Sleep apnea can already be a difficult problem to deal with on its own, but when you consider that it introduces other risks, you’ll discover that it’s absolutely critical to have sleep apnea testing and treatment recommended by an experienced physician.
You may already know that sleep apnea can lead to obesity and even cardiovascular disease, but you might not know that there is a link between apnea and pneumonia. Let’s take a look at the connection between these conditions, and what you need to do if you or someone you know is suffering from sleep apnea.
To Begin, Let’s Define Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a specific type of sleeping disorder where restful sleep is interrupted by regular pauses in breathing. Sufferers also experience shallow or difficult breathing during sleep. Pauses can last for seconds, and in some cases, there can be up to 30 episodes of paused breathing for every hour of sleep.
Apnea won’t cause suffocation because the body reacts to open up airways. However, when this happens, the sufferer will be roused from sleep, even if they are not consciously aware of this happening. The result is that sleep is not restful, and sufferers are left feeling tired and fatigued throughout the day.
If this sounds like something that you’ve been experiencing, then sleep apnea testing will be needed to identify the type of apnea that you have, so that an effective treatment method can be recommended.
Complications that Arise from Sleep Apnea
Fatigue on its own can drastically impact the quality of life, but it’s not the only problem that comes from sleep apnea. The lack of sleep can cause additional strain on the cardiovascular system and may lead to heart disease and heart failure. Stroke risk is also increased in apnea sufferers, as is diabetes. Loss of sleep is also linked with obesity, due to a hormone imbalance that is created in the body.
Anybody can develop apnea, but you’ll be more at risk if you smoke, if you’re overweight, if you have a family history of sleep apnea, or if you have enlarged tonsils or allergies.
Because the symptoms of apnea occur while you’re sleeping, a special home test for sleep apnea is the most effective way to be diagnosed. This type of testing will use medical devices and sensors to monitor vital signs that can indicate whether you have apnea or another sleep disorder.
Link Between Sleep Apnea and Pneumonia
In 2014, a new study from the Taipei Veterans General Hospital found that sleep apnea could increase the risk of developing pneumonia. Evidence from the study also suggested that the risk of pneumonia was further increased depending on the severity of sleep apnea. The reason for this link was quite simple. Sufferers of apnea are more likely to inhale fluid from the throat into the lungs. The study was conducted over an eleven-year period, and more than 30,000 patients were included.
However, the study did not create any strong guarantee that apnea would lead to pneumonia. Most of the patients that did develop pneumonia were compromised by other health conditions. Both heart disease and diabetes increased the risk, which is interesting considering that apnea can increase the risk of developing both of those diseases. In short, pneumonia, sleep apnea, heart disease, and diabetes, are all linked in some way, and the association between them makes it essential that those suffering from apnea receive full at home sleep apnea testing, and treatment using a CPAP machine or other breathing device.
Getting the Most Efficient Sleep Apnea Testing Devices
You can probably see the advantages of sleep testing at home. Not only will this be more comfortable and convenient for you, but it also means that testing will be performed in your normal sleeping conditions. While testing in the past would have to be conducted at a clinic where advanced medical devices were available, it’s now possible to get accurate and comprehensive test results with devices from VirtuOx.
We’re North America’s leader in sleep testing medical devices, and our home sleep testing kits are recommended by physicians around the country. Some of our most innovative products include the VPOD Apnea Watch, a convenient device that weighs less than half a pound, yet still, packs some impressive diagnostic features. The Apnea Watch can record your pulse rate, oxygen level, and oxygen desaturation index. This helps in at home sleep apnea testing, and can be used as an ongoing maintenance device to ensure that treatment methods are working.
You can view our full range of sleep apnea testing products today, and discover how modern advancements can help to diagnose and treat apnea while allowing you to reduce your risk of complications like pneumonia, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
VirtuOx is the leader in home sleep tests and pulse oximetry.
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