Medicare and Sleep Apnea Devices - CPAP Therapy

Among the elderly, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is present in 24% of people who live independently, 33% of those in acute care institutions, and 42% who are in nursing homes. It\'s no wonder then, that there always will be questions raised about Medicare and sleep apnea devices.

Of the some 85 recognized sleep disorders, sleep apnea is one of the most common, affecting over 12 million people in the United Sates alone. It is also one of the most deadly of the sleep disorders.

There are three types of sleep apnea, obstructive (OSA), central and mixed of which OSA is the most prevalent. Roughly two percent of women and four percent of men suffer from this sleep problem. It is characterized by intermittent interruption in breathing due to airway obstruction during sleep.

This condition can be dangerous because the sufferer actually stops breathing while sleeping, which in turn can lead to further complications, such as high blood pressure and heart problems. People with severe OSA can stop breathing as many as 120 times in a night! Moreover, because the sufferer wakes for at least a few seconds after each episode, they never reach the point of deep sleep required for normal daily functioning.

In younger people, the causes of sleep apnea are well known - obesity, male sex and large neck circumference, for instance. But in older individuals, the underlying cause is not so well defined. Obesity, of course is still one of the risk factors in the elderly.

Nevertheless, it is a hard fact that the prevalence of sleep apnea increases with age and weight. Often there are lifestyle contributors to elderly sleep apnea such as excessive alcohol consumption and smoking. Sadly, however, obstructive sleep apnea in the elderly all too frequently goes undiagnosed.\r In older people the consequences differ and can include ischemic heart disease, various arrhythmias, stroke, erectile dysfunction, permanent systemic or pulmonary hypertension, dementia, and depression. Death can occur prematurely.

Treatment of OSA in older people will usually take a conservative approach at first. This will include moderation, then discontinuation of any sleep aids or hypnotics, moderation of alcohol consumption and weight reduction where indicated. Keep in mind that medications do not treat the primary problems associated with sleep apnea.

However, in conjunction with other measures, physicians often will prescribe the use of a mechanical device designed to overcome obstructions to the airway passages during sleep. The device is referred to as a CPAP which stands for continuous positive airway pressure. This machine helps in easing sleep apnea disturbances and decreasing snoring.

The good news for the elderly is that Medicare covers sleep apnea devices. All medicare covered sleep apnea devices are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A search on the internet will uncover a number of vendors who will handle the entire Medicare and sleep apnea device renting or purchasing process for patients who qualify. So, it is advisable to get the very latest in design that Medicare will cover.

A final word is in order. You can either rent or purchase CPAP machines. Before you buy under you Medicare coverage, it is a good idea to rent first to see if the particular brand is suitable for you and in keeping with your lifestyle. Once you are satisfied, then a purchase may make sense. After all, you will be using a CPAP device permanently.

Robert G. Knechtel operates several websites, including A Guide to Sleep Disorders and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - Symptoms and Diagnosis.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 at 10:48 pm and is filed under Sleep Apnea Snoring . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.