sure to speak with your primary care physician.

What is Excessive Daytime Sleepiness?

If you chronically feel tired and sleepy throughout the day, as if you haven’t gotten enough sleep, you may be like the millions of other Americans who suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). While EDS is a health concern in and of itself, it may also be symptomatic of a greater health problem, sleep apnea. Knowing if or when you should attribute daytime drowsiness to EDS is an important step in addressing this serious health issue.

To establish whether or not you may be experiencing EDS, it is best to consult a doctor. However, there are a few questions worth considering if you’re on the fence about making an appointment:

  • Do you wake up to your alarm feeling like you could use at least another hour of sleep?
  • Are you sleepy while at work or when driving your car?
  • Do you wish you could take long naps during the day?
  • Is it difficult for you to focus on tasks?
  • Do you have trouble remembering recent events or other problems with forgetfulness?
  • Are you subject to mood swings?

Experiencing any of these effects of EDS can be detrimental to your well-being and that of others. It can impact your job performance and even endanger people’s lives due to otherwise avoidable motor vehicle accidents.

Other Potential Health Consequences of EDS

Beyond the health risks already mentioned, there are other severe consequences that can result from leaving EDS and its greater cause untreated. If you continue to endure the debilitating effects of a sleep disorder like sleep apnea without seeking adequate treatment, you may be at risk of developing the following:

  • A weakened immune system
  • Depression
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart attack
  • Heart disease

To avoid serious consequences to your health, you should seek help immediately. For questions regarding sleep apnea and its treatments, contact My CPAP Club today. If you are already suffering major health problems, make sure to talk to your primary care physician.

Why Do I Snore & Is It a Health Problem?

Have you ever wondered what causes snoring? If you’re concerned about snoring, you’re not alone. Plenty of people snore for a range of reasons. Below, we’ve provided some of most common causes of snoring, as well as when to be concerned about snoring as a symptom of sleep apnea.

Common Snoring Causes

Do you only snore on occasion? Have you noticed any pattern to when you snore versus when you don’t? For people who snore infrequently, some of the most common causes are:

  • Alcohol consumption before bed
  • Allergies
  • Sinus infection or cold
  • Body position during sleep

All the factors mentioned above are changeable actions or states, and therefore contribute to infrequent snoring. Alcohol relaxes the muscles in your throat, which decreases your body’s ability to defend against airway obstruction while you sleep. Drinking less at night or possibly waiting longer to go to bed after consuming alcohol will help to prevent this from happening, and likely take care of your snoring problem as well. Taking daily allergy medicine or a nasal decongestant before bed can help to open up your sinuses, which may also decrease the likelihood of snoring.

When it comes to your body’s position during sleep, it is true that sleeping on your back makes snoring more likely. However, other factors, both internal and external are also at play. If you have a tendency to shift positions during sleep so that you end up on your back, this may be the cause of your snoring. Consider changing this behavior, as this kind of snoring can lead to more serious health issues, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

When Snoring is a Potential Health Problem

While the previously mentioned reasons for snoring are somewhat manageable, there are additional causes for snoring that aren’t necessarily under your control. These include bodily conditions, such as:

  • Obesity
  • Narrow airway
  • Deviated nasal septum
  • Diabetes

When snoring is the result of any of these factors, it is generally indicative of sleep apnea, which is a serious health issue that affects millions of Americans. Fortunately, there are methods of treating OSA. These methods have the combined effect of preventing both snoring and any airway obstruction during sleep.

To learn more about sleep apnea and its treatments, contact My CPAP Club today. We’ll help you sleep soundly — without snoring — once again.

Battling Sleep Apnea While Pregnant

Getting a full night of sleep when you’re pregnant can be difficult –– especially if your baby is active in the evening. One of the problems that can contribute to your lack of sleep is a condition called obstructive sleep apnea. While many people think it only affects men, women can struggle with it as well. It can be detrimental to productive sleep patterns on its own, but when paired with pregnancy, several new health risks can come into play.

Sleep apnea during pregnancy can cause:

  • Preeclampsia. This refers to a potentially deadly condition in pregnant women that causes their blood pressure to spike. The only cure is to deliver your baby. Delivery may be delayed if you are not close to term.
  • Higher likelihood of cesarean section. Also known as a C-section, this method of birth occurs through a surgical procedure. It may be necessary if your labor has slowed or stopped, the baby is distressed or if the infant is too large to be delivered vaginally.
  • Increased daytime fatigue. Usually the result of insomnia or another sleep problem, daytime fatigue can lead to you missing work, making poor decisions, obesity, diabetes, depression and substance abuse.

Sleep apnea in women can be commonly misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia or even depression.

Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea with My CPAP Club

Being pregnant can slightly elevate your risk of obstructive sleep apnea, so it’s important that you recognize common signs and symptoms. Those include snoring, lapses in breathing while asleep, gasping when sleeping and fatigue that persists throughout the day.

Thankfully, you don’t have to struggle with sleep apnea. The courteous and understanding professionals at My CPAP Club have several remedies available for people who are suffering from various sleep disorders. Best of all, our customized solutions are available to ship anywhere in the United States –– meaning the care that we recommend has virtually no bounds. To learn more about how My CPAP Club can help you in your fight against sleep apnea, contact us online through our customer inquiry form.

Isn’t That Just a Band? Why Do I Need REM Sleep?

REM is much more than just the name of a popular alternative band –– it’s also an important sleep stage that leads to what’s usually the most memorable portion of sleeping: dreams. Also known as rapid eye movement, REM makes up about a quarter of your total sleep cycle and occurs about an hour to an hour and a half after you fall asleep.

REM is not completely understood by scientists, but it may help with everything from moods to how you learn and memory retention. This stage of sleep is when your brain is the most active and dreams occur. This is also the most elusive stage of sleep as you age. Although the exact reason is not known, babies can spend close to double the amount of time as adults in REM sleep.

Dreaming is important, because it can help your body balance out several health issues. Those who are deprived of dreaming for prolonged periods of time may experience:

  • Depression or anxiety
  • Weight gain
  • Lack of coordination
  • Increased difficulty concentrating

Falling Asleep & Making It to REM

If you’re having trouble staying asleep or making it through all four sleep cycles on a regular basis (which can occur multiple times per night), not to worry. At My CPAP Club, we have several resources in place to help you sleep better and ultimately lead a healthier life. Whether you’re in need of machines, masks, supplies or accessories, My CPAP Club has the sleep solutions you’re looking for. We can also ship to anywhere in the United States –– meaning that you won’t be excluded from a good night’s sleep due to your location.

Ready to get back to restful nights? Contact one of our sleep specialists online today to start on your way to nights full of sleep and dreams.

The Four Stages of Sleep: Do I Really Need All of Them?

Sleep is important: it keeps you alert during the day and assists you in performing at your highest levels. But is all sleep created equal? Anyone who has been woken up in the middle of a dream or a nap may tell you they’ve felt disoriented or groggy instead of well-rested and refreshed.

Sleep experts have identified four stages of sleep that humans can go through in any given night. Experiencing this full cycle may help you ultimately feel more rested when you wake. They are best defined as:

  • Closed eyes but still alert. You have shut your eyes to the world, but outside stimuli can still wake you. This may last anywhere from five to 10 minutes.
  • Light sleep. Your heart rate begins to drop, along with your body temperature.
  • Deep sleep. The last part of what is known as non-REM sleep is where you finally reach deep sleep. Your body restores itself during this phase, and can even self-repair bones, muscles and tissues that have been damaged
  • REM sleep. REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is where your dreams occur. It takes about an hour to reach this stage.

You will likely experience several cycles of these stages as you progress through a full night’s sleep. Although it is not known why, infants typically spend more time in REM sleep, while it diminishes greatly with age.

Achieve All Four Sleep Stages Regularly with My CPAP Club

Are you sleeping all night and still waking up drowsy? Do you find it difficult to fall asleep consistently? If so, you may be suffering from an undiagnosed sleep disorder. Don’t fight a good night’s sleep any longer. Invest in your health by finding a sleep problem solution through My CPAP Club. Offering a variety of machines, masks and accessories, we are sure to have something that suits your needs.

Aren’t sure what you’re looking for? Fill out our online contact form and one of our customer service representatives will be able to guide you to a better night’s sleep.

Why a Lack of Sleep May Be a Deadly Pattern

A good night’s sleep provides you with many benefits, including refreshing you for the next day and assisting in your body’s restorative process. Not getting enough sleep, however, such as in the instance of insomnia, anxiety or depression, can have far greater repercussions.

A study conducted in Norway has determined a link between adults 20 years old and older and who have trouble sleeping and an increased risk of suicide. Close to 75,000 adults took part in the study, which concluded that sleeping problems can contribute to an elevated risk of suicide. A whopping 31% of those surveyed reported “sometimes” having trouble maintaining a healthy sleep pattern, while 5% reported “often” having trouble getting a good night’s sleep. During the follow-up, researchers discovered that 188 of study participants had committed suicide.

The risk is not particularly higher in one gender or the other, but the link between suicidal behavior and sleep patterns is stronger in those who are 50 years old or younger. The study also concluded that those who had the worst documented sleeping patterns doubled their risk of suicide.

Transforming Your Sleep Habits with My CPAP Club

If you’re currently struggling to maintain a healthy sleep pattern, or if your sleep disturbances are made worse by struggling to breathe or wrestling with a sleep disorder, My CPAP Club can help. Offering a variety of sleep solutions for customers anywhere in the U.S., we can help you get the good night’s rest you have been wanting.

Browse through our selections of CPAP machines, masks, supplies and accessories. If you’re not sure what could help your sleep issues, feel free to contact us through our online form.