Nearly 18 million people in the United States are believed to be living with sleep apnea. This includes an estimated one in fifty people that are living with undiagnosed sleep apnea, which is very dangerous. People with this condition that go untreated are at a significantly higher risk for some severe health problems.

For example, untreated sleep apnea puts you at four times greater risk of suffering a stroke, and a three times greater risk of developing heart disease. Further, according to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, roughly 38,000 deaths a year can be attributed to a condition related to or caused by sleep apnea.

For someone living with this health hazard, you may experience 60 apneas per hour. While you may attribute your poor sleep to a variety of factors, it is important to be checked out by a doctor. Sleep apnea is more common in men than women, and people with asthma are 40% more likely to develop it than those without.

What do you do? How do you reduce the health risks associated with your sleep apnea? While the answer is simple, the majority of people do not do what they need to be doing. A cpap machine is designed to help you get the oxygen you need and reduce the number of apneas you experience while sleeping. The fewer episodes you have, the lower the health risk, will be.

However, cpap masks and nasal pillows are not comfortable, and most users complain that the machine disrupts their sleep. 80% of patients that claim they are using their cpap machine are not using enough to stay safe. Over half of all apnea patients stop using their cpap machine within a month of getting it.

To get the most health benefit from the device, it needs to be used at least 70% of the time during a 30-day period for at least four hours a night. That means you don?t have to wear it all night or even every single night, but you do need to use it a majority of the time.

Cpap machines can be expensive and how much you have to pay will depend on your health coverage. However, there are companies that sell used cpap machines. The machine itself does not come in contact with your breathing or face, so there is no health concern over using a used cpap machine. Online cpap suppliers sell cpap masks, cpap pillows, and all the other cpap supplies you may need.

You can save a lot of money looking at used cpap machines, opposed to a new one and you will experience no difference in the quality or effectiveness. Companies that sell used cpap machines ensure that they are in perfect running order before resale, so you can rest easy knowing it?ll work. Since these companies also want your business buying ongoing supplies, it is in their best interest to ensure your satisfaction with the machine.

If using a cpap machine is new for you, you may not know yet if you want to use the mask or nasal pillow. Research has shown that the preference among users is almost exactly 50/50. Those that prefer the nasal pillow or comparable to those that prefer the mask. Find a supplier online today to learn about your options.