MANILA, Philippines - Sleep apnea is a common disorder among Filipinos. But what most of us don’t know is that it is potentially dangerous and at times life-threatening. We often associate sleep apnea with simple snoring, which we have come to accept as a normal occurrence among adults. Sleep apnea, however, is more serious than we think.
Characterized by loud and chronic snoring, choking or snorting sounds, sleep apnea is a condition where a patient forgets to breathe while sleeping or suspends external breathing. It comes from the Greek word “apnea,” which means “without breath.”
In sleep apnea, a person’s breathing stops or becomes very shallow. Theses “pauses” can last 10 to 20 seconds or more and happen 20 to 30 times or more in an hour. Sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles relax and the airway narrows, thus preventing air to pass through (obstructive sleep apnea), or when your body fails to send signals to your muscles that control your breathing (central sleep apnea).
Because it prevents a person from having a deep, sound sleep (he may often find himself waking up several times throughout the night gasping for air), sleep apnea may leave the person feeling drowsy, inactive, and unproductive during the day. If not treated properly, sleep apnea may cause dire consequences. Those suffering from it are more prone to high blood pressure, heart diseases, stroke, accidents caused by lethargy, depression and other medical problems.
That’s why it’s always best to have equipment at home that will help you curb such risks. Far East Medical Equipment’s Resmart CPAP, for one, is designed to enhance patient’s comfort and improve user compliance. It’s one of the best entry-level personal medical devices for those in need of continuous positive airway pressure therapy.
Resmart prevents the obstruction of breathing by delivering a stream of compressed air through a hose to a nasal pillow, nose mask or full face mask, splinting the airway so that unobstructed breathing becomes possible. It’s also equipped with a humidifier to prevent dryness of the throat. Operating only on 30 dBs, Resmart is one of the quietest CPAP devices on the market today, allowing patients to have uninterrupted sleep at night. It’s small and comes with an integrated handle and an optional carrying bag, making it a sleek companion to patients, who would travel a lot.
Far East Medical Equipment (the store for senior citizens) delivers to any point in the Philippines. Visit www.fareastmed.net or call 09228910322, 635-0436, 332-2317, 556-0207. Visit its branches at SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, and on Gochan St. in Cebu City. Senior citizens get big discounts.