Tired All the Time? Maybe You Have Sleep Apnea

If you always wake up tired, you might have sleep apnea.

It’s estimated that over 20 million Americans suffer from sleep disordered breathing. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has called sleep apnea a national epidemic. It shouldn’t be overlooked as a mere annoyance because of loud snoring, often a sign of sleep apnea. While some might shrug and say, ”What harm can it do?” many don’t realize that insufficient sleep can result in highway and workplace accidents, and such chronic diseases as hypertension, diabetes, depression, and obesity – even cancer, increased mortality, and reduced productivity and quality of life.

“Often it takes teamwork to help an individual with sleep apnea get into a sound sleep routine,” says Chris Trainor, a Respiratory Therapist (RT) with Reliable Respiratory of Norwood (www.reliablerespiratory.com) that provides CPAP equipment. When patient Martin L. (not his real name) described his chronic fatigue to his doctor, a sleep test was scheduled at a sleep lab. Tests can also be performed remotely in the patient’s home using equipment that transmits data to the doctor. If the test shows enough apneas (breathing stoppages) throughout the night to warrant a CPAP sleep device, the doctor may prescribe CPAP therapy (pronounced see-pap -- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) that pumps a steady prescribed flow of air via a mask through the patient’s airways to keep passages open..

Those who conduct sleep tests rely on CPAP suppliers like Reliable Respiratory that not only supplies CPAP equipment to patients, but also sends RT’s to their homes to train in proper CPAP usage. Trainor says,, “Proper training from the outset results in a much higher compliance rate. Compliance means the patient meets minimum standards of usage frequency and effectiveness set forth by insurance providers. For example, Medicare requires you use your machine at least 4 hours each night for 70% of the nights. Using the machine 22 days out of 30 for at least 4 hours a night equals compliance.”

Reliable Respiratory’s VP of Sales & Marketing Joe MacDermott says his technicians appreciate the value of comprehensive initial patient setup and training. “We set up patients as soon as possible once we receive the order, normally the same day or within 72 hours. A high compliance rate and healthier patients results in positive feedback that reflects well on the sleep lab and on us -- and it all reflects back to the doctor. We’re all on the same team on behalf of the patient.”

For more than a decade, Reliable Respiratory has been a leading home respiratory equipment supplier, providing state-of-the-art equipment to help patients achieve maximum compliance that can result in a better quality of life. For info, call (866) 551-3335, email support@reliablerespiratory.com or visit www.reliablerespiratory.com. - By Stanley Hurwitz / stanhurwitz@gmail.com / 508-269-0570

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