Sleep apnea is considered to be one of the most serious sleeping disorders a patient can experience. Unlike other types of sleeping disorders like narcolepsy and insomnia, sleep apnea can be fatal if not addressed correctly.  Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by lapses in breathing that can be as long as a minute, leading to limited amount of oxygen that enters the brain while asleep.

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These interruptions in breathing usually happen a hundred times during sleep. Most often than not, the patient is not even aware that this is happening. More than 18 Million adults in the US suffer from this problem. Over the years, experts have been devoting their time finding effective sleep aids to prevent complications associated with apnea.

When a person suffers from sleeping disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea, his way of life changes. Lack of quality rest at night can lead to a number of home and work issues as sleep is a big factor in maintaining one’s health, mood, and concentration. A variety of sleep aids have been developed over the years to help patients sleep better and combat their sleeping disorders symptoms.

Various sleep aids have been developed to alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea. The most popular of these is CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, which is the standard in which all the other treatments are being compared with.  This works by supplying the brain with ample amount of oxygen through a mask that is worn by the patient while asleep. However, some patients only use this for a short time because they find it uncomfortable and somewhat painful.

Other alternative sleeping aids that claim to be as effective as CPAP have been introduced. One of them is Provent. Provent, which is a nasal device, is quieter and less intrusive than CPAP is now gaining popularity. It works by making use of Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure or EPAP.  Though this system is not for everyone, experts say that majority of the patients who tried Provent experienced relief and were able to win the battle against sleep apnea and other breathing related sleeping disorders.

The problem with sleep apnea is that it can cause severe complications to the body if not addressed early. Chronic cases can lead to heart problems, stroke, excessive snoring, and even extreme cases of insomnia. With the help of sleeping aids, patients are able to get better quality sleep.

Author's Bio: 

Josh Tal is the Operations and Public Relations Manager for www.CityofSleep.com, an online sleep resource center. Josh is a boarded sleep technician (RPSGT) by trade. In addition, he is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at Palo Alto University with a focus on Women's Health and Neuroscience through Stanford University. He works as a research assistant at Stanford University's Late-Life and Lifespan Approach to Neuropsychiatric Disorders Lab.