Proper Use Of Cpap Mask May Prevent Silent Stroke

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New information reveals that leaving sleep apnea untreated can lead to a higher risk of having a silent stroke. While some people do not feel that a lack of sleep can be so serious, medical studies are proving just the opposite. Treatment with a CPAP machine and CPAP mask can help to alleviate or eliminate the symptoms of sleep apnea.

New Research from Stroke Specialists

Researchers from the Dresden University Stroke Center’s Department of Neurology in Germany presented their findings to the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2012.

During the conference, the study by Dr. Kepplinger revealed that a large number of people who suffered from silent strokes had been previously diagnosed with sleep apnea. The research indicates that sleep apnea indeed raises the risk for a stroke like other factors, including high blood pressure. Unfortunately, the research also found that sleep apnea is often neglected by patients and mostly goes unrecognized by the afflicted person. Patients who exhibit the most severe form of the sleep disorder have ...
... a much higher chance of suffering from a silent stroke.

Understanding a Silent Stroke

The basic definition for silent stroke falls under the category of an “isolated medical event in which the person neither feels nor exhibits any visible symptoms, including weakness, dizziness, partial paralysis or problems speaking (common with a stroke).” Basically speaking, the person does not know that they have suffered a stroke. There is also typically damage done to the brain cells from a silent stroke. This damage can lead to a mini-stroke or even a major stroke in the future.

Research Findings

Here are some of the highlights of the research performed by Dresden University.

Over 90% of the stroke patients were also diagnosed with sleep apnea
Patients that had at least 5 nightly sleep apnea episodes were at increased risk of silent stroke
Men were at a higher risk for a silent stroke than women
The stroke patients were also diagnosed with white matter lesions that lead to an increased chance of disability

The white matter found in the brain is where the information is processed and signals are transmitted to the rest of the body. A white matter lesion is a small spot of dead cells. These lesions are typically found in the brains of people aged 65 or older. It is also common in people with Alzheimer’s disease, acute migraines and strokes.

From the evidence above, it is easy to see how sleep apnea can be linked to a silent stroke. Furthermore, it adds one more argument to the benefit of using a CPAP machine and CPAP mask as a means to avoid the negative implications of sleep apnea. Since the CPAP machine and CPAP mask equipment has been shown to effectively treat sleep apnea; patients who use sleep therapy consistently can significantly decrease their chance for a silent stroke

The researchers from Dresden University recommend that doctors handle patients who are diagnosed with sleep apnea with the same level of seriousness as associated with other known stroke risk factors such as hypertension or high blood pressure. Urging patients to comply with the use of a CPAP machine and CPAP mask should be a top priority.

Larry Chandler is a freelance writer for The CPAP Shop a leading provider of CPAP mask. Their machine offerings, as well as Resmed full face mask and accessories can be viewed at their website Thecpapshop.com