Sleep apnea is a common disorder and can adversely affect your health if not properly treated. In addition to treatment prescribed by your doctor, there are also lifestyle changes you can make to further help with your disorder.

• Quit Smoking: Cigarette smoke irritates your mouth and throat, which can further exacerbate your sleep apnea.
• Weight Loss: Losing weight may be the single most important lifestyle change you could make, both for your overall health and for the treatment of sleep apnea. Losing weight is a daunting task and any patient should be sure to use a safe and effective exercise regimen.
• Avoid Alcohol and Sedatives: Alcohol and sedatives relax the muscles in the throat, which makes sleep apnea more severe. Alcohol should not be consumed for at least 4 hours before going to sleep. If your doctor prescribes you with a sedative, you should tell him/her that you have sleep apnea.
• Side/Stomach Sleeping: Many patients find that sleeping on their back triggers sleep apnea. By sleeping on your side or your stomach, you may find that the apnea is lessened.

Along with these lifestyle changes, your doctor will most likely recommend a sleep apnea device and mask to wear during the night. The most important thing to remember about wearing a sleep apnea mask is compliance; you have to wear it regularly for it to have any effect. Finding the right mask for you is imperative, since having a comfortable mask means you will be willing to wear it every night. There are many masks out there, so the biggest question is which one you should choose.

Fisher & Paykel’s Zest nasal CPAP mask is very popular and comfortable, combining a new Easy-Clip Silicone Seal and Advanced Air Diffuser with proven FlexiFit technology, which guarantees comfort, ease of use and reliability. The inner Auto-Contouring Foam Cushion automatically adjusts to nasal and facial contours without the need for complicated adjustments. The outer Easy-Clip Silicone Seal provides a perfect seal, which stops any air from your CPAP machine from leaking out, which guarantees effective treatment.

The Advanced Air Diffuser on Fisher & Paykel’s Zest nasal CPAP mask disperses airflow away from the sleeper and sleep partner and minimizes noise. The new breathable elastic headgear is specially designed to maintain a comfortable, firm seal, while Fisher & Paykel’s Glider Straps and Clips distribute pressure equally across the face and automatically adjust the mask alignment during sleep.

Along with lifestyle changes, finding the most effective and comfortable mask is imperative. Fisher & Paykel’s Zest nasal CPAP mask is comfortable and practical and may be the right mask for your needs.