JUST BREATHE: Twelve of our best previous posts on sleep breathing disorders

SHC has been publishing some great content on the subject of sleep breathing disorders going back as far as last August. 

Please scroll down to this custom archive of 12 previous posts to find links related to apneas, snoring and upper airway resistance issues of special interest to you and your loved ones.


August 31, 2014
Guest Post || CPAP Care and Maintenance with Rui de Sousa, RPSGT, RST, B.Sc

September 3, 2014
CPAP Central || Is CPAP therapy covered by insurance?

September 17, 2014
INSOMNIA CENTRAL|| Do you have insomnia... or do you have sleep apnea?

September 20, 2014
Guest Post || Edward Grandi on Sleep Apnea: What is it and what can I do about it?

September 26, 2014
ABCs of Sleep || A is for Apnea

September 30, 2014
New Technologies || Inspire to stimulate your airway

October 16, 2014
Sleep in the Media: Video || Suspect your snoring sleep partner might have apnea? Check these five signs

October 18, 2014
CPAP Central || A Season for Masks: Smaller Might Be Better

December 28, 2014
ABCs of Sleep || C is for CPAP

February 7, 2015
ABCs of Sleep || D is for DME

February 13, 2015
Alternatives || Therapies for Sleep Apnea that don't involve a mask

March 18, 2015
Insomnia || Be on the lookout for insomnia's secret cousin: untreated OSA

ABCs of Sleep---D is for DME

DME: Durable Medical Equipment, defined as any equipment used for repeated medical therapy, especially at home. DME is acquired by prescription through an MD. DME for sleep includes PAP machines, oxygen supplementation equipment, invasive mechanical ventilators for home use, portable pulse oximeters and respiratory assist devices. What's important to note is that DME used for home health services may be reimbursable under Medicare's Part A and Part B plans.

There are also nonMedicare DME suppliers in the field of sleep medicine; their products ideally (but voluntarily) undergo an accreditation process through the American Association of Sleep Medicine (AASM) in order to show a commitment to quality control and patient support.

Sleep patients with a need for daily therapeutic equipment such as CPAP have an ongoing relationship with a DME provider either directly or through their connection with a local hospital or free-standing sleep lab or clinic. Some are more vigilant than others about servicing patient equipment and helping with general compliance, fit and replacements. When it comes to DME, sleep patients should demand the highest level of customer service and quality assurance if they are to extract benefits from their particular mechanical therapies. 

Links to learn more:

• DME Accreditation || American Association of Sleep Medicine
• New Medicare PAP Regulations || Sleep Health Centers
• One example of communications problems between patients, physicians and DME providers || Sleep Guide forum
• DME in the Sleep Lab || BinarySleep.com

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*SOURCE for DEFINITIONS:
USLegal.com

ABCs of Sleep---C is for CPAP

A typical CPAP machine is small
enough to put on your nightstand
and includes a humidifier and
other simple adjustments.

CPAP

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. A device for treating obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep-related breathing disorders.

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CPAP is a common therapy which involves wearing a mask hooked to a machine delivering continuous air pressure in order to "splint open" the upper airway to prevent sleep obstruction. CPAP therapy is considered the gold standard for treating apneas.

This nasal mask is light enough to be
comfortable while still being an  effective
aid for improved breathing while asleep.

CPAP machines don't actually deliver oxygen to the patient airway via the mask, they just provide the right amount of pressure through the mask to keep the patient's airway "patent" or open. This kind of therapy helps keep the patient fully oxygenated while asleep, preventing a wide array of homeostatic problems such as hypoventilation, oxidative stress on the heart and hypertension. In fact, CPAP is considered a life-saving, life-altering device. Many patients have added years to their lives after using this therapy. Most patients, once adapted and compliant to CPAP therapy, report increased energy during the day and more restful sleep at night.

There are multiple versions of PAP therapies, including Bi-Pap and AutoPap, which regulate pressures through algorithms and preset programs to make the experience of breathing simpler and more comfortable for those with additional or multiple respiratory issues.

Today's CPAP therapy uses various kinds of masks to deliver the pressure, include oral nasal masks with or without chin straps, nasal pillows and full face masks. The technology has rapidly improved in recent years so that machines are far more quiet and deliver more comfortable pressure using built-in humidifiers; the masks today are also made of ultralight hospital grade silicone which is more light and flexible than previous masks.


Links to learn more:

What is CPAP? || National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
How CPAP controls sleep apnea || Mayo Clinic (VIDEO)
Sleep and CPAP Adherence || National Sleep Foundation
AASM Recommendations for Treatment || SleepWell Solutions

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*SOURCE for DEFINITIONS:
Spriggs, WH. (2010.) Glossary. In Essentials of Polysomnography (pp585-606). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers