Archive for October, 2016

4 Best Add-ons for Your CPAP Machine

Posted on: October 24th, 2016 by BrevardBlogger No Comments

accessorize

Creating a comfortable and flexible sleep therapy is all about customization. Every individual has a different sleep cycle and preferences during their slumber. At Brevard Medical, we want to make your nightly re-charge as effective as possible. See how utilizing these four CPAP accessories in your nightly routine can help you sleep more effectively night after night!

 

Heated CPAP Humidifiers: A common complaint among CPAP users is that they wake up with dried sinuses and itchy noses. This can happen year round, but often gets worse as the winter months begin.  An easy solution is to use a heated CPAP humidifier. It will moisten the air coming from your CPAP machine, giving relief to your dried-out nostrils.

 

Heated CPAP Tubing: CPAP users who decide to install a humidifier sometimes find themselves battling “rainout,” where water builds up within the CPAP hose, making it potentially difficult to use. One solution is to purchase a heated CPAP tube, which eliminates rainout through a controlled temperature and humidity setting.

 

CPAP Hose Lift: Active sleepers often have trouble with their CPAP hoses become tangled as they change positions throughout the night.  A CPAP hose lift can help by keeping the tubing from lying next to you as you sleep.

 

CPAP Nasal Pads: CPAP nasal pads can help your mask feel more open and allow you to sleep more comfortably. The pads are designed to prevent skin irritations and marks from the mask if it fits too tightly.

 

CPAP Central is your one-stop shop for everything CPAP. Our CPAP machines, masks, and accessories can help take your sleep apnea therapy to the next level. Visit our online catalog to see our complete line of CPAP comfort items.

 

 

 

8 Ways to Lower Your Risk of Breast Cancer

Posted on: October 17th, 2016 by BrevardBlogger No Comments

breastcancer-8ways

Approximately one out of every eight women will develop invasive breast cancer during her life. While there is no way to completely eliminate your chances of getting cancer, there are some things women can do to decrease their risk:

 

 

We’ve all heard that “breast is best” for baby, but it has added benefits for mom as well. By breastfeeding your infant, you also decrease your risk for cancer.

 

  • Cut back on alcohol intake.

 

The American Cancer Society states that women who have two to five drink a day have 1.5 times the risk of developing breast cancer than women who don’t drink at all. Drinking can increase your chances of developing other cancers as well.

 

  • Increase your physical activity.

 

Evidence shows that regular, moderate exercise can decrease a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer by up to 18 percent.

 

  • Keep a healthy weight after menopause.

 

Prior to menopause, most of women’s estrogen comes from their ovaries, while a small amount comes from fat tissue. That ratio flips after menopause, enabling a higher concentration of fatty tissue can increase estrogen levels, further raising the risk of breast cancer. Being overweight can also add to insulin levels, which is linked to a higher risk of cancer.

 

  • Don’t smoke.

 

There’s now evidence that smoking increases the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women.

 

  • Limit hormone therapy.

 

It’s common for women to receive hormone therapy in order to control the symptoms of menopause. However, higher doses over long periods of time can increase the risk of breast cancer. The Mayo Clinic recommends that women take the lowest dose possible and ask their doctor to monitor the length of time they are on hormone supplements.

 

  • Avoid radiation.

 

Computerized tomography and other medical-imaging methods use a large amount of radiation. There are some cases where it is vital to have these tests done, but if a woman is already at a high risk of developing breast cancer, she might want to ask her doctor about alternatives.

 

  • Eat a Mediterranean diet.

 

Healthy eating is good for you in general, and some of the foods found in Mediterranean diets is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer. These include extra-virgin olive oil, fish and nuts.

 

While there is no sure-fire way to completely eliminate your risk, following these steps can possibly reduce your chances of developing this pervasive disease. At Brevard Medica,  we are here for you and all your medical needs.