Sleep Apnea

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

Posts Tagged sleep disorders

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 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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How to Recognize Symptoms For Sleep Disorders?

May 26

Posted by Summers in Issues | No Comments

If you are spending sleepless nights and listless days and your everyday activities are getting affected, then you have real reasons to concern about. Not only this can have an adverse impact on your mental and emotional well being, but continued sleep deprivation can be precursor to many diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, have trouble staying focused, etc…

According to National Sleep Foundation, approximately 70 million Americans suffer from this disorder. Among them, nearly 40 millions are affected with chronic disorder and the rest are victims of intermittent sleep-related problems. America loses nearly $100 billion annually due to loss in productivity, medical expenses, etc arising out it.

How to Recognize Symptoms for Sleep Disorders?

Following are the ways to recognize the symptoms:

* Are you getting enough of it? While adults can do away with 7-8 hours of daily sleep, some people might also need 10 hours. Most teenagers need 9 hours per day.
* Do you wake up every night listening to your own snoring?
* Are you suffering from excessive lack of energy during the day?
* Are you having difficulty remembering things lately?
* Are you having mood swings?
* Are you suffering from rise in blood pressure and lack of interest in sexual activity?
* After waking up is your throat feeling dry or scratchy or are you gasping for air or having headache?
* Are you having tingling sensations in the arms and legs during the evening?
* You may ask someone in your family to watch your sleeping pattern. He can observe whether you are showing some of the symptoms of sleep disorders – pauses in breathing for more than 10 seconds, loud and excessive snoring, etc.
* If you are an overweight male with neck size of more than 16 to 17 inches, then you may be at risk of disorder. You can also inherit it from your family. Other than these, lung or heart diseases can also contribute to this.

Signs of Sleep Disorders:
There are more than 70 types of disorders and these are broadly categorized into 3 groups. Some common disorders are: Insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy or day time sleep attacks, restless leg syndrome, hypersomnia, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, etc.

What can you do when you have Sleep Disorders?:
This problem can go unnoticed for weeks to years. When you have trouble falling asleep and feel sleepy and tired during the day time, you may immediately want to consult a doctor. You can provide him with details regarding your sleeping patterns. Early diagnosis can help avoid further complications.

Why Sleep is so Vital?:
Though the exact benefit is still not known, it is believed that it is necessary for proper functioning of our nervous system. During sleep, the major organs of our body and the nervous system get more activated. During REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, our brain processes emotions and activities. This can play an important role in learning and remembering. According to a poll report in 2008, it was found that those who sleep for less than 6 hours daily have greater risk of becoming obese than those with 8 hours or more.

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What is sleep apnea

May 26

Posted by Summers in Issues | No Comments

One of the most common, yet most risky sleep disorders, sleep apnea consists in the breathing stops that occur along a certain time interval. During such episodes, too little air gets to the lungs through ones mouth and nose, which is why the oxygen level in the blood may drop alarmingly. The resuming of the normal breathing pattern is announced by a loud snort or a sound similar to choking.

The immediate consequence of sleep apnea is the lack of energy and the drowsiness felt the day after a troubled night, we could actually say that sleep apnea and proper rest exclude each other as a matter of fact. Only close monitoring and detailed medical investigation could help your doctor decide whether you suffer from sleep apnea or not, particularly since it is common to make the mistake of taking snoring for sleep apnea.

Though sometimes people who snore also show signs of sleep apnea, this is not a general rule: there are plenty of people with sleep apnea that do not snore. Moreover, the most likely to suffer from this condition are overweight people, however, we cant make this observation a general rule either, since there are cases of thin people touched by it too.

The first to notice the signs of sleep apnea are family members or bed partners, as the person who actually suffers from it, may very seldom be aware of the problem. Once identified, the affection requires proper medical observation and treatment since it increases the risk of developing a heart problem and suffering a stroke or a heart attack. Studies have also revealed the relationship between sleep apnea and diabetes, as well as the connection between this sleep disorder and driving accidents.

Sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles prevent the proper passage of the airflow towards the lungs; which would explain why the full name of the affection is obstructive sleep apnea. The condition generally appears when the muscles and the tongue relax more than they should. Moreover, tonsillitis may also be identified at the root of the problem as well as a deficient bone structure of the neck and the head that creates a smaller airway in the area could also be blamed.

Snoring is usually related to obstructive sleep apnea, but we should mention one other form of the disease that is triggered by the improper brain control over the breathing function. This is called central apnea and it is considered a lot more severe than the obstructive form; snoring never occurs for this type of affection variation.

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