Name: Sarah
Age: 40
Health: Overweight, depressed and lacks energy

For nearly 20 years, Sarah suffered from constant fatigue. She was so tired that she couldn't even manage a daily walking routine. She felt like she was "living in a fuzz all day long," so she began to eat to "wake up." The more tired she was the more she ate, thinking it would provide her energy. Sarah went from a size 10 to a size 23. The weight gain caused her to become depressed. She was ready to go back to bed 10 minutes after waking up. Her lack of energy was spiraling her life out of control.

"Many people are not even aware that they have sleep apnea"

Common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Loud, disruptive snoring
• Restless sleep
• Difficulty concentrating
• Depression or irritability
• Morning headaches
• High blood pressure

Many people are not even aware that they have sleep apnea. Often, a bed partner is the first to witness their symptoms.

Sarah's breaking point came one day at work. She fell asleep at her desk 30 minutes after arriving to work. Sarah decided she no longer wanted "to miss out on life." She went to a sleep lab for an overnight sleep test to find out what was wrong.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a general term for breathing problems that occur during sleep. People with sleep apnea stop breathing throughout the night up to 100 times per hour.

Sleep apnea affects approximately 20 million adults, and has serious negative health effects when present with other conditions.

If you suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, heart trouble or are overweight, treating your sleep apnea may improve all of these conditions while making you feel better.

The good news is that sleep apnea can be treated easily!

Sure enough, the test confirmed that Sarah was suffering from sleep apnea. Her test showed that she stopped breathing 120 times per hour. She was prescribed continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to prevent her airway from collapsing. CPAP has made a tremendous difference in Sarah's life!

Finally having enough energy to go on walks and become more active, Sarah's life changed drastically. She began eating right and exercising daily. She was no longer chronically tired. Since being prescribed on CPAP, Sarah has lost 130 lbs.

"I felt like I had just woken up after 15 years"

What is CPAP therapy?

CPAP is the most widely accepted treatment for sleep apnea. A bedside device gently delivers pressurized air through a nasal mask or pillows system. This pressure acts like an "air splint" to keep the upper airway open and help prevent apneas. CPAP treatment does not involve drugs or surgery and helps hundreds of thousands of people worldwide enjoy healthier sleep and a healthier life. Many patients experience the benefits quickly-often after the first night of use. There is no cure for sleep apnea at this time.

Courtesy of ResMed (www.resmed.com)

 

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