Sleep Apnea – A Sleeping Epidemic

Ann Cartwright, a Physician Assistant at National Jewish Health, takes us on a tour of different mask types for your CPAP machine.

Central sleep apnea…sounds like that’s neurological. If so, then CPAP wouldn’t help. You have to be trying to breath for CPAP to help by keeping open the passages. If the brain is failing to send a signal to breathe, then CPAP won’t get air in.

If your doc said you have central sleep apnea (and if I’m not wrong about it being neurological), and he wants you on CPAP, he might think you have *both* types of apnea. Certainly possible.

RESPIRONICS COMFORTGEL FULL SIZE EXTRA LARGE FULL FACE GEL MASK

The ComfortGel Full is leading the way in full face mask comfort. The mask uses a gel filled cushion with a unique Sure Seal Technology (SST) that provides a custom fit to your face.

List Price: $ 49.99

Rather than give you a brief answer, here is a search page on Treatments For Central Sleep Apnea.
Click & read whatever websites interest you
http://www.ask.com/web?qsrc=2352&o=101881&l=dis&dm=&q=central%20sleep%20apnea%20treatments

Respironics Hi-Performance CPAP tubing (white)

• Standard 22 mm connectors fit almost all CPAP machines.
• Grey tubing, clear so inside can be seen.
• Lighter and more flexible than comparable tubing.
• Non Kinking.

Performance Tubing is 20% lighter and many times more flexible than standard tubing. It works well with smaller, lightweight masks, as it is less likely to pull on the mask and disrupt the seal.

The ergonomically designed cuff is easier to grasp and remove from the mask or tubing.

With a standard 6-foot length, cuff diameters and wall thickness, Performance Tubing can be easily substituted for standard tubing.

The white color provides quick visual differentiation from standard gray tubing.man

List Price: $ 2.50

I think a lot of the other posters are talking about obstructive sleep apnea, not central sleep apnea. With central sleep apnea, treat the underlying cause, if possible (such as treating congestive heart failure, if that is causing the apneic periods). If the person’s oxygen saturation drops from the apnea, it might be a good idea to be on oxygen while asleep. Take a look at the sources below, which have some more information about treatments. Hope this helps.