In medicine, snoring is a sound phenomenon, a vibration that occurs when air passes through a narrowed airway. This condition is not an independent disease. Snoring always indicates the presence of a pathological process in the body. In addition, noisy inhalation and exhalation of air significantly affect the quality of night sleep and the life of other family members in general. Snoring is also a health hazard. Often its consequence is the occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea. This is a pathology characterized by frequent episodes of respiratory arrest in a dream. In order to get rid of snoring, doctors often prescribe sipap therapy to patients. The device can be purchased at medical equipment stores. But the doctor should pick up the device. This is the only way to achieve improvements and not harm health.
Sipap therapy: concept
It is currently the most effective treatment for both snoring and obstructive apnea. It is important to know that sipap therapy is a method that involves the use of a special apparatus during sleep. This is a small device consisting of a mask and compressor. The first must be worn on the face immediately before going to bed at night.
The compressor is designed to pump air into the mask under a certain pressure.
The principle of action of sipap therapy is as follows. During operation of the apparatus, air enters through the tube into the mask. Due to this, the respiratory tract of a sleeping person is inflated by a stream having a certain pressure indicator. In modern appliances, a humidifier is also integrated. It is designed to make the passage of air masses as comfortable as possible.
According to medical reviews, sipap therapy is prescribed to eliminate obstruction of the airways. Accordingly, the risk of night apnea is significantly reduced.
Positive effects on the body:
- sleep normalizes, a person wakes up easily in the morning, and drowsiness does not bother him during the day;
- minimizing the risk of developing stroke and myocardial infarction;
- increase in efficiency;
- improvement of mental activity;
- increased attention span;
- significant improvement in memory.
It is important to know that sipap therapy is not a short-term treatment. In severe cases, patients sleep in a mask for the rest of their lives. However, it does not interfere with rest at all. According to patient reviews, sipap therapy really normalizes sleep. Already on the very first night, snoring disappears, and in the morning there is no feeling of weakness and lack of sleep.
Indications
If a person suffers from respiratory failure in a dream, it is necessary to undergo a somnological examination first. It allows you to find out the apnea index. If this indicator is 20 or more, sipap therapy is prescribed without fail.
If the apnea index is less than 20, the following conditions are indications for treatment:
- daytime drowsiness, while it is almost impossible to overcome;
- insomnia of any kind;
- memory impairment;
- impaired concentration of attention;
- psycho-emotional instability, most often a person is annoyed or in a depressed state;
- the presence of pathologies of a cardiovascular nature (IHD, arterial hypertension).
If a person has a mild form of apnea, but he does not have all of the above conditions, sipap therapy is not prescribed.
Contraindications
Like any other treatment, this method has several limitations. Doctors say that sipap therapy is a method that has no absolute contraindications.
With caution, it is prescribed to persons suffering from:
- bullous lung disease;
- eye infections that often recur;
- chronic sinusitis;
- severe respiratory failure;
- severe dehydration;
- low pressure;
- frequent nosebleeds.
To assess the feasibility of prescribing sipap therapy, the doctor collects an anamnesis. With caution, it is necessary to treat persons who have undergone pneumothorax, pneumocephaly, pneumomediastinum, distress syndrome, cerebrospinal fluid leak, as well as in people who in the recent past have undergone surgery on the pituitary gland, brain, inner or middle ear.
The procedure in the hospital
Sipap therapy is carried out at home. However, the first time it is necessary to go through it in a medical institution. The procedure takes a long time. This is due to the need for a number of studies and the selection of the most comfortable mask.
Diagnosis is carried out in a somnological laboratory. The first step is a comprehensive examination of the patient. It includes:
- poll;
- assessment of respiration parameters;
- blood pressure measurement;
- assessment of patency of the nasal passages;
- examination of the oral cavity;
- blood test.
After this, the specialist needs to evaluate the quality of sleep of the patient. To do this, some research is being done.
- Polysomnography. This method allows you to identify the cause of snoring or apnea. The patient is placed on a couch in a special room. Then, the doctor installs electrodes on the head, face, chest, lips, legs, abdomen and finger of the hand. After that, the patient is allowed to fall asleep. During sleep, a nurse or doctor observes him.
- Determination of the apnea index. The essence of the method is to count respiratory arrest in a dream.
Based on the diagnostic results, the doctor confirms or excludes the presence of apnea, and also evaluates the feasibility of prescribing sipap therapy for snoring. After that, the specialist conducts a conversation with the patient, during which he selects the device for home use, based on the state of human health and its financial capabilities.
Mask selection
This product is in direct contact with the patient during treatment. In this regard, the choice of mask must be approached responsibly. It is important to remember that not only effectiveness, but also the duration of treatment directly depends on this product.
Masks of various types and sizes are available at somnological laboratories. During the diagnosis, the doctor tries on them to the patient, after which he writes out a prescription. The products have a standard connector, and therefore they are suitable for all devices intended for sipap therapy.
Instrument Setup
After its acquisition, it is advisable to re-contact the somnologist and ask for a level of pressure that is comfortable and safe for the patient. It is important to remember that sipap therapy is a method whose essence is to inflate the airways. To get rid of snoring and apnea, the pressure must be properly selected.
Its minimum indicator in sipap devices is 4 cm of water column. Theoretically, a person can purchase the device and configure it to this value. However, in practice, the minimum pressure is insufficient. In addition, most people have trouble falling asleep.
Devices work in such a way that over 10-20 minutes the pressure indicator gradually rises. But the initial value is purely individual. That is why it is recommended to consult your doctor to configure the device.
Carrying out the procedure at home
In the somnological laboratory, they explain in detail how to use the device, configure it for the patient. In practice, the operation of the drug is extremely simple:
- you need to lie on the bed and take a comfortable sleeping position;
- connect the device to the network and put on a mask;
- turn on the device, after which you can fall asleep.
The pressure indicator gradually rises from minimal to therapeutic. If a person wakes up at night and feels a sense of discomfort, it is enough to press a button and it will decrease again.
According to reviews, sipap therapy at home is an effective way to get rid of snoring. After the first procedure, patients feel sleepy and rested.
Treatment duration
Doctors do not recommend considering sipap therapy as a short-term method. One of the disadvantages of the method is that it is necessary to sleep in a mask constantly. First of all, this applies to persons with severe obstructive apnea.
If the disease is mild or moderate, doctors recommend one of two treatment regimens.
- Conduct therapy daily, but sleep in the mask only the first 4-5 hours. At this time, the dream is deep, so that external stimuli do not interfere with it. In the morning, the mask may begin to cause discomfort. At this time, it can be removed. As practice shows, this does not affect the quality of treatment and rest.
- Conduct therapy in short courses with breaks of 2 days. But you need to sleep in a mask all night. In addition, therapy is indicated on those days when a significant dose of any alcohol-containing drink was taken the day before.
It is important to understand that regularity is important in treatment. According to the reviews of most patients, a mask in a dream does not affect the quality of rest of both the person himself and his family members.
Equipment
Currently, a large number of devices for sipap therapy are being sold on the medical equipment market. The choice of device must be approached responsibly, since the quality of treatment depends on its functioning.
All devices are divided into 3 classes.
- III. This is basic equipment without additional features. These devices are outdated. They are represented by a mask, tube and compressor. The devices have a number of disadvantages associated with pressure surges. As a result, doctors recommend the purchase of more modern equipment, eliminating their occurrence, as well as preventing air leakage from under the mask during sleep.
- II. These are devices in which there is a built-in function to compensate for therapeutic pressure. Performance monitoring is carried out using a special sensor. For example, if the pressure drops during the inhalation, the engine speed is accelerated, thereby maintaining a value equal to the therapeutic. In other words, these devices independently adjust to the rhythm of a person’s breathing. In addition, pressure spikes are excluded during use. Doctors most often recommend purchasing the SomnoSoft 2e device.
- I. These devices are the most modern. They themselves adapt to human needs. However, the settings may be lost if, for example, air leaks from under the mask. The advantage of such devices is the presence of a memory function, which allows you to evaluate the quality of sleep and monitor the dynamics of changes. Most often, doctors recommend the Prisma 20A.
Each class has both advantages and disadvantages. However, mainly experts recommend the use of class II devices. They are relatively inexpensive, and provide the maximum therapeutic effect.
Side effects
When prescribing sipap therapy, the doctor should tell you what it is. The specialist is also not entitled to hold back the consequences. The patient should be prepared for the following conditions during adaptation:
- dry mouth and nose;
- skin irritation;
- heart rhythm disturbance;
- eye irritation.
These conditions pass after some time independently.
Conclusion
Sipap therapy is a modern treatment for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Its essence is to expand the airways during sleep. As a result, a person fully rests, easily wakes up in the morning and notes an increased degree of working capacity during the day.