Patient Resources

Here your visitors can get all the information you want to provide them. Starting from forms, quizzes, questionnaires and so on. This page also has some sub pages that can be easily combined.

As you can see on the menu top you are currently on Patient Resources that has a sub menu called Types of Sleep Disorders which also has some sub-pages as Snoring and Sleepwalking.

By doing it this way I just wanted to show you how menus can be very flexible. It is up to you to choose how do you want the information to be placed around your website. We can categories everything or merge couple of close topics together.

What is sleep apnea?
Why should I learn about sleep apnea?
3 types of sleep apnea
Who can have sleep apnea?
Take the quiz for sleep apnea
How to diagnose sleep apnea?
How is sleep apnea treated?

Being tired can affect every part of life
For example, it can cause:
• motor vehicle crashes
• injuries
• personality changes
• poor concentration
• irritability

Sleep apnea may be linked to other serious health problems
People with untreated sleep apnea may be more likely to have:
• high blood pressure
• heart problems
• strokes (brain attacks)

Treatment can make a world of difference
It can help the person sleep better, have more energy, enjoy better health and get more out of life.

After a while, lack of oxygen triggers the brain to jerk the person awake briefly. The person starts breathing again – usually with a loud gasp. He or she may rlot realize. or remember that this happened.

Obstructive
Everyone’s muscles, including those in the throat, relax during sleep. This narrows the airway. But in people with obstructive sleep apnea, the airway narrows so much that it closes. The person keeps trying to breathe, but air can’t get through. This occurs in most people with sleep apnea.

Central
In central sleep apnea, the airway stays open. But the brain stops telling the muscles that control breathing to work. This is the rarest type of sleep apnea.

Mixed
This type involves both a blocked airway and a brain signal problem. For example, a person may have periods of central sleep apnea mixed with periods of obstructive sleep apnea.

But its more common among:
• males
• people who are overweight
• people who are middle-aged or older.

Even if you aren’t in any of these categories, you can have sleep apnea.

Take the quiz to see if you might have sleep apnea. (Ask your partner, housemate, etc., to help you answer the first 2 questions)

May involve several steps. Your health-care provider could begind with:

A sleep and health history
He or she may ask about:
• your snoring pattern
• how you feel during the day
• your general health
• any medications you may be using.

A physical exam
This may include checking for features that can cause a narrow airway, such as:
• enlarged tonsils
• a large neck size
• an unusual jaw position.

Lab tests
Your health-care provider may want to take a blood sample. Blood tests can help rule out other health conditions.

It depends on the individual condition

Avoid sleeping on his or her back
Throat tissues are most likely to sag and block the airway in this position.

Lose weight
In some cases, throat tissues are enlarged because of too much fat. Or they collapse because of pressure from a heavy neck. Losing weight can make a big difference.

Stop smoking
Smoking can swell throat tissues. This can add to airway blockage.

Avoid drugs that cause drowsiness
These include alcohol and tranquilizers. They can cause people with sleep apnea to stop breathing more often or for longer periods of time.

Using CPAP device
Using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device often helps. The person uses it while sleeping.

CPAP devices:
Use a small mask
It fits over the person’s nose (or in some cases the nose and mouth). A small bedside pump pushes a steady stream of air through the mask. This air pressure keeps the person’s airway open.

Can be very effective
When properly used, CPAP is one of the most effective treatments for obstructive and mixed sleep apneas. It can also help in some cases of central sleep apnea.

Can be adjusted for greater comfort
A health-care provider or CPAP supplier can work with you to find the best-fitting mask. Other adjustments can also make the device more comfortable. For many people, having restful sleep is well worth any remaining minor discomforts.

Note: You may need to have a sleep study with a CPAP device to find the proper air pressure.

Oral appliances
These are also called dental appliances. They look a little like mouth guards and are worn while sleeping. They can help keep the airway open by:
• lifting up the soft palate (the soft part of the roof of the mouth near the throat)
• holding the tongue forward
• holding the jaw forward.

Surgery
Surgery can be done to remove parts of the soft palate, tonsils or other throat tissues. This widens the airway.

Note: Surgery may also be used to correct problems with jaw position.

Medication
Medication may be effective only in certain cases. For ecample, it may help if the sleep apnea involves a problem with thyroid gland (which helps control the body’s use of energy and other functions).