Heart attack, hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, stroke and various types of cancer are one of the many serious health problems that we commonly come across- and we dread of succumbing to such diseases.

Nonetheless, these diseases should not be the only ones we are guarding ourselves against. Although most might have heard of sleep apnea, many others are not aware of the health complications that sleep apnea might trigger off should the condition worsen if left undetected.

Sleep apnea is a condition whereby a person snores heavily or experience long intervals of breathing pauses. It leads to the threat of heart disease or stroke because over a period of time less oxygen will be circulating in the blood stream.

It is generally divided into three stages; mild, moderate to severe. If diagnosed and treated early, further medical complications can be avoided. Depending on the severity of sleep apnea, there are different solutions ranging from simple behavioral change, utilizing sleep apnea equipment which is available in the market, to surgical procedures.

For individuals who suffer from mild to moderate conditions, sleep apnea equipment is mostly available in specialized medical establishments.

Some examples of sleep apnea equipment are as follows:

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

CPAP is mostly recommended to people who suffer from moderate to severe sleep apnea. It is a breathing apparatus which prevents airways from shutting during sleep. A special mask worn over the mouth and nose, it helps to open airways by putting in pressure to the surrounding air that you breathe.

Research has shown that CPAP as sleep apnea equipment successfully decreases incidents of daytime drowsiness for people with moderate and severe sleep apnea. However, it ended with poor results for people with just a mild condition.

CPAP sleep apnea equipment is widely accepted because it is comfortable and easily-used compared to others. In order to be effective, the sleep apnea equipment needs to be used every night, so that the symptoms will not return.

Some may find the apparatus to be intrusive at first, and others may face difficulties in getting used to the mask early in the usage. With repeated usage, many learn to fine-tune the tension of the straps for a snug and secure fit. If you find you are not able to get used to CPAP, consult your doctor for other types of sleep apnea equipment, which may suit your needs.

Bilevel positive airway pressure (Bi-PAP)

Another choice of sleep apnea equipment, Bi-PAP is different from CPAP because it blows air at two different pressures. It supplies constant and steady pressure; building to a higher pressure as you inhale and lowering the pressure when you exhale.

The Bi-PAP can also be ‘customized’ for your individual use when your doctor sets the pressure with the assistance of the manufacturers. Some of the sleep apnea equipment can even be set-up to detect when and if you experience lapses in your breathing as you sleep.

Sleep apnea equipment, when used simultaneously with a humidifier has also proven to be beneficial to many users.

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