Blogs > Sleeping with CPAP

Assistant News Editor Lee Dryden was diagnosed with sleep apnea and uses a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine to assist with breathing while sleeping. From a layman’s point of view, he will discuss the benefits, issues, challenges and frustrations of sleeping while wearing a mask.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Watch sleep apnea in action

  Here is a video I found on YouTube.
  The content is somewhat disturbing.
  Put simply, it's a gentleman with breathing interrupted, gasping for air, clearly suffering from sleep apnea.
  We can't watch ourselves sleep, obviously, so show it to someone close to you (who you suspect has apnea) so they understand what you are witnessing while they sleep.
  Click here to watch the video.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Thin people can get sleep apnea

  I've addressed this before but it's a good time for a reminder.
  Don't think it's impossible to get sleep apnea if you are thin.
  Yes, many apnea sufferers are overweight but a recent article in The Herald-News in Illinois drove home the point that anyone can be affected.
  It mentions a 170-pound man of average height whose wife noticed he was snoring loudly and waking up gasping for air. He did not feel rested upon waking up.
  A sleep study diagnosed his apnea.
  Just like non-smokers can get lung cancer and non-drinkers can get liver cancer, this ailment also doesn't discriminate.
  So please keep an eye out for interrupted sleep in your loved ones of all sizes.