What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common problem for many people. Although it is rare in children, it is quite common in adults. Studies have shown that men seem to be the gender that is most affected by the disorder. Sleep apnea treatments are available so please consult with your physician.
In sleep apnea, the problem is that there are interruptions in the normal breathing cycle of the sufferer. The breathing might be reduced partially or stopped for anywhere up to 20-25 seconds. These interruptions can be as frequent as 5 times to over 100 times in a single hour.
The person under the effect of this sleep disorder normally shows the symptoms, such as loud snoring during sleep, sudden awakening or getting up frequently during sleep, as well as excessive sleepiness during the daytime, while doing everyday tasks. In sleep apnea, the person loses focus very easily and often has frequent mood swings, with the person becoming more easily irritated.
The root cause of this sleep disorder is blockage of the air passage. The blockage can be due to many factors. The structure of your face and jaw might be the hindering force behind improper air passage. The overgrown tissue in the area of the nose, mouth, uvula, adenoid or throat is also among the common cause of airway blockage, which can cause sleep apnea. The overgrown tissue relaxes while asleep and thus the blockage occurs.
Being overweight is a serious problem that can result in sleep apnea. The enlarged tissue in the body parts like the adenoids, uvula or tonsils is also another factor that contributes to it.
There are two types of sleep apnea; the more common one is Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The other type of sleep apnea is Central Sleep Apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is more of a breathing disorder where the air passage is blocked. However, central sleep apnea is more on the neurological side, in which a central nervous system dysfunction occurs. In simple words the brain signal that tells the body when to breathe in, is delayed due to central nervous system disorder.
Sleep apnea can be a very serious condition and should not be left untreated. Consult a doctor if you think you may be suffering from this sleep disorder and with proper treatment it can be controlled and in some cases, completely cured.
Tags: adenoid, air passage, airway blockage, breathing cycle, breathing disorder, excessive sleepiness, sleep, Sleep Apnea, sleep apnea treatment, Sleep Apnea Treatments, sleep disorder, tonsilsRelated posts
Sleep Apnea Treatments And Symptoms
Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder where the normal breathing of a person is obstructed during the sleep and the airway, the upper one, becomes obstructed due to many reasons. It is characterized by breathing interruptions of about 10-20 seconds. These interruptions can range anything between 5-100 per hour. A variety of sleep apnea treatments are available.
Apnea in general means a period of time in which normal breathing is reduced or even completely stopped. The normal inflow of air can get reduced up to 75%. The person under the effects of sleep apnea may not even be aware of the fact that they suffer from it.
The common cause of sleep apnea is cessation of the airflow passage, which leads to reduced breathing or stopped breathing during sleep. The passage could be blocked by excess tissue in the path of the air. This is a common reason for sleep apnea in obese people. Even large uvula (tonsils) and large tongue tissue can obstruct the airflow passage leading to the development of the sleep disorder, sleep apnea.
The other site of airflow obstruction is the nasal passage. If you have persistent cold and/or cough, it also contributes to the development of this sleep disorder. Many times the structure of your jaw can also be a factor in sleep apnea.
Symptoms may also include daytime fatigue and irritation. However, the most common symptom of sleep apnea is frequent episodes of obstructed breathing while sleeping. Another symptom is usually snoring during sleeping. This snorting gets so loud that it becomes difficult for any possible bed partner to sleep. The person with sleep apnea disorder will awake at short intervals of time during the sleep due to obstructed breathing.
Some of the other common symptoms of sleep apnea include the after effects such as severe headache in the morning usually after getting up. Inability to concentrate, recall things and events. Excess release of stress hormones also mark the beginning of, or persisting of sleep apnea. It also can lead to cardiovascular diseases.
There are many signs and symptoms of this disorder. and if you think you might be suffering from sleep apnea or any other sleep disorder, consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis and sleep apnea cures.
Tags: airflow obstruction, daytime fatigue, nasal passage, sleep, Sleep Apnea, sleep apnea symptoms, sleep apnea treatment, Sleep Apnea Treatments, sleep disorder, symptoms of sleep apneaRelated posts
Sleep Apnea Treatments And Diagnosis
Sleep apnea is a problem where there are temporary breaks in the breathing cycle of a person during sleep. The person who has this sleep disorder normally makes snoring sounds while asleep that causes problems for their partner trying to fall asleep and should seek sleep apnea treatments if available.
Based on the symptoms such as sudden awaking during sleep at night, loud snoring and daytime sleepiness, one can go for a proper diagnosis if they believe they suffer from sleep apnea. The doctor who will diagnose you for the presence of sleep apnea will generally first ask for a detailed family history. Then the doctor will examine your nose, mouth, as well as throat for some enlarged tissues that might be obstructing the airflow causing breaks in your breathing pattern.
The common tests done by a doctor are:
-Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), in which the doctor records the time in which you fall asleep during the day. Falling asleep quickly indicates that you are probably not getting enough sleep at night.
-Polysomnogram (PSG), is a test in which your breathing pattern is recorded throughout the night by a sleep specialist and that information is used to determine if you have a sleep disorder.
If you are diagnosed with a case of serious sleep apnea, then more sophisticated medical treatments might be required, these include:
-Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), in which the person suffering from the sleep disorder of sleep apnea has to wear a special mask that keeps the airway open through the night while sleeping. It is the most common treatment offered for serious cases of sleep apnea. The airway is prevented from collapsing by pushing pressurized air through the mask and into the sufferers airway.
-Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), which is basically a surgical method where the extra overgrown obstructive tissue is removed from the airway. The tissue is removed from nose, throat, neck, uvula or soft palate to remove the blockage of air. The surgeon may also consider adjusting the shape of your jaw, if it is believed to be in some way obstructive.
-Medical Mouthpieces, which are special types of mouthpieces, that help the person suffering from sleep apnea. Sufferers wear these while they sleep, it is designed to help them keep their airway broad and prevent choking during sleep. They basically keep the air passage clear through to the throat.
If you believe you are suffering from sleep apnea, consult your doctor for diagnosis and to talk about the appropriate treatment.
Tags: daytime sleepiness, multiple sleep latency test, Polysomnogram, Sleep Apnea, sleep apnea treatment, Sleep Apnea Treatments, sleep disorder, Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty