Information on OSA and COPD

In 2005, about 12.2 million people in the United States had Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and another 17 million Americans had Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Around (95%) of people with OSA remain undiagnosed and untreated. According to American Lung Association, COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, claiming 124,816 Americans in 2002.

What is COPD?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a term that refers to a large group of lung diseases characterized by a blocking of airflow that prevents normal breathing. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the most common forms of COPD and they frequently exist together.

What causes COPD?

The main cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is smoking. You put yourself at risk when smoking cigarette, pipe, cigar, and all other types of tobacco. There have been studies showing that other factors leading to COPD include occupational dusts and chemicals, outdoor air pollution, secondhand smoke and heredity, but the role of these factors causing COPD is still very uncertain. The best way to prevent or stop the progression of COPD is to stop smoking.

Treatment for COPD

Using different pulmonary function tests COPD can be easily diagnosed, yet the disease is very tricky For this reason many people remained undiagnosed for COPD. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease can be present in a person with out any physical problems or symptoms. In most cases COPD is not detected until half of the lung's function is gone, resulting in shortness of breath and dizziness. While there is still no cure for COPD there are other treatments that can improve a patient's quality of life.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common breathing problem that can have negative effects on your sleep, health, and overall quality of life. When left untreated, not only does it cause excessive fatigue, but it can also pose serious risks to health and well-being.

What causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition caused by relaxation of muscles in the upper airway. Normally, when the muscles in the upper airway are relaxed during sleep they become too relaxed, the airway may narrow, which limits the amount of air that can get to your lungs. As narrowing occurs, some people begin to snore, or have difficulty breathing properly. Because of this, snoring and sleep apnea often go together. In some cases, the muscle relaxes so much that the airway collapses and is completely obstructed. Obstructive sleep apneas can last for as long as ten seconds and may occur hundreds of times during one night.

Treatment of Sleep Apnea

The most widely accepted and implemented treatment of sleep apnea is called Positive Airway Pressure Therapy. This method is non-surgical and does not require prescription drug or hormonal treatments. Simply stated, positive airway pressure therapy utilizes a small bedside device which delivers pressurized air through a mask or nasal pillows system. The air that flows through the mask helps to counteract the effect of relaxed airway muscles by keeping the airway open during the night.

Orbit Medical can provided help to those who suffer from OSA and COPD

Choosing the correct system to treat your OSA and COPD is an important decision that requires careful consideration. Orbit Medical provides the highest level of service to make sure that using your sleep therapy machine is as easy as possible. Orbit Medical is a leading distributor of REMstar® Pro with C-Flex™CPAP System's and BiPAP®Pro 2 with Bi-Flex®. Both of these products have been proven to improve the systems of OSA and COPD. To find out more information about Orbit Medical and the products and services available to you please contact us at 1-877-672-4862 or visit our website at www.orbitmedical.com

Sources:

• 2005 Fall Prevention Center of Excellence.
• Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.