Sleep Apnea

Symptoms, causes, and treatment of central and obstructive sleep apnea

Posts Tagged diagnosis

Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea

May 26

Posted by Summers in Issues | No Comments

Severe obstructive sleep apnea is one of the many sleep disorders that several individuals worldwide suffer from. This medical condition results when there is an obstruction that interferes with breathing during the time in which a person attempts to rest. As a result of the apnea, the individual may experiences breathing that is considered to be shallow. In more serious cases of the condition, the same person may quit breathing completely. The area that experiences the obstruction is the airway located towards the upper part of the body. The blockage may be considered partial, or it may be considered complete. In this guide, you will be introduced to this form of sleep apnea.

The Symptoms of Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea

There are many symptoms associated with this type of sleep apnea. Though this is actually considered to be the most common when it comes to apnea based sleep disorders, it can cause many complications both physiologically and psychologically. In the following detailed list, you will learn about symptoms that may be noticed prior and immediately after a diagnosis:

* Many who experience this condition will wake up with a sense of dryness in the mouth area. This may or may not be accompanied by a tender, sore throat.
* Due to the fact that the natural flow of oxygen is interrupted, many may notice that they wake up with a mild to severe headache.

* The breathing complications associated with severe obstructive sleep apnea may result in the person experiencing lack of sleep which leaves them feeling drained and tired upon waking and throughout the day.

* Many may find that they wake up throughout the night feeling as if they are choking or gasping for air.

* Dysfunctions in the area of sexual intimacy may be a direct result from being affected with this sleep disorder.

* Snoring observed by others may be an indication that there is an issue with breathing appropriately as a direct result of sleep apnea.
* Many may find that they get hot easily during the time in which they are resting and may even experience mild to severe night sweats.

If you or someone that you know experiences any or all of the symptoms listed here, it is absolutely essential that medical consultation is arranged.

Developmental Risks

While no one is immune to developing severe obstructive sleep apnea, there are certain risk factors that may result in the onset of this particular condition. There are over twelve million documented cases of this condition in the United States alone, which means medical professionals and those that specialize in learning information about sleep disorders have been able to profile those that have the condition, learning a lot about the developmental risks associated with it. While men, women, and children have all been diagnosed, there are certain risks that make certain individuals more susceptible to suffering from this condition. They include:

* Women who have experienced menopause seem more likely to acquire this condition.
* Those who have a condition that results in obstructions in and/or near the airway in the upper section of the body.

* If an individual has swollen tonsils, they may develop this condition.
* Acquiring age has been found to be a potential culprit in the onset of the condition.
* If a person is over their ideal weight, they may develop severe obstructive sleep apnea.
* Patients with high blood pressure are at risk for this and other types of sleep disorders.
* Smoking may cause obstructions that lead to the onset of the medical problem.

Conclusion

Severe obstructive sleep apnea is just one of many sleep disorders that millions of people worldwide suffer from. It is a direct result of a type of obstruction in the upper section of the airways. There are a large number of symptoms that may indicate that one suffers from this condition, such as snoring and waking up in such a way that it feels as if the patient is choking or gasping for air. There are many risk factors which involve smoking and aging. If you or someone that you know feels as if sleep apnea caused by a severe obstruction may be a complication, it is important to consult with a medical professional for an appropriate diagnosis.

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Sleep Apnea Symptoms

May 26

Posted by Summers in Issues | No Comments

Among the sleep disorders most frequently signaled with virtually all group ages, sleep apnea is one of the most common. Passing usually unnoticed when one sleeps alone, sleep apnea is mainly signaled when a relative or a bed mate notices it; yet there are some sleep apnea symptoms that one could also distinguish by close observation of the sleep-wake pattern. Among the sleep apnea symptoms that are not easily noticed by the person in cause, we include snoring and breathing cessation during sleep. However, snoring is not considered a relevant symptom for the diagnosis of sleep apnea, as there are people who snore without suffering from this disorder.

It is true that when snoring only a small amount of oxygen reaches the lungs, but this is not a rule. If you know to have a snoring problem, ask for a doctor’s advice and see what you can do to learn more, and see whether you have other sleep apnea symptoms or not. If the two are associated, then the health issue is very serious given the fact that by the obstruction of the airways, the tissues don’t get enough oxygen, a condition that can result in brain damage, stroke, heart failure and so on. It is therefore recommended that you analyze your sleep pattern carefully and see whether snoring and sleep apnea go hand in hand or not.

A real breathing problem during sleep can be diagnosed when there are other sleep apnea symptoms that characterize the night rest pattern. Thus, a person that experiences breathing cessation repeatedly over a determined period of time is very likely to wake up choking and gasping when he or she doesn’t get enough air to the lungs. Then, awakenings to restart breathing are also very common for patients who suffer from sleep apnea, and they can be accompanied by headaches, mouth dryness and sore throat in the morning. Moreover, daytime drowsiness with the inability to concentrate on daily tasks is another immediate consequences of a chronic sleep deficiency.

Besides these very general sleep apnea symptoms that are usually present with the majority of patients, there are more subtle signs that can indicate a sleep affection. Sleep apnea triggers excessive swelling of the legs for overweight people; then, there could also appear sweating, chest pains and unpleasant taste in the mouth when you wake up in the morning. There are also patients who claim heartburn at night and memory problems during the day.

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Sleep Apnea Treatment

May 26

Posted by Summers in Treatment | No Comments

Sleep disorders are generally known for the fact that they often require a personalized type of treatment, meaning that all the individual details of the condition are significant for finding the right way to improve the health status. Thus, sleep apnea treatment is no exception to this rule, particularly since any diagnosis is based on the medical history of the patient, the minute physic examination and the results of advanced tests meant to identify the causes and the severity of the affection. The sleep apnea treatment based on oxygen administration is considered both popular and controversial at the same time.

On the one hand, there have been patients who have responded very well to the oxygen-based sleep apnea treatment, but on the other, special conditions and particularities have made the overall outcome of the intervention impossible to predict. Personal response differs from one case to another; hence, even after a certain course of medical action has been established, the efficiency of the selected treatment needs to be carefully monitored. One form of sleep apnea treatment includes behavioral therapy, thus the patients are advised to avoid consuming alcohol, smoking or taking sleeping pills since such substances cause the airways to collapse during sleep.

For overweight people, the sleep apnea treatment that relies on behavioral therapy requires a weight loss of at least ten percent. Studies have revealed that a weight closer to the average value diminishes significantly the number of apneic episodes per hour. Moreover, for such cases people are encouraged to use anatomically designed pillows that enable them to assume a comfortable side posture during sleep. The success of the therapy is noticeable in the level of morning freshness and the overall sensation of well being that usually results from good night’s rest. Experts claim that behavioral therapy is efficient in superficial to moderate sleep apnea cases, since the more advanced conditions require intensive medical care.

The most effective sleep apnea treatment that has shown great results even in the most serious of conditions is the nasal continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP. The procedure requires the use of a mask through which air is forced in the airways and the lungs so that apnea episodes are prevented. The air pressure is adjusted to a level that prevents the collapse of the throat muscles during sleep; hence, when you turn to such a sleep apnea treatment it is good to check the continuity and consistency of the air pressure before actually buying the device.

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