Sleep Therapy & CPAP / BIPAP
OSA—Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea, also called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is a common disorder that affects more than 18 million people in the United States. In many of these people the condition is undiagnosed. OSA takes its name from the Greek word apnea, which means "without breath." People with sleep apnea literally stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, often for a minute or longer and as many as hundreds of times during a single night.
Sleep apnea can be caused by either complete obstruction of the airway (obstructive apnea) or partial obstruction (obstructive hypopnea—hypopnea is slow, shallow breathing), both of which can wake one up. There are three types of sleep apnea—obstructive, central, and mixed. Of these, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. OSA occurs in approximately 2 percent of women and 4 percent of men over the age of 35.
CPAP / BiPAP
The most common treatment for sleep apnea is CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy. A CPAP machine is usually about the size of a shoebox but CAN be smaller. A flexible tube connects the machine with a mask or other interface device that is worn over the nose and/or mouth. CPAP works by pushing air through the airway passage at a pressure high enough to prevent apneas and can be prescribed for both obstructive and central sleep apnea. The pressure is set according to the patient's type of sleep apnea.
We provide our patients with the ease and flexibility to choose what is more convenient for them—they can choose to have their C-PAP or Bi-PAP set up in their home, or they can come to our store.
Reasons to replace your CPAP/BiPAP equipment...
CPAP supplies are disposable — Your CPAP mask, headgear, and tubing aren't meant to last forever!
Cushions lose their seal over time — If you have to continually tighten and overtighten the headgear to maintain a seal with your mask, it will not fit comfortably and you can actually harm yourself in the process.
Bacteria! — This becomes more difficult to eliminate as a mask ages.
Dirty filters damage CPAP machines — The filters in a CPAP machine need to be replaced regularly.
Periodic replacement of CPAP and BiPAP supplies are covered by most insurance companies.
