Introduction: what is sleep apnea and how are the masks helping?
Masks for sleep apnea are products that are used for treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. OSA is best described as a sleeping disorder that disrupts a person’s normal sleep breathing. The disruption is usually caused due to a blockage in the airway which occurs due to over-relaxing of the soft tissue in your throat while you sleep.
It is estimate that a person suffering from the condition can experience up to 30 plus disturbances in one hour. This causes a person to lose sleep, which in turn leads to many other problems like tiredness, anxiety and stress. In some cases sleeping disorders are so severe; the other person sleeping alongside you is also continually disturbed because of you. These masks are designed to assist a person in enjoying a normal sleep.
What sleep apnea treatment devices are available?
There are many types of sleep apnea treatment devices available in the market and here we shall have a look at some of them. CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure is considered the top of the line treatment at present. In this treatment a continuous stream of air is delivered to your upper airway keeping it unblocked and open all night long and you are able to enjoy deep relaxing sleep. Masks for sleep apnea are available in three configurations:
Nasal Pillow Masks
These masks for sleep apnea are the smallest masks used in Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy. The name pillow is derived from the fact that they come into contact with nostrils only through pillow-like or cushioned seals. A head strap holds them in position similar to a chin strap design used by football players. These are often the popular choice by Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients as they are the least expensive treatment devices.
Nasal Sleep Apnea Masks
Next product is the masks for sleep apnea is the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure nasal mask. This has a comparatively better coverage from nasal pillow masks because it covers the entire nose. Nasal seal is shaped around the nose using pads that are gel-like and soft in feel. They form a seal that is air tight yet comfortable at the same time. These nasal masks for sleep apnea are held in their place by a double strap design used similar to the ones used in hockey masks. The seal becomes quite secure this way and nasal mask can perform to a higher degree.
Full Face Masks for Sleep Apnea
These are the biggest available masks for apnea in size, covering both the mouth and nose. They are a little like in appearance similar to a scuba diver’s mask. These are fastened with double strap in addition to chin strap. Though choices for sleeping positions become limited with these types of masks in comparison to the smaller ones but they are also more effective in CPAP performance. They are also a better choice for patients breathing through their mouth.It is advisable to use smaller treatment devices for users new to CPAP therapy and gradually move on to bigger and better masks for sleep apnea.
