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Good sleep is vital for good health. When you experience the restorative stages of sleep, your blood pressure lowers, muscles and tissue are repaired and energy is restored to your brain and body. Sleeping well means waking up refreshed.
Poor sleep can put at an increased risk for high blood pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, driving accidents, excessive sleepiness and an overall decreased quality of life.
Working alongside Frontier, your healthcare team will be able to recognize and diagnosis a sleep disorder, like sleep apnea. Utilizing an in-lab or home sleep test to determine if you need a sleep therapy device can be the solution for quality, restful sleep. Better rest is possible with sleep therapy!
Sleep Therapy Education
When your sleep is interrupted by frequent pauses in breathing, you may be at risk for sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common disorder that, if left untreated, can result in serious health risks. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, one-quarter of the US population has been diagnosed with sleep apnea. The good news is that sleep apnea can be treated, and with your health care team, we will provide you support to ensure proper therapy outcomes are achieved.
During sleep, the airway may close off partially or completely, resulting in little to no airflow. The body’s natural response to changes in breathing patterns from normal to abnormal is to interrupt your sleep cycle to ensure proper breathing is achieved. The cycle of abnormal breathing as a result of airway obstructions, reduced oxygen levels, and brief wake-ups can repeat several times during the night and lead to decreased sleep quality.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) causes breathing to stop and start repeatedly during sleep. The throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep. A noticeable sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring.
While men are diagnosed eight times as often, sleep apnea is not a “man’s disease.” Sleep apnea affects people of all sizes, shapes, ages—and genders. Simply put, women are less likely to be diagnosed with sleep apnea because of the tell-tale symptoms that women experience may not be as obvious.
For anyone suffering from sleep apnea, the short and long-term health risks are the same. This can include feeling tired during the day, high blood pressure, cardiopulmonary disease, diabetes, stroke, and more. Treating sleep apnea is critical to your health and well-being—from sleep testing to sleep therapy, Frontier’s clinical staff is here to help you.
| Men | Women |
|---|---|
| Snoring | Snoring |
| Stopping Breathing | Fatigue |
| Gasping for Air | Headaches |
| Restless Sleep | Anxiety & Depression |
For many, frequent restroom breaks is a way of life. However, a full bladder may not be why you wake up: sleep apnea will also wake you up. When your body is awakened from an apnea event, this will signal your brain to empty your bladder, even if it is not full. If you are experiencing frequent urges to use the bathroom, share this symptom with your healthcare professional. This can be another sign of sleep apnea.
What is Sleep Testing?
Sleep studies are tests that record what happens to your body during sleep. The testing is done to find out what is causing your sleep problems. During a routine office visit, talk with your doctor about the symptoms you are having. If you suspect your sleep partner is at risk for sleep apnea, your first step is to contact your healthcare professional. Visit with them about the following:
During the day, do you often feel:
If you have said “yes” to any of the above, you may have a sleep disorder.
You may need to be tested for a sleep disorder in lab or at home; this will be determined by a combination of your symptoms, doctor’s orders, and insurance coverage. Types of sleep studies include:
After a registered sleep technologist reviews the sleep study, those results are then sent to a board-certified sleep physician to interpret your sleep test further. The official interpretation results are sent to your ordering physician to explain the results.
To grade the severity of sleep apnea, the number of events per hour that you experience creates your AHI score or apnea-hypopnea index. Oxygen desaturations may also affect the severity of your sleep apnea and affect the severity of potential risks for other diseases or conditions.
Under 5 None
5 – 15 Mild
15 – 30 Moderate
Over 30 Severe
Benefits of Treating Sleep Apnea
Sleep Therapy Equipment
Positive airway pressure (PAP) devices are the best and most common non-invasive treatment for sleep apnea—it is the gold standard. PAP devices involve placing a mask over the mouth and/or nose while compressed air acts as a splint for the airway. This pressure keeps the airway open during exhalation, allowing for better respiration.
Depending on the kind of sleep therapy you need, your healthcare professional will prescribe a PAP device. The following are the most common types of PAP devices that are used to treat various forms of sleep apnea:
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) systems provide one level of pressure to your upper airway throughout the night. This pressure acts as a splint to prevent upper airway collapse during sleep. These devices work with either one set pressure or by setting a pressure range, called Auto CPAP. Auto-adjusting devices provide variable pressure based on your airflow needs throughout the night.
Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) systems keep airways open using two pressure settings—a higher level during inhalation and a lower pressure during exhalation. BiPAP settings can either be set or variable depending on your needs.
Adaptive Servo-Ventilation (ASV)is a sophisticated BiPAP system used for treating complex sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. These devices continuously monitor each breath, providing both CPAP and pressure support when needed.
Masks
It’s important to not only choose a mask that gives you the best sleep therapy quality, but is comfortable and fits your specific needs.
Frontier offers a variety of nasal and full-face masks in many sizes and shapes to achieve a comfortable fit and therapeutic benefits! Here, you’ll find the top-rated masks in the brands you can trust.
AirTouch™ F20
AirFit™ F20
Dreamwear™ Full-Face
AirFit™ N20
AirFit™ N30
AirFit™ P10
Dreamwear™ Nasal
Cleaning & Maintenance
Maintaining a clean sleep therapy device is part of good, healthy sleep. Ensure long-term comfort with a proper cleaning regime.
To correctly handwash your supplies, use warm water and mild dish detergent or baby shampoo. CPAP cleaning wipes and automated sanitizing machines can also be helpful for easy daily care practices.
When utilizing your CPAP or BiPAP device, respiratory health starts with clean supplies. Your mask, frame, headgear, water chamber, and tubing all need attention. Regular cleaning means your supplies last longer, as well as being more comfortable and germ-free—cleaning protects you.
| Equipment | Cleaning Instructions | Cleaning Frequency | Replacement Needed Every |
|---|---|---|---|
| Device | Unplug device and gently wipe down with a dry cloth. | Weekly | 5 years |
| Filter | Filters are disposable and should be replaced regularly. | N/A | 2 weeks |
| Humidifier Chamber | Only use distilled water in your humidifier chamber. Empty and rinse with warm water daily. Turn upside down and allow to air dry. Refill with fresh, cool distilled water nightly. Once a week, clean with warm, soapy water and allow to air dry. | Daily | 6 months |
| Tubing | Wash with warm, soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Hang tubing and allow to dry. | Weekly | 3 months |
| Cushion | Each day, wash with soapy water or use CPAP cleaning wipes. Allow to dry. | Daily | Nasal: 2 weeks; Full-Face: 1 month |
| Frame | Wash with warm, soapy water and rinse; or use CPAP cleaning wipes. Allow to dry. | Weekly | 3 months |
| Headgear | Wash by hand in warm, soapy water. Rinse and air dry. | Weekly | 6 months |
Sleep Therapy Compliance is Critical
Compliance refers to your successful adherence to sleep therapy. With proper compliance, you can start to see the health benefits of a good night’s rest. Frontier will be monitoring your progress and encouraging you along the way!
Frontier Home Medical is your Sleep Compliance Specialist. Our goal is to help you reach compliance with your sleep therapy. As we monitor your PAP usage, Frontier is here to make sure you have comfortable, easy-to-use equipment, the educational tools you need, and your transition to PAP therapy is as smooth as possible. Frontier is here as your sleep support!
When you have sleep apnea, utilizing a sleep therapy device is the best way to ensure healthy and restful sleep. We are here to help support you and help you wear your device consistently. As experienced sleep specialists, our best words of advice are to stay optimistic and don’t get discouraged. Remember, there are many long-term health benefits to sleep therapy. Once you adjust to your sleep device, you’ll wish you started this journey years ago! Sleep therapy can change your life; Frontier is here to support you on that journey.
To enhance the quality of your treatment, Frontier is able to monitor your progress via ResMed’s myAir remotely. This connection will be critical to your ongoing care and compliance.
myAir is a state-of-the-art monitoring program created by ResMed. It is designed to help you track your sleep therapy progress and compliance using cellular communication. Please note, the data gathered by myAir is usually transmitted after therapy has stopped each day. To ensure that your data is transferred, be sure to leave your device connected to the power outlet at all times and make sure that it is not in Airplane Mode.
Benefits of Using myAir 
Comfort Products for Better Sleep Therapy You may find these supplies can help you adjust to sleep therapy. Find these, and more products, at your local Frontier location.
7 out of 10 people sleep better with clean CPAP supplies. Easy-to-operate, automated CPAP cleaning machines make wake-up maintenance a breeze.
Sleep Therapy Device Safety
In the event of a power outage, it is always best to be prepared. Your sleep device is designed to operate through most brief power losses, such as thunderstorms. In the event of longer power outages, purchasing a back-up battery system that is designed for a sleep therapy machine can provide peace of mind.
Living with Sleep Therapy For some, starting sleep therapy is not exactly a walk in the park; however, Frontier is here to help make your journey a little easier. Here are a few tips from our partners at ResMed:
Using a sleep therapy device can be frustrating as you try to get used to it, but it’s important you stick with it. The treatment is essential to avoid obstructive and central sleep apnea complications, such as heart problems and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Regular visits with Frontier and your physician can help you troubleshoot any issues you have with your sleep therapy. With time and patience, sleep therapy can positively affect your quality of life and health.
Everyone has a different facial structure, so the right style and size mask for someone else may not work for you.
First, try wearing just the PAP mask for short periods while you’re awake—for example while watching TV. Then try wearing the mask and hose with the device turned on during the day while you’re awake.
Once you get used to how that feels, start using it every time you sleep—including naps. Just wearing the PAP device now and then may delay getting used to it. Stick with it for several weeks or more to see if your mask and pressure are right.
You may be able to overcome this by using a machine with a ramp feature, SmartStart™. This setting allows you to start with low air pressure. The machine then automatically and slowly increases the air pressure to your prescribed setting as you fall asleep. If this feature doesn’t help, ask about changing to a device that automatically and continuously adjusts the pressure while you’re sleeping. For example, a BiPAP machine delivers more pressure when you breathe in and less when you breathe out.
Be sure your mask fits well. A leaky mask can dry out your nose. If you have to tighten straps often to prevent air leakage, the mask does not fit properly.
A heated humidifier that attaches to your PAP device can help. You can adjust the level of humidification. Using a nasal saline spray or sinus wash at bedtime may help ease a dry, stuffy nose.
Practice using your mask while you’re awake. First, hold it up to your face without any of the other parts. Once you’re comfortable with that, try wearing the mask with the straps.
Next, try holding the mask with the attached hose on your face, without using the straps. Turn on the CPAP machine, perhaps with the ramp feature, like SmartStart™, turned on. Next, do this using the straps too. Finally, try sleeping with the mask and machine on.
If you have trouble falling asleep, try practicing putting on and wearing your mask during the day. Also, be sure to follow good sleep habits.
A leaky or ill-fitting mask means you’re not getting the full air pressure you need, so try adjusting cushions and straps to better fit. Check your resupply schedule to be sure your mask is up-to-date; replace as needed.
If you sleep with your mouth open, some devices may worsen dry mouth. A chin strap may help keep your mouth closed and reduce the air leak if you wear a nasal mask.
A full-face mask that covers your mouth and nose also may work well for you. Using proper humidification or dry mouth melts also may help.
It’s normal sometimes to wake up to find you’ve removed the mask in your sleep. If you move around a lot in your sleep, you may find that a full-face mask will stay on your face better.
Consider turning off the device’s SmartStart™ setting. That way, if you remove your mask, the machine will continue to run, and there is a better chance you’ll hear it and wake up.
Most devices are almost silent. However, if you find a device’s noise is bothersome, first check to make sure the device’s air filter is clean and unblocked and that your hose and mask are clean. If this doesn’t help, notify Frontier. We can ensure that the device is working properly. If the device is working correctly and the noise still bothers you, try wearing earplugs or using a white noise sound machine to hide the noise.
Are you prescribed oxygen therapy—either continuous or nocturnal? If so, this can be done in conjunction with your sleep therapy. Please note: portable or pulse dose oxygen cannot be used with sleep therapy. CPAP or BiPAP adaptors can simultaneously provide oxygen therapy and sleep therapy. Adaptors with built-in oxygen ports allow you to get the oxygen flow and air pressure you’ve been prescribed.
Traveling with Sleep Therapy When you leave home, always bring your sleep therapy along. Follow these tips to get good rest while traveling:
There is no need to leave your good night of sleep with travel CPAPs. They are small but mighty and include waterless, non-heated humidification, and it works with several types of masks. Plus, ResMed’s AirMini™ device is FAA compliant for air travel. Weighing in at just under a pound and fitting in the palm of your hand, AirMini gives you the freedom to travel—without leaving your good night of sleep at home!
Diabetes & Sleep Apnea When it comes to the relationship between diabetes and sleep apnea, which leads to which? Is it diabetes that leads to sleep apnea or sleep apnea that leads to diabetes? The answer may be both! Studies have shown that there is a close correlation between the two disease states.
72% of patients with Type II diabetes suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.
30% of sleep therapy patients have impaired glucose tolerance.
Sleep apnea and diabetes are associated with obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and impaired kidney function.
Better Diabetic Health
When you treat sleep apnea, you get many health benefits! One such advantage is improved blood sugar (glucose) levels. This, in turn, can reduce the risk of complications from diabetes. People who treat their sleep apnea with a CPAP can achieve better control of their glucose levels.
Oxygen & Sleep Therapy
Do you use a CPAP or BiPAP for sleep therapy? If so, this can be done in conjunction with your oxygen therapy—continuous or nocturnal. Note that portable or pulse oxygen cannot be used with sleep therapy.
CPAP or BiPAP adaptors can simultaneously provide oxygen therapy and sleep therapy. Adaptors with built-in oxygen ports allow for you to get both the oxygen flow and air pressure that you’ve been prescribed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wearing a positive pressure device will not cure sleep apnea; it is a treatment.
When worn during sleep, it is 99% effective at maintaining airflow and reducing or eliminating the interrupted breathing caused by sleep apnea.
You may experience nasal irritation or dry mouth.
Humidifiers and dry mouth melts can alleviate these issues. Feeling bloated or gassy can also happen due to swallowing air in the night. If this becomes uncomfortable, be sure to consult with your doctor and/or Frontier Home Medical.
Leave your mask on; just detach the hose using the quick release clips. When you’re done, reattach the hose and start your machine.
Consistent sleep therapy can reduce your risk of an auto accident by half. Drowsiness has been estimated to be involved in 30-50% of all accidents.*
*D Leger, © 1994; CFP George, © 2001
Some people may find getting a proper mask seal more challenging with facial hair. Using beard wax and trying different mask styles can help.
After periods of sleep deprivation, some people experience REM rebound. It’s a phenomenon in which there is an increase in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep after a period of little REM sleep. Once your body has a chance to sleep deeply, that tired and groggy feeling in the morning should pass.
The pressure created when wearing a CPAP or BiPAP can cause what is known as dry socket. Be sure always to follow the advice of your dentist and physician.
Simply put, if you don’t wear it, you won’t get any health benefits. Inadequate sleep at night, sleepiness during the day, headaches, and more can be treated with sleep therapy. Be patient with yourself and with the therapy—always try to remember that this can positively affect the quality of your life.
© 2021 Frontier Home Medical
Frontier Home Medical is fully accredited by the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation (HQAA). HQAA is a healthcare accreditation organization providing accreditation for home medical equipment (HME) and durable medical equipment (DME) companies nationwide.
