If you’re one of the millions of Americans who snores, gasp, chokes and have difficulty breathing during sleep, you might have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Maybe you’ve already been diagnosed with this potentially serious health condition, or maybe you just want to sleep better at night. Either way, the registered sleep technologists at Respacare’s on-site clinic have the equipment and the training to use CPAP therapy to help you breathe without obstruction and finally get a good, safe night’s sleep.
What Is CPAP Therapy?
CPAP therapy is a method for painlessly opening up your airway and helping you get the oxygen you need to get through the night in comfort and safety. Obstructive sleep apnea is potentially dangerous because of the way the folds of your own throat can close up and block air from entering your lungs while you sleep.
A CPAP machine helps keep your airway open by maintaining a slight positive pressure of air through a nasal pillow or mask device that lets you breathe gently and without straining at night. This treatment can be done at our Bridgewater, NJ location. A Home Sleep Test can be done in the privacy and comfort of your own bedroom to help diagnose a sleep breathing issue.
How Do You Know If You Need CPAP Therapy?
This type of therapy is most effective for people with obstructive sleep apnea, which can only be diagnosed by a doctor. At Respacare, we have board-certified pulmonary and sleep medicine specialists on staff who can consult with you and diagnose your sleep apnea. Symptoms we look at include:
- Snoring at night
- Trouble breathing when lying flat
- Complete stoppages of breath for seconds at a time during otherwise normal sleep
- Drowsiness and lethargy during the day
- Headaches in the morning
- Recent, unexplained weight gain
- Dry mouth
- Irritability
- Frequent sore throats
- Insomnia
- Nightmares
- Depression, which may be related to sleep deprivation or to other causes
If you show any of these symptoms, it may be a sign you have obstructive sleep apnea. This condition is associated with increased risks for stroke and heart disease, so it’s imperative you see a qualified and experienced sleep specialist for a professional workup as soon as you can. Once the diagnosis is made, we can get you started on regular CPAP therapy to relieve the worst of the symptoms and help you sleep better at night.
Contact Us For Better Sleep
Don’t put off getting treated for your breathing problems. Call 732-356-9950 or fill out our online form for an appointment, or come in to our Bridgewater office today.
