Tag: Philips CPAP Lawsuit

Categories
Health

Do you ever awaken during the night to find yourself feeling

The Dangers of Sleep Apnea

Do you ever awaken during the night to find yourself feeling like you’re choking or having a hard time breathing? No, it probably wasn’t a nightmare, and it’s most likely a condition that needs to be looked into. With these symptoms it’s very possible that you have Sleep Apnea which can be a severe sleep disorder.

philips cpap lawsuit

Other symptoms to look for include snoring that’s so persistent it wakes your partner, morning headaches, and dry mouth. If these symptoms apply to you, you need to see a doctor right away. They are all indications that you might be a victim of Sleep Apnea.

You’ve undoubtedly heard about people having sleep disorders, and Sleep Apnea can be one of the most severe on the list. “Apnea” comes from the Greek and means “want of breath”. During an Apnea episode, your breathing is disrupted by either slowing down or stopping altogether for a short period of time. These disruptions can occur as often as 20 times in only one hour, and each episode can mean a 20 second period during which your body is near death.

Sleep Apnea is a dangerous condition that not only destroys your sleep but also affects your entire body. There are three different types of sleep apnea, and in their worst stages, all three of them can be deadly.

The Widespread Problem of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the most common type. During sleep, the muscles in your soft palate, which are located around the base of your tongue, relax and obstruct your airway. When this happens, the oxygen level in your blood decreases causing hypoxia, your blood pressure goes up, and a great deal of stress is placed on your heart. All of these difficulties keep you from going into the deeper, sounder phases of the sleep cycle which means your body starts suffering from sleep deprivation. To add to the problem, you will experience snoring and choking which can awaken you several times a night. Your body becomes desperate for sleep.

Rare but Lethal Central Sleep Apnea

Central Sleep Apnea is a much rarer condition that Obstructive Apnea, because it’s caused by a flaw in the brain. In this condition your brain gives the wrong or delayed messages to your body’s breathing mechanisms. Because of these faulty signals, throat, abdominal and oral breathing all stop at the same time for a few seconds. Even though it doesn’t last long, it can still lower the amount of oxygen that gets to your blood and tissues and can lead to high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, and heart stroke.

Dual Causes of Mixed Sleep Apnea

If you suffer from both of the conditions described above, Obstructive Apnea and Central Apnea, you are said to have Mixed Sleep Apnea. In this condition you have the combined symptoms of relaxed throat muscles and flawed breathing signals from your brain, and the combination can obviously be much more detrimental to your health.

Since Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the most common form of apnea that people suffer from, it’s a good idea for everyone to know exactly what symptoms to look for as well as what causes the condition and how it can be treated in case you, or someone in your family, develop the problem.

What Causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

There are a number of different factors that can obstruct your airway while you’re sleeping and bring on episodes of Obstructive Apnea. You might have muscles in your tongue and throat that shrink too much when your body relaxes in sleep allowing them to block the function of your airway. In addition, if you are overweight, your airway can be obstructed by the soft tissue in your throat becoming larger and stiffer. If your adenoids or tonsils become enlarged, that, too, can disrupt your airflow.

What are the Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Waking because you’re choking and having problems breathing and snoring are very common symptoms of Obstructive Apnea. Being very sleepy during daytime hours can also be a sign that your sleep is being disrupted. With this form of of the condition you can lose the ability to concentrate, suffer from dry mouth, wake with headaches, experience a rapid weight gain, or have lethargy, high blood pressure, and possibly depression.

What Treatment is Available for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

There are things that you can do to prevent or halt the progression of Obstructive Apnea even if you haven’t yet seen a doctor about the condition. The solution to the problem might be as easy as losing weight, changing your sleep position, or eliminating alcohol from your evening routine. In more severe cases, medical treatments may be needed, however. Some of the more common medical procedures used to treat apnea include Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Oxygen Administration, and surgeries such as a tracheostomy.

If you have reason to believe that you might have sleep apnea and are exhibiting the symptoms outlined above, never put off going to a doctor thinking you can treat the problem yourself. A visit to your doctor will confirm the condition and its causes so that you can follow the right mode of treatment for a speedy recovery.

Categories
Law

What Is Sleep Apnea and Its Treatment?

Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder which is characterized by abnormal pauses in the breathing pattern, or instances of abnormally low breathing during sleep. Each pause between successive breaths is called an “apnea” – a word derived from the Greek word “apnoia” which means “without breath”. In case of normal breathing, the frequency of pauses is constant and regular. When the normal breathing pattern changes due to various reasons, and the intervals between successive pauses start becoming irregular, it leads to sleep apnea disorder. Each irregular pause of breath is referred to as “hypopnea.” So, in case of normal breathing, each interval or pause is termed as an “apnea”, while in case of abnormal breathing it is termed as “hypopnea.”

philips cpap lawsuit

Symptoms of sleep apnea

Individuals suffering from the disorder often do not know they have it. Certain symptoms can ascertain whether the individual is suffering from the disorder. The major symptoms include:

Insomnia
Restless sleeping patterns
Choking or gasping during sleep
Night sweats
Feeling excessively sleepy during the day
Snoring frequently and loudly
Trouble in breathing during sleep
Other symptoms indicating a possible disorder are:

Fatigue
Morning headaches
Loss of memory
Difficulty in learning new things
Irritability
Inability to concentrate for long
Depressions
Mood swings and/or personality changes
Dry throat when awaking
Frequent urination during the night
Causes of sleep apnea

The disorder generally occurs due to a fat buildup, or a loss of the muscle tone, especially during old age. In this particular disorder, the tracheal muscles (“trachea” is the windpipe), the soft palate muscles at the base of the tongue, and the uvula (“uvula” is the triangular shaped small fleshy tissue hanging from the center in the back of the throat) relax to a considerable extent and collapse during the breathing activity. In simple terms, the windpipe becomes taut, or the layers of the windpipe adhere which restricts the flow of air into the lungs. The disorder can also occur due to a malfunction of neurons controlling the breathing process during sleep. This sleep disorder can be diagnosed by an overnight polysomnogram test – a sleep test which is extensively used to detect sleeping disorders and related problems.

Effects of sleep apnea

Even though the sleep disorder might appear to be a common and not-so-serious, it can lead to some serious health problems. If left untreated, the disorder can result in:

Depression
Sexual dysfunction
Hypertension
High blood pressure
Irregular heart beats
Coronary Heart Disease
Chronic Heart Failure
Worsening of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Types of sleep apnea

There are three types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
Central sleep apnea (CSA)
Mixed sleep apnea (MSA)
Even though all the three types of sleeping disorders differ as far as their causes and treatment is concerned, one aspect remain common – some parts of the respiratory system narrow down and impair the percentage of oxygen reaching the subject’s lungs.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

This is a highly common form of the disorder found in majority of the individuals suffering from sleeping disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea is a physical disorder. This form of disorder is typically characterized by individuals who have:

More weight (overweight)
Small jaw line
A small air passage in the trachea (windpipe)
Large tongue
Tonsils
The main cause of OSA is the same as stated above for sleep apnea. The condition can further worsen if the subject consumes alcohol, ingests tranquilizers and sleeping pills.

Central sleep apnea (CSA)

This is a comparatively rare form of the sleeping disorder in which the tracheal muscles do not sag to much extent, and the air passage remains large enough so that enough air can pass through. However, in this particular disorder the diaphragm and the chest muscles temporarily fail to function effectively, which results in reduced oxygen levels in the blood. The decreased oxygen level affects normal metabolic working of the body, and the brain too receives less oxygen so the subject suffers from memory loss, slow learning, sluggish reflexes, and inability to concentrate for long.

Mixed sleep apnea (MSA)

In very rare cases, some individuals experience both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea simultaneously. In such cases, both the sleep disorders manifest themselves by interspersing with each other, and the individual may experience the effects of either of the disorders at one particular instance, or a combined effect of both. The pathological or psychological effects of this disorder cannot be predetermined or ascertained since many factors affect its manifestation.

Sleep apnea treatment

The treatment for the sleep disorder varies in accordance to the level to which the individual is suffering from it. Generally, the treatment can be administered in the form of therapies and surgeries depending upon how much the disorder is affecting the individual. The treatment consists of:

Therapies

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

This therapy is generally used if the individual has moderate to severe sleep disorder. The therapy consists of a machine which delivers air (oxygen) through a mask placed over the nose while asleep. The air pressure remains greater than that of the surrounding air, and is just strong enough to keep the air passages open.

Adjustable airway pressure devices

In this therapy, a special type of air pressure device automatically adjusts the air pressure and oxygen levels while asleep. The basic functioning of the device is similar to that used for CPAP therapy, however it is a more advanced model and supports bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP). The device provides more pressure while inhaling and reduces the pressure while exhaling.

Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV)

This airflow device learns and understands the normal breathing pattern, and subsequently stores the information in a built-in computer. While asleep, the machine regulates the air pressure to normalize the breathing pattern, and prevents any pauses in the breathing activity. ASV is more successful than CPAP while treating central sleep apnea in some individuals.

Oral appliances

This therapy involves wearing an oral appliance specially designed to keep the throat “open”. Oral appliances are easier to use. Some appliances are specially designed to keep the throat open by bringing the jaw forward, which can at times even relieve snoring as well as prevent mild obstructive sleep apnea.

Surgery

The main objective of sleep apnea related surgery is to remove any excess tissues from the nose or the throat which may be causing the blockage of the air passage. The surgical options include:

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)

During this surgical procedure, excessive tissue is removed from the rear of your mouth, and from the top of the throat. At times, the tonsils and adenoids are also removed. This type of surgery can be successful in preventing snoring, however, from clinical findings it is observed to be less successful in treating sleep apnea, since the tissues farther down the trachea (windpipe) may still block the air passage. UPPP procedure is generally performed in a hospital, and requires administration of general anesthesia.

Maxillomandibularadvancement

In this procedure, the jaw is moved forward from the remaining facial bones. This enlarges the space behind the tongue and the soft palate, reducing the air obstruction. This procedure may require the services of an oral surgeon and/or an orthodontist, and may be combined with other surgical procedures to improve the likelihood of success.

Tracheostomy

This is a critical surgery, and it is only recommended when other treatments fail and the subject has severe or life-threatening sleep apnea disorder. In this procedure, an opening is made in the neck and a metal or plastic tube is inserted into the trachea through which we breathe. The opening is covered during the day, and at night, it is uncovered to allow air into the lungs. The tube helps to bypass the blocked air passage.

Mandar Majmudar is a professional content writer who has worked extensively in the BPO and KPO segments since last many years. He has undertaken many site projects involving the designing and content writing aspects. He has trained professional content and technical writers for MNCs, and small to medium business entrepreneurships. He specializes in creating concept based web contents – the client provides a concept, and he works out different types of content formats to promote the concept on the internet.

Categories
Law

CPAP machines come in a variety of styles and configurations

If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, and you want to stop the misery of your roommates or housemates due to your loud snoring and snoring, you’ve probably considered buying an CPAP machine. CPAP therapy using making use of CPAP devices is the most popular treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. The components of the machine comprise the device which is typically what the dimensions of a shoebox and the tube with a flexible ring which connects the machine with the face mask then the mask that is put on the nose and mouth to aid in breathing. The machine operates by delivering a moderate amount of pressure in the air to prevent airways from collapsing and becoming blocked. The pressure level varies between patients which is typically determined by a doctor.

Philips CPAP Lawsuit

CPAP machines come in a variety of styles and configurations, settings, and functions. In general, you can pick from an automatic or regular machine. The main difference between both is the fact that a traditional CPAP machine continuously blows air to remove obstructions to the airway and it does this with a constant pressure throughout the night regardless of whether the patient is suffering from apnea or otherwise. However an automated CPAP machine can adjust how much air it’s blowing based on the individual’s needs.

Thus, an automatic machine is preferred due to its benefits , however it is priced at a cost. Additionally, an automated CPAP machine is thought to be flexible because the machine can operate in auto as well as constant. When an automated machine is used the pressure delivered is decreased by around 40 percent. Patients do not need to worry about maintaining the pressure of a particular area as their condition alters. Additionally, certain automated CPAP devices can detect the distinction between central apneas , hypopneas and obstructive hypopneas or apnea.

However, the decision to purchase the CPAP machine shouldn’t be solely based on the device and its capabilities. The most experienced respiratory therapists know it is crucial to think about the manufacturer or the name of the item. Of course, companies that are in business for a long time produce top-quality products that are more durable than other products and with an essentially lower risk of malfunction. Resmed is generally the most popular manufacturer, then followed by (in not in a any particular or particular) Respironics, Puritan Bennett, Sunrise Medical, Fisher and Paykel and Aieomed.

In addition to paying close focus on the machine, it is equally important to choose a mask that’s exactly to your needs. However good the machine you have but if you are wearing an improperly fitting mask you’ll experience issues and discomfort while you are undergoing CPAP therapy. Therefore, it is essential to try different masks, including nasal masks or full-face mask as well as nasal pillows.