Sleep apnea is something that a lot of us have to deal with. It can be a little frustrating, really, and alienating for those of us who have a spouse or other family members who can hear snoring or other “odd” sleep patterns. Even the machinery can get awkward, sometimes, if it’s something that we need to help treat it.
Realistically, though, most of those who have sleep apnea do need CPAP equipment at one point or another. If you’re not familiar with what that is, you might want to check out this page: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/in-depth/cpap/art-20044164. Unfortunately, in Canada they can be somewhat difficult to track down. If you haven’t been sure where to get some, don’t worry. There are, thankfully, plenty of options available.
Why Bother with CPAP, anyway?
One question that’s seen a lot in relation to sleep apnea is why treatment is so important in the first place. At first glance, it might not seem like that big of a deal. However, once you understand what it is and how it works, it does make a bit more sense as to why people want to get treatment.
Since sleep apnea is something that essentially makes us start and stop breathing throughout the night, it can be pretty problematic. Depending on your other nightly patterns, it can even get dangerous. For example, those out there who enjoy sleeping on their stomachs might notice some extra complications.
The issue is that when this happens, our bodies might not end up getting enough oxygen throughout the night. It can have pretty significant negative effects on general sleep patterns, level of energy, and more. So, it’s not something to brush aside.
What is CPAP?
In order to find this sort of equipment, it’s probably a good idea to know what you’re looking for. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. For the Canadians out there, an example is Liberty Sleep Apnea – CPAP Supplies in Canada, in case you were wanting a local option. The purpose of it is to help the user get proper oxygen levels as they sleep.
Most of the time, there is a mask involved that you strap onto your face somehow. It’s attached to the oxygen machine with a tube of some sort, and it’s meant to be worn the entire night. As was mentioned, sometimes it can feel a little bit embarrassing to have to use one, but it’s well worth that.
How to Find it
Now we can finally get to the tricky part, right? How can we find what will be the right fit for us? After all, everyone will have their own preferences when it comes to the style that they enjoy. There are a few characteristics to look for.
A wide range of options is of course one of them, though that’s a bit of a no-brainer. As you can read about on websites like this one, you should try to find a nice balance between comfort and effectiveness. Sometimes, you’ll have to compromise on comfort to ensure your safety.
However, if the mask that you have is constantly sliding off of your face, it might be time to try a different style. That’s why finding a retailer with a big variety is a big deal. Beyond that, you might want to check out social media or look at some online reviews to get a feel for what other people with sleep apnea are using.
Remember – there’s nothing to be ashamed of if you have sleep apnea. It’s something that impacts hundreds of thousands of Canadians each year – you’re not alone. While seeking treatment can be somewhat embarrassing or even frustrating to an extent, it’s worth it in the long run.
After all, not getting enough oxygen in your sleep has some pretty big side effects, even if they aren’t overtly obvious to you at first. Don’t deny yourself important medical treatment because there’s a stigma surrounding snoring at night. Talk to your doctor and try out a CPAP machine. You might just find that it can make a pretty big difference in your everyday life, even if you weren’t sure about it at first!
