Disguising Medical Problem Behind Sleep Apnea Masks

For person suffering from sleep apnea there are numerous treatment options including mechanical devices to keep their airway open, positional devices designed to keep their throat open as well as sleep apnea masks to help maintain a flow of air into their lungs. Although the continuous positive airway pressure masks are considered uncomfortable by many users, the sleep apnea masks are a less obtrusive method of helping sleep apnea sufferers than surgery.

Especially with obstructive sleep apnea, the sufferer will wake up possibly hundreds of times during the night, without knowing they were awake, in order to restore their breathing. They end up sleep the next day and often with a dry mouth and headache from the lack of oxygen in their blood. With sleep apnea masks, continuous pressure forces air past any obstructions in the throat, allowing them to get a good night's sleep.

When sleep apnea masks, also called CPAP masks were first developed they were held onto a person's face by straps that could come loose during the night and were often the cause of lack of sleep. not because they person could not breathe, but because they were downright uncomfortable. Newer designs of the sleep apnea masks allow them to be worn in relative comfort, held in place by different, often elastic straps that move with the person.

Less Restrictive Masks More Likely To Be Used

One of the biggest problems with some of the original sleep apnea masks was that people would not wear them. Regardless of the benefits available with the mask, if a person refused to use it ever night, the treatment was not going to be successful. In addition to the lack of comfort, many complained of waking up with an excessively dry mouth and throat from the air being forced through their mouth all night.

Some of the newer masks also supply moisturized air to prevent the mouth from drying out. There are sleep apnea masks available that cover only the mouth and others that also cover the nose, forcing pressurized air into the mouth and well as through the sinus cavity. When wearing sleep apnea masks if the person closes their mouth, they may not be able to breathe adequately through their nose, making the full-face mask more beneficial.

A person suffering from sleep apnea is also at risk for serious problems from a lack of oxygen getting into the blood and the organs. As uncomfortable as some people claim sleep apnea masks are, they are determined to be better than the alternative.