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#cpap machine in ottawa
grsmedical · 1 year
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Common Myths about CPAP Therapy Debunked
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If you're considering using a CPAP machine to manage your sleep apnea, it's essential to understand the potential risks and side effects associated with this treatment option. Normand Lapointe is a Respiratory Care Practitioner and Founder/Owner of GRS Medical. He says that CPAP machines are generally safe and effective, and the majority of side effects are minor and can be easily managed.   
What are the common side effects of using a CPAP machine?  
The most common side effect is mouth dryness, which can be alleviated by using a humidifier attached to your CPAP machine. Other possible side effects may include aerophagia (bloating or gas), bleeding nose due to lower humidity, dry eyes caused by mask leaks, nasal congestion, headaches, and skin irritation. It's important to note that rare cases of pneumothorax (collapsed lung), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), or hypotension (low blood pressure) have been reported, but according to Normand, these occurrences are extremely uncommon. 
How can the side effects of CPAP machines be managed? 
If you experience any side effects while using a CPAP machine, Normand advises that you contact one of his sleep disorder clinics in Montreal and Quebec. His team of sleep specialists can provide guidance and support in managing these issues. Most side effects can be easily managed with some trial and error, such as adjusting mask fit, using a humidifier, or exploring different mask options. It's important to remember that the long-term benefits of CPAP therapy in achieving restful sleep outweigh these minor side effects. 
Understanding the potential side effects of CPAP machines is vital when considering sleep apnea treatment options. Normand and his team of sleep experts at GRS Medical can help get you set up with your CPAP machine and ensure your comfort and overall well-being. Don't hesitate to reach out if you experience any side effects while using a CPAP machine. Remember, a good night's sleep is crucial for your health, and with proper management, CPAP therapy can significantly improve your sleep quality and overall quality of life. 
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I think an important skill to develop is traveling alone. Or just doing things alone.
I often go to events or conventions in neighboring cities (neighboring in a canadian way, meaning 3+ hours of travel) and most of the time I do it alone. I take the car, bus, train, with my clothes and my books and my art and my cpap machine and always a book that I won't read, and I do the Event, sometimes I see friends, meet colleagues.
But there are many hours where I find myself in a new city, and I learned to make myself visit new places, go to cafés with a notebook or sketchbook, visit museums, get a pint in interesting pubs, eat yummy food at cool restaurants, visit the tourists traps. Take selfies and send them to mom.
And at night, I go back to the hotel room and I make myself a cup of tea (because I brought teabags from home), watch local tv, try to read the book.
Work made me travel to Ottawa, so yesterday I saw a friend but after I ate delicious fish and chips at an irish pub, today I went to a gaming pub and beat a childhood videogame for the first time, tomorrow I'll be flying in a WW2 biplane.
If I had to wait for the stars to align and for someone to do things with me, I wouldn't do anything.
So I guess as long as I can grab my little suitcase, my backpack and my cpap machine, I'll keep going to places. Qui m'aime, me suive.
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Common signals of our body to which we must pay attention REPENTING SYMPTOMS 1. Difficulty speaking If you suddenly have trouble speaking, that may be the sign that you suffered a stroke in the brain's language center. “The person may speak incoherent or confusing words, or may not understand what you say,” says Dr. Leanne K. Casaubon, neurologist and director of the Transitional Ischemic and Minor Stroke Unit at the Western Hospital of Toronto, Canada. Another symptom may be that one side of the face is paralyzed. If you suspect you had a stroke, call the emergency number, or ask someone to do it for you. 2. Light flashes or blackheads increase When we age, it is common for us to see points and flashes, which are usually benign signs of the changes that occur in the vitreous gel inside the eyeball. But suddenly seeing bright flashes or a larger number of points may indicate that the retina is damaged. That is an ophthalmic emergency and must be addressed. "If not, the fluid can drain under the tear and cause retinal detachment, which, in some cases, leads to blindness," says Dr. Lorne Bellan, head of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. 3. Changes in mental state If the mental state or behavior of one of your loved ones suddenly changes, you should consult a doctor, even if the person already has a diagnosis of dementia. "It is not usual to have acute confusion," says Dr. Paul Pageau of Ottawa, former president of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians. This symptom sometimes results from a disease that requires treatment, such as a urinary tract infection. Other common causes include low blood glucose (for people with diabetes), electrolyte imbalances and medication. 4. Changes in vision Seeing double or blurry, losing sight of one eye or losing the visual field on one side (from good to first, you don't see half of the computer screen, for example) can be symptoms of a stroke. Other causes of unexpected changes in vision may be minor, such as the aura of a migraine. “The worst-case scenario would be a cerebral aneurysm, which presses the nerve that turns the eye. It usually presents with the sudden onset of double vision. An emergency treatment prevents aneurysm rupture, ”says Bellan. 5. Pressure in the jaw, neck or arms According to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, not everyone feels the classic chest pain with a heart attack, especially women. The only symptom may be feeling pressure, discomfort or pain in the arms, neck, and jaw. That doesn't mean there can't be another problem that generates that feeling, says Dr. Peter Bogaty, of the Cardiology Clinic in Montreal, Canada. "The heart, esophagus and chest organs share a common innervation with the jaw and arms, so it is not about the heart yes or yes." But if the feeling is new, if it seems that something is wrong or if it does not go away after a few minutes, ask for help. 6. Stiff neck with flu symptoms In the early stages of meningitis, you may be convinced that you have seasonal flu due to the presence of headache and high fever. But it is very common for people who develop an infection in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord to have a stiff neck and feel pain when they try to bring the chin to the chest. They may also be disturbed by the light and are confused. "Bacterial meningitis can be lethal if it is not treated in time," Pageau says. With every hour that goes by without administering the corresponding antibiotic, there is a greater chance of becoming disabled or dying. ” 7. Chest pain Although it remains the most common symptom of heart attack, many times people ignore it, says Bogaty. Indeed, indigestion, reflux, and anxiety can also cause chest pain. But you have to go to an emergency room, have blood tests, imaging studies or other tests right away to find out exactly what you have. “If it is a heart attack of proportions, then it can be cut at the root. Sudden death can be prevented, ”says Bogaty.                                            SYMPTOMS WITHOUT EXPLANATION 8. Weight loss If you lost more than five percent of your weight without dieting between the last six and 12 months, tell your doctor (ask for a shift right away if you have other symptoms, such as pain, abdominal swelling or nausea). Many diseases can cause weight loss, including gastrointestinal conditions such as ulcers, celiac disease, infections, thyroid problems, psychiatric disorders and the adverse effects of medication. It is also possible that it is cancer. "If the diagnosis of cancer is delayed, it can progress to advanced stages and that makes it harder to control it," says Monica Behl, medical director, an oncologist at the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency. 9. Red spots under the skin If epithelial bacteria, such as streptococcus or staphylococcus, get into your skin - through a cut, a scrape, or a mosquito bite - and infect the deeper tissues, that infection can spread and cause serious complications, even death in some cases. "Diabetics present a particular risk of infection," says Pageau. You may need to take antibiotics if you have a red, hot, and inflamed area that grows after one or two days or advances through the body. Healthy people can check with their GP if the spots do not progress rapidly, says Pageau. "But if you feel bad or if you see the symptom getting worse fast, go to the emergency department." 10. Dizziness or fainting Feeling dizzy a moment after stopping is usually due to a decrease in blood pressure. For some, that is their normal physiology, but for others, it is a sign that there is a problem. Dehydration or adverse effects of a medication are easy to correct. But Dr. Brett Belchetz, a Toronto emergency physician and co-founder and CEO of Maple, an online health care service, says: "The low blood pressure may be the result of a heart problem, an infection or a neurological disorder." Dizziness can occur due to anemia, perhaps due to heavy menstruation or intestinal bleeding. Vertigo usually results from a problem in the middle ear. Ask your doctor for a shift, but check immediately if you feel you are going to fade even when you do not stop, or if the vertigo is so intense that you cannot walk in a straight line. 11. Shortness of breath If it is so pronounced that you cannot take more than a few steps or finish a sentence, you should call the emergency number, Belchetz suggests. “There is a long list of causes, but all are quite serious and none should be ignored. It could progress and become very dangerous, even deadly. ” Possible causes include heart attack, pneumonia, asthma, emphysema or a clot in the lungs. If shortness of breath does not interfere with your daily activities, it is not an emergency, but your doctor will have to check your heart and lungs and check for other causes. 12. Blood in the urine or feces Some medications and some foods can change the color of your stool or urine, and so can minor ailments, such as hemorrhoids. But bleeding in the toilet is always a matter of consultation if you don't know what the cause is. It may be a sign of cancer, but many diseases cause bleeding, for example, a urinary tract infection, a kidney stone, an anal fissure, an inflammatory bowel disease or something completely different. PERSISTENT SYMPTOMS 13. loud snoring Do you compare it with a chainsaw? You may have obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which the muscles in the back of the throat relax when you sleep, which causes the airways to close. Many undiagnosed people fit the high-risk profile, which includes three or more risk factors, such as high blood pressure and obesity. Sleep apnea can produce low blood oxygen levels, which is extremely dangerous and increases the chances of additional problems, such as irregular heartbeats, and worsening the effects of coronary artery disease. "The good news is that there are treatments, such as CPAP machines (continuous positive airway pressure), surgical and laser procedures, 14. Voice hoarse or cough Laryngitis or throat irritation that lasts several weeks maybe because you smoke or force your voice, or pollution or dry air. They can also be a sign that you have GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease). This disorder is more common as we get older and, if not diagnosed, can cause bleeding and scarring in the esophagus. Check with your doctor to find out if you need treatment and to rule out a tumor in the lungs or throat. 15. Changing moles International statistics indicate that melanoma rates are increasing more than those of any other type of cancer. During 2018, more than 287,000 new cases were diagnosed. Have a self-exam once a month and don't ignore any mole that is increasing in size or some other way, or that blood, says Behl. “Put a ruler next to the mole and take a picture of it. That way you will know what size it is, and this makes it easier to control it and realize if it is really changing. ” 16. Vomiting or diarrhea There are dozens of causes, including food poisoning, migraines, stomach viruses and anxiety. Most last a short time, but if the symptom does not pass in a couple of days, or if it comes and goes for more than a month, check with your doctor, because certain conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease and stones in the Vesicle, should be treated. It is an emergency if you have other severe symptoms, such as acute stomach pain, severe headache, high fever or blood in vomiting or stool. 17. Inflamed Lymph Nodes Usually, this means that your body is fighting a minor illness, such as a cold. However, if an inflamed lymph node of any part of the body - usually, they are located on the sides of the neck, behind the ears, in the armpits and groin - does not return to normal size after three or four weeks, see with your doctor Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, can cause lymph nodes to swell persistently; Also, some infections such as Lyme disease and certain types of cancer, such as leukemia, can cause inflammation. 18. Night perspiration More intense than the bursts of heat that come from sleeping during menopause, "this is a perspiration that forces you to change your bedding," says Behl. "As it is a fact that is caused by various causes, cancer can be one of them." Research suggests that cancer nighttime perspiration may be a product of the activity of cytokines, proteins released by the immune system. But this symptom can also be a sign of an infection, of the adverse effects of a medication or of an endocrine system disorder. 19. Sadness If you feel sad every day and do not improve after two weeks, check with your GP to help you. Although you may feel inclined to overcome it alone, depression causes physical health problems and social isolation. Among the risk factors, they are suffering from another chronic disease, such as arthritis. Ask for emergency assistance if you are thinking of harming yourself; The treatment helps. “Many people go through depression, recover and have a productive life,” says Pageau.
http://bestofftops.blogspot.com/2019/09/19-health-symptoms-you-should-never.html
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