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October 2, 2024

Sleep Apnea: Explaining Causes, Symptoms, & Treatments

Sleep apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or often abbreviated as OSA, is both the most common sleep-related breathing disorder and a serious medical issue that can lead to fatal results. Sleep apnea is observed when an afflicted individual stops and restarts their breathing many times over the course of a night, which generally minimizes the body’s ability to intake oxygen as they sleep. Fortunately, sleep apnea is very manageable with the appropriate prescribed treatments. Below we detail common causes, symptoms, treatments, and preventable tactics so that you can better understand sleep apnea.


Causes of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea reportedly affects around 5%-to-10% of the population worldwide and is more often seen in men than women. Obstructive sleep apnea is observed when airflow while sleeping meets interference caused by:

  • Being obese.
  • Nasal congestion.
  • A large neck which can narrow the passage of air.
  • Old age.
  • Smoking or use of other drugs.
  • Consuming alcohol.
  • High blood pressure.
  • A family history of sleep apnea.
  • Diabetes.
  • Asthma.
  • A stroke.
  • Parkinson’s disease.
  • Hormonal disorders.

Central sleep apnea, when compared to obstructive sleep apnea, generally displays the same symptoms although the cause is vastly different. The human brain has been trained to manage your breathing during sleep, however, central sleep apnea is observed when an afflicted person’s brain doesn’t send a signal to their lungs to continue breathing. This specific form of sleep apnea is usually caused by damage to the nervous system, primarily in the spinal cord or brainstem, which signals the body to cease breathing while sleeping. 


Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Many of the symptoms of sleep apnea are caused by other health issues, such as heart disease, nasal congestion, and obesity, so certain symptoms may be present in some afflicted individuals that may not be present in others. Additionally, some sleep apnea sufferers may not even know they have this disorder until their bed partner tells them of their nightly symptoms. No matter what, all of those who suffer from sleep apnea will experience abnormal nighttime breathing and the daytime effects of drowsiness. Other symptoms of sleep apnea include:

  • Snoring that is frequently interrupted with gasping sounds.
  • Headaches upon waking up.
  • Restlessness during the night.
  • Reduced focus.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Need to urinate repeatedly during the night.
  • Chest pains.

Treatment Options of Sleep Apnea

To begin treating your debilitating sleep apnea, first you must visit your doctor to prescribe what exactly is causing your symptoms. Following a questionnaire, physical examination, a polysomnography (PSG), and possibly an EEG, your doctor will directly be able to determine what exactly is causing your sleep apnea. Common treatments for sleep apnea include:

  • Losing excessive weight.
  • Managing and reducing blood pressure.
  • Using a prescribed CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine.
  • Some surgical interventions are effective for reducing sleep apnea symptoms.
  • Wearing O2 Nose Filters to reduce nasal congestion.
  • For those who suffer from minor sleep apnea symptoms, sleeping on your side could improve your sleep quality.

Preventing Sleep Apnea

As mentioned above, nasal congestion is one of the top causes of sleep apnea, which is why wearing O2 Nose Filters is such an effective way to combat these uncomfortable symptoms. O2 Nose Filters has been proven in controlled studies to help protect wearers from inhaling harmful airborne particles such as pollen, bacteria, viruses, dust, and other pollutants. Independent laboratory tests demonstrate that our Advanced Electret Media in O2 Nose Filters block 90% of particulates at PM10 and 65% of particulates at PM2.5. Additionally, O2 Nose Filters are comfortable to wear due to their latex-free design and medical-grade Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) materials.

Our patented AEM™ (Advanced Electret Media) filter technology relies on the principles of electrostatic attraction. The high capture ratios and extended breathability attributed to O2’s AEM™ material allows airborne particles to be captured within the filter. Rather than using a ‘screen’ approach to block the passage of particles, the charged fibers act as ‘magnets’ to retain particles while still allowing air to pass through, making O2 Nose Filters both breathable and effective.

O2 Nose Filters provides inexpensive and effective security to protect people from sleep apnea. While our nasal passageways try their best when it comes to filtering harmful particulate matter, they aren’t perfect. That’s why O2 Nose Filters are such an effective solution when it comes to improving our mental and physical health as well as sleep quality. Nose filters are a discreet, effective option to protect against airborne viruses and bacteria. The O2 Nose Filter uses our patented AEM™ electrostatic technology to capture allergens, viruses, and other particulates, making them a valuable tool for anyone who wants to drastically reduce their sleep apnea symptoms.

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