Easy Ways for Seniors to Deal with Sleep Apnea

Dealing with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA, has traditionally meant using a CPAP machine. This treatment is usually effective, however it is loud, expensive, and uncomfortable. Many couples find themselves sleeping in separate rooms once one partner begins using a CPAP machine, and traveling with the essential CPAP equipment is cumbersome. Some people even place their health at risk and stop using their prescribed CPAP machine due to discomfort and high cost of this traditional treatment method.

Why Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Important

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a common disorder, and according to the National Institute of Health, it affects more that 12 million Americans. Risk factors include being over the age of 40, and overweight, although many women and fit people of all ages have this condition. Left untreated, OSA can result in many serious health concerns, including:

- Increased risk of stroke and heart disease

- Diabetes

- Obesity

- Daytime sleepiness and lack of alertness

- Depression and insomnia

- Morning headaches

- Learning, concentration and memory issues

- Dry throat and cough

- Alternative To CPAP Now Available

There is now a new treatment option available for patients: nasal devices. New OSA nasal devices offer patients a convenient and affordable treatment alternative to the traditional CPAP machine or invasive surgery. Some even have proprietary MicroValves, which create pressure when you exhale, there are no masks or machines involved with this revolutionary treatment.

What are Nasal Devices?

Nasal devices are inserts that are simply placed over your nostrils, and are small, silent and discreet. And they're a highly effective treatment for mild, moderate and severe OSA. Using medical grade adhesive, these small device fits into the nostrils during sleep. So for those frustrated with CPAP machines, it presents a viable alternative. Some of the notable features and benefits include:

- Low cost, less than $2 per night

- Ease of use, easy to store and travel with

- No mask or machine involved, completely silent and wireless

- Snoring reduciton

Help For Seniors With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Older adults are at higher risk of developing OPA, and since this is a chronic condition, it requires treatment for the many associated symptoms and risks. Watching someone who has untreated OPA sleep is quite distressing, since patients with this condition stop breathing for anywhere from a few seconds for up to a minute, many times throughout the night. They often wake up coughing and choking, something that is very upsetting to both the patient and their partner. In many cases, the partner without OPA suffers from sleep deprivation and the associated side effects, because they spend each night anxiously watching their partner's breathing.

With nasal devices, the pauses in breathing and sleep disruption from frequent waking caused by OPA can be eliminated. There is no loud breathing machine and bulky tubes in the bedroom, and that helps both the patient and his or her sleep partner achieve a good nights rest. Seniors seeking more information about easy, affordable, non-intrusive alternatives to using a CPAP machine to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea should speak with their doctor or medical provider.

Author Bio: Joel Mark is an online author who is passionate about basketball, weight training & fitness. When he's not outside exercising, he studies a lot about health and nutrition, which runs the gamut from sleep apnea treatment to nutrition.

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