How Family Members Can Show Support for Sleep Apnea Sufferers

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How Family Members Can Show Support for Sleep Apnea Sufferers

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sleep problems and solutions for sleep apnea

Important Sleep Apnea Information

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Sleep Apnea (also called Sleep Apnoea) is a common sleep disorder that is characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep, which force the sufferer to wake up to resume normal breathing, and disrupt and disturb their normal sleep cycle. These episodes, called apneas, usually last from a few seconds up to as long as sixty seconds in severe cases, and may occur repeatedly throughout the night.

Family is so important and being surrounded by the ones you love after you have been given a diagnosis of sleep apnea is so important. Many people are not even aware that they suffer from sleep apnea until a spouse or family member points it out to them. This is especially true for those who suffer from a case of mild to moderate sleep apnea.

If a person is unaware that they have periods in the night when they stop breathing it is important for the person they share a bed with to point it out to them and from there it would be wise to schedule an appointment with the doctor. Habitual loud snoring can often be a symptom of sleep apnea as can the cessation of breathing. A family member can accompany the patient to the doctor's office especially he or she is nervous about going alone. It can be scary to face a diagnosis alone when you are not exactly sure what the problem is you are facing.

Some people are resistant to seek medical help even when a problem is brought to their attention. When this is the case family members can help by doing everything they can to encourage the person to go visit their doctor. Offering to go with them is a start but reassuring the person that you will stick by them every step of the way during their treatment for the disorder shows the utmost level of support.

Once a diagnosis of sleep apnea has been determined it is important for others to do everything they can to ensure that the patient follows his or her doctor's instructions in regards to the method of treatment. For example if the patient is put on the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) they must be gently reminded to use it every night and to make sure the nose mask is fitting properly.

If the patient has mild apnea and needs to make lifestyle changes, family members can help to form a supportive unit around him or her. Quitting smoking and losing weight is a great deal easier when a sufferer has a partner in it. This helps keep up the morale. For example if a family member needs to lose weight, the two people could join an aerobics class together or could go for regular walks or jogs together. In this way it makes it so much simpler for the apnea sufferer to keep focused on making positive changes. Family members can also encourage their loved one who suffers from sleep apnea to decrease their consumption of alcohol but especially to not drink any alcoholic beverages four hours before they turn in for the night.

Some people get very befuddled when it comes to filling out paperwork and indeed understanding all the ins and outs of insurance. Having a family member around who understands these tricky concepts can go a long way in putting a patient's mind and ease. As well it will help them to concentrate on what is really important and that is improving their health.

Written by: Scott Parat

If left untreated, Sleep Apnea can be life threatening. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) can cause people to fall asleep at inappropriate times, such as while driving, endangering their lives and the lives of their passengers and those around them.

Sleep apnea also appears to put individuals at risk for stroke and Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs), also known as "mini-strokes", and is associated with coronary heart disease, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, gout and high blood pressure.

So, if you or a loved one are suffering from sleep apnea, be sure to see your doctor so that the sleep apnea symptoms can be treated, removed, or reduced before they become life threatening.

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