Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Perchance We'll Dream

Where the monitoring occurs
At 8:30 we showed up at the sleep center. Over a dozen electrodes were taped to the head and chest. The technician explained that there were three primary causes of sleep apnea. Aging, weight, and genetics all could restrict breathing during the night, and with the patient at least two factors are in play. Getting enough oxygen to the brain during sleep is vital for physical wellbeing, mental alertness, longevity, job performance, and a host of other reasons.

We'll meet with the doctor in a few weeks to discuss the findings. She'll likely prescribe a CPAP machine. It will take some getting used to, but putting the mask on every night is preferable to mouth or throat surgery. © 2013 Stephen Yuen

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