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How To Sleep Apnea Essay

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In Home Health Care Sleep Apnea

Nearly 20 million Americans knowingly suffer from sleep apnea, millions more simply suffer from the side effects and don't know why. One of the most common ailments among senior citizens, sleep apnea leads to more than just feelings of sluggishness, forgetfulness, and feeling tired. It can also lead to a plethora of severe medical problems, including high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and depression.

Sleep apnea is a condition where an individual's airway collapses during sleeping. As a result, the person goes without breathing for up to a minute and wakes momentarily gasping for breath. This can happen dozens, even hundreds, of times throughout the night. Not getting the oxygen they need, the brain, …show more content…

The most common "fix" is the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. The CPAP device maintains airflow so the airway does not collapse when the muscles of the throat relax. In home health care providers can help your senior loved one put the CPAP mask on at night, keep it clean, and work with them through the adjustment period of sleeping with the mask.

The vast majority of people with sleep apnea are overweight or obese, and Mayo Clinic notes that the number one thing your loved one can do to reduce their risk of sleep apnea, or help reduce the symptoms if they already have it, is to lose weight. "Even a slight loss in excess weight may help relieve constriction of your throat. Sleep apnea may go into complete remission in some cases if you return to a healthy weight. But sleep apnea will likely come back if you regain the weight."

In home health care providers can help your loved one lose weight through the introduction of healthier meals and supporting a regular exercise program. Many seniors have the desire to eat better and work out, but they need to physical and emotional support to do so. After all, arthritis, autoimmune disorders, and other painful or mobility-limiting ailments can make even the most basic tasks nearly

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