Tag Archives: Philips CPAC Lawsuit

Law

For any type of apnea the brain temporarily wakes individuals

Published by:

It is believed that the Greek term “apnea” literally means “without breath.” Sleep Apnea is a severe sleep disorder that manifests when a person’s breathing ceases for more than 10 seconds in sleep. It may be moderate, mild or even severe, based on how often in an hour the person’s breathing ceases (apnea) or turns fast (hypopnea). Apnea episodes can happen between 5 and 50 times per hour.

Philips CPAC Lawsuit

As per the National Institutes of Health (NIH) sleep apnea impacts approximately twelve million Americans. But because of an absence of public awareness and an absence of knowledge by healthcare professionals, it’s believed that the majority cases are not diagnosed regardless of the seriousness of the condition and the effects.

There are three kinds of sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as well as central sleep apnea (CSA) as well as mixed sleep apnea (MSA). OSA is considered to be the most prevalent form of sleep apnea. It can be caused due to a narrowing in the airway. Typically, the soft tissue at the throat’s rear is weakened and then closes when you sleep. In CSA the airway isn’t blocked, but the brain is unable to tell breathing muscles because of unstable respiration control system. Mixed apnea can be described as a mix of both.

What are the consequences?

For any type of apnea the brain temporarily wakes individuals, which causes the body to breathe and causing a an insufficient, sluggish sleep. This is why sleep apnea can also lead to low performance in daily activitieslike school or work motor vehicle accidensa as well as academic failure among adolescents and children.

If untreated sleep apnea could cause an increase in the frequency of health issues, including hypertension, stroke , heart failure irregular heartbeats, as well as heart attacks. In addition, memory issues as well as headaches, weight gain, and even impotency, can happen due to sleep apnea that isn’t treated.

Who is at risk?

Sleep apnea is a problem that can strike any age group and even children. However, the risk factors include:

Being overweight

A neck that is large (17 inches or more in men , and 16 inches or more in women)

Male gender

Aged over forty

Family history of sleep apnea.

African Americans, Hispanics and Pacific Islanders have a greater chance of developing sleep apnea than Caucasions. Furthermore, African Americans tend to suffer from sleep apnea much earlier age.

Women who have gone through menopausal. Women who go through menopausal changes suffer from sleep apnea in a manner comparable to men.

Conditions that can cause facial and head abnormalities, like Marfan’s Syndrome and Down Syndrome.

Evaluation – If you believe you might are suffering from sleep apnea or other sleep disorders, you should make sure to check your insurance coverage prior to making an appointment as you might be required to obtain the referral to an expert in sleep by your primary care doctor. You might also be required to visit an accredited testing center. Some insurance policies don’t cover for treatment and diagnosis of sleep disorders. Other policies don’t cover the expensive medical equipment. Diagnosis and treatment could be costly that can exceed 1,000 dollars. Doctors who are experts in sleep medicine could be Pulmonologists (specializing in the lungs) and neurologists (the brain) as well as Otolaryngologists (the ears the nose, throat and) and psychotherapy (mental illness) and primary care doctors. Certain doctors might be certified by the American Board of Sleep medicine (ABSM). They also have degrees that meet the standards of the board. In any case you’re likely to be directed to a sleep clinic. If your doctor does not refer you to a specific sleep center, you can visit http://www.aasmnet.org/ for the most up to date list of accredited member sleep centers and laboratories.

At the sleep clinic is where you will take part in a sleep study that utilizes a variety of devices to track your activities during sleep. These generally include an electroencelphalogram (EEG) to measure brain waves and an electroculogram (EOG) to measure eye and chin movement, both to monitor the different stages of sleep. A electrocardiogram (EKG) can measure the heart rate and rhythm, chest bands to monitor breathing patterns, and monitors to measure carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in blood, as well as monitors to track leg movements. All of these devices aren’t uncomfortable and there aren’t any needles required.

Treatment Options:

Typically, your doctor will suggest lifestyle modifications along with CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy, however surgery is an option should these methods fail. It is the American Sleep Apnea Association identifies CPAP therapy as the most popular treatment for this condition. CPAP therapy is a method of preventing breathing passages from shutting while you sleep. It is administered before bed by using the use of a facial or nasal mask, which is secured by Velcro straps that fit around the head of the patient. It is attached through tubes to an air compressor. The CPAP machine pumps air under tension through the tube, and into the mask. There, it creates pressure for the upper airways and prevents the tissues of the throat’s back from collapsing in sleep.

CPAP therapy is an extremely effective method of treatment, but the most significant issue is not being able to comply. It has been reported that over 65% patients utilize the device at a maximum of 4 hours each night, and it is recommended to use it throughout the patient’s rest. In many instances patients, patients use the CPAP only for one or two nights during the week.

Law

Do you wake up in the morning feeling just as tired as when you

Published by:

Do you wake up in the morning feeling just as tired as when you went to sleep? Have you been told that you snore loudly and seem to stop breathing while sleeping? Then it is possible that you are suffering from Sleep Apnea. Read on to find out more about the symptoms and diagnosis for this condition.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Philips CPAC Lawsuit

Sleep Apnoea or as it is more commonly known as Sleep Apnea, is a relatively common problem. It causes broken sleep patterns that usually lead to increased tiredness and decreased awareness in waking hours, morning headaches or a dry throat when you wake up.

The clinical definition of an apnea is a cessation of breath that lasts for at least 10 seconds. The medical condition called “Sleep Apnea” is a condition where sufferers stop breathing and have repeated apneas over extended periods of time while sleeping.

The most common form is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (or OSA) and this is where the airway has collapsed or becomes blocked during sleep. When you try to breathe, any air that squeezes past the blockage usually causes loud snoring which is nearly always associated with OSA. During an apnea, where breathing stops altogether, the concentration of oxygen in your blood drops, as your lungs are not receiving any fresh air or oxygen to replenish your blood in exchange for carbon dioxide, until it reaches dangerously low levels that are low enough to trigger your brain to disturb your sleep. The associated reflex action helps tighten the upper airway muscles and open your windpipe.

Normal breathing then starts again, often with a body jerk, loud snort or choking sound and usually without you even being aware of it having happened.

Factors that are known to increase the risk for OSA include a family history of sleep apnoea, a large neck, a recessed chin, male sex, abnormalities in the structure of the upper airway, smoking, alcohol use, age and excess weight.
Obstructive sleep apnoea happens more often in people who are overweight, but it can affect anyone.

How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?

There is no blood or other post event test for diagnosing the condition, and as such it is normally first diagnosed as a result of comments or complaints from your sleeping partners or family who have become concerned about your chronic snoring, choking or gasping during your sleep as well as the extended periods where you stop breathing altogether while asleep.

Sleep Apnea can be a life threatening condition with the reduced sleep quality and the frequent drops in the blood oxygen levels during the apnea triggering the release of stress hormones. These hormones, among other issues, raise your heart rate and increase your risk of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases and associated problems.

Less obvious but more serious medical problems that can be aggravated or caused by the condition include weight gain, impotency, memory lapses, depression, irritable mood swings and personality charges. Sleep apnea could be having a major impact on your life and overall well being without you even being aware of it, in fact it could be ruining your life!

So What Should You Do?

Your partner is worried about your breathing or snoring, you continually feel tired during the day and you suspect that you may have a sleeping disorder, what should you do next?

The first step is to arrange an appointment with your family medical practitioner to discuss your concerns. You practitioner will probably then arrange an appointment for you to see a Sleep Specialist and maybe have a sleep study undertaken.

Prior to your appointment it usually helps to compile a sleep diary for at least a few days or longer if possible with you or more likely your sleep partner recording how you sleep, if you are having trouble breathing during the night, any noticeable gaps in breathing, choking or gasping events, your snoring, how loud it is as well how your sleeping position impacts on it, and how you feel in the morning when you wake up and then during the day.

You should also record any other irregularities that may be noticed such as restlessness or leg movements during sleeping and even periods during the day where you may seem to fall asleep or fell really tired.

Having a visual recording of yourself while sleeping may also be useful to help your Sleep Specialist with their initial diagnosis.

Your Sleep Specialist will normally do an examination of your throat for physical reasons for your snoring and apnea’s as well as to assess your suitability to the various treatment options. If your specialist suspects that you may be suffering from Sleep Apnea they will usually request that you have a sleep study done to record your sleeping habits and manner in a controlled and monitored environment.

This is usually the first step on the path to diagnosis and eventually treatment of sleep apnea. The risks associated with failure to act, if you are a Sleep Apnea sufferer, are too great to ignore and should not be taken lightly. If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder such as Sleep Apnea take steps now, get yourself assessed, it could be a life saving action (yours).

Law

In the case of sleep apnea With respect to sleep apnea

Published by:

The term “CPAP machine” is a colloquial term which refers to a machine that is referred to as a continuous positive pressure’ device and is typically employed to aid patients suffering from OSA or obstructive sleep breathing disorders, as well as the related breathing problems that are associated with the disorder. They’re used to keep the airway clear by moving moderated air pressure through the airways of the patient to ensure that breathing is preserved in sleep. The PAP machine is comprised of three parts consisting of a mask, motor, and tubing and there are a variety of models that have humidifiers. The sizes differ however, they are generally around the same size as a small radio, and are comparatively light. While they are utilized to treat breathing disorders that are caused by sleep but they can also be utilized to treat respiratory problems in children and adults.

Philips CPAC Lawsuit

In the case of sleep apnea With respect to sleep apnea, it is a CPAP machine is used to force the airways to be opened for sufferers who exhibit breathlessness while sleeping. Without the CPAP machine, those suffering from OSA are more likely to have laxity within their airways leading to obstructions during sleep. When this happens an airway that is not functioning properly can reduce the levels of oxygen that are present in the bloodstream. In this case, more serious problems can arise which include loud snoring and even death. The constant positive airway pressures of CPAP devices will therefore gradually open the airway for continuous breathing, and help maintain the normal oxygen levels throughout sleep.

Before using CPAPs the patient must undergo a sleep study by a sleep specialist. This test will determine the quality of breathing and oxygen levels, airway flow and snoring levels for the patient. To be able to have an CPAP machine for the patient, they must take this test. If a diagnosis is made (either severe or moderate OSA) then the patient is then able to get an CPAP from a local medical provider.

The infants can also be fitted with CPAPs when their lungs aren’t completely developed. In the case of premature births infants require an aid with breathing, and the use of a CPAP can be a viable alternative, and is generally less invasive than ventilators and other options.

If you look around for different kinds of PAP machines you’ll notice that there is a wide range of masks available, masks that cover the face in entirety or are designed to cover just the mouth or just the nose and nose at the same time. CPAP devices are also available in various sizes and can be incredibly adaptable. There are a variety of options to patients who are ‘CPAP-intolerant’ or who have difficulty wearing particular masks due their sleeping patterns or positions.

There are other machines referred to in the field of Auto CPAP machines (or AutoPAP) which are designed to adjust the levels of oxygen that is pumped into the system according to breathing patterns. These machines typically cost slightly more expensive, but they provide a wider range of treatments and frequently patients are able to see the advantages over traditional CPAP machines.