Sleep Apnea is a disorder that is characterized by pauses in breathing or low breathing during sleep. Apnea is a Greek word that means “without breath.” A pause in breathing of at least 10 seconds, referred to as an apnea, can occur up to hundreds of times per night causing interrupted sleep to the sufferer, with the sufferer more often than not, not even being aware of the condition and that they are being partly woken frequently throughout the night.
Medical experts have identified three types of this medical condition:
*Central Sleep Apnea
*Obstructive Sleep Apnea
*Mixed Sleep Apnea
Central Sleep Apnea or CSA occurs when the brain does not send the proper signals to the breathing muscles resulting in the loss of breath. Central sleep apnea is not very common and makes approximately 5% of those who suffer from sleep apnea.
CSA can be caused by other medical problems, including but not limited to, stroke, encephalitis, Parkinson’s disease, bulbar poliomyelitis, and extreme obesity.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA is typically caused by the soft tissue in the back of the throat to collapsing and obstructing the airway. The obstruction is usually associated with severe snoring. OSA can affect anyone but is far more prevalent in people who suffer from obesity.
Mixed or Complex Sleep Apnea (CompSA) is a combination of both types and is very uncommon. CompSA can occur as a result of untreated OSA that has gone on for an extended period of time.
Impact of Sleep Apnea
The impact of this potentially serious medical condition ranges from daytime fatigue to high blood pressure, heart attack, and even death. When the body does not receive adequate rest it does not function properly.
People who suffer from this condition can have the following symptoms:
*Excessive tiredness/drowsiness
*Mental and physical fatigue
*Depression
*Irritability and mood changes
*Unexplained weight gain
*Memory lapses
*Inability to concentrate
*Severe snoring
Sleep is so central to the human body that the effects are felt throughout every aspect of a person’s life including mental, physical and emotional.
Mental and Emotional Impact
Lack of sleep causes the brain not to function properly. The frustration of being tired and forgetful can cause anxiety, poor judgment, and depression. People constantly report not being able to think clearly and forgetting important details and often slip into bouts of depression causing trouble on the job, in relationships and robbing them of happiness.
The mental and emotional strain is often seen in the marriages of those who deal with the disorder. Often times the partner is fatigued and tired because they are kept awake as well. It can also affect emotional and physical intimacy especially for those who have to sleep in separate locations.
Physical Impact
When the body does not get adequate rest it releases stress chemicals into the body causing the immune system to break down. People who have sleep apnea are often plagued with sickness and more prone to disease because their body’s immune system is weakened.
A lack of sleep has been clinically proven to increase the odds of being overweight, suffering a stroke or heart attack, having high blood pressure and hypertension, and migraine headaches.
Since fatigue is a major side effect it is harder for people to heal. A cold that may take the average person 2-3 days to get over may take someone with sleep apnea 5-7 days to overcome because of lack of rest. People also report having more post-surgery complications and longer healing times because of a the level of fatigue that exists as a result of the condition. It is recommended that anyone who suffers from sleep apnea report it to their health care provider before having any medical procedure.
Often forgotten are the partners of people who suffer from this condition. They often also have problems with fatigue and tiredness because their partner keeps them awake at night.
So What Should You Do?
You continually feel tired during the day or your partner has commented about your breathing or snoring while you sleep or and you think you may have sleep apnea, what should you do next?
First off, arrange an appointment with your family medical practitioner to discuss your concerns.
As there are no post event tests that can be done it is potentially useful to keep a sleep diary that you and your partner can use to record how you sleep, your snoring and how loud it is, your breathing patterns during the night such as any gaps in breathing, choking or gasping events, and how you feel in the morning when you wake up. You should also record any other irregularities that may be noticed such as restlessness or leg movements during sleeping and even periods during the day where you may seem to fall asleep or fell really tired.
If your medical practitioner suspects that you have this potentially life threatening disorder, they will probably then arrange for you to see a Sleep Specialist, who will usually require this referral prior to a visit.
Your Sleep Specialist will normally do a physical examination of your throat for physical reasons for your condition and your suitability to a range of treatment options. Your specialist may also suggest that you have a sleep study done to record your sleeping habits and manner in a controlled and monitored environment.
Sleep Apnea should not be taken lightly and as discussed the risks associated with failure to act if you are a sufferer are too great to ignore.
If you suspect that you may have this serious and potentially life threatening condition take steps now, get yourself assessed, it could be a life saving action (yours).
Medical experts have identified three types of this medical condition:
*Central Sleep Apnea
*Obstructive Sleep Apnea
*Mixed Sleep Apnea
Central Sleep Apnea or CSA occurs when the brain does not send the proper signals to the breathing muscles resulting in the loss of breath. Central sleep apnea is not very common and makes approximately 5% of those who suffer from sleep apnea.
CSA can be caused by other medical problems, including but not limited to, stroke, encephalitis, Parkinson’s disease, bulbar poliomyelitis, and extreme obesity.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA is typically caused by the soft tissue in the back of the throat to collapsing and obstructing the airway. The obstruction is usually associated with severe snoring. OSA can affect anyone but is far more prevalent in people who suffer from obesity.
Mixed or Complex Sleep Apnea (CompSA) is a combination of both types and is very uncommon. CompSA can occur as a result of untreated OSA that has gone on for an extended period of time.
Impact of Sleep Apnea
The impact of this potentially serious medical condition ranges from daytime fatigue to high blood pressure, heart attack, and even death. When the body does not receive adequate rest it does not function properly.
People who suffer from this condition can have the following symptoms:
*Excessive tiredness/drowsiness
*Mental and physical fatigue
*Depression
*Irritability and mood changes
*Unexplained weight gain
*Memory lapses
*Inability to concentrate
*Severe snoring
Sleep is so central to the human body that the effects are felt throughout every aspect of a person’s life including mental, physical and emotional.
Mental and Emotional Impact
Lack of sleep causes the brain not to function properly. The frustration of being tired and forgetful can cause anxiety, poor judgment, and depression. People constantly report not being able to think clearly and forgetting important details and often slip into bouts of depression causing trouble on the job, in relationships and robbing them of happiness.
The mental and emotional strain is often seen in the marriages of those who deal with the disorder. Often times the partner is fatigued and tired because they are kept awake as well. It can also affect emotional and physical intimacy especially for those who have to sleep in separate locations.
Physical Impact
When the body does not get adequate rest it releases stress chemicals into the body causing the immune system to break down. People who have sleep apnea are often plagued with sickness and more prone to disease because their body’s immune system is weakened.
A lack of sleep has been clinically proven to increase the odds of being overweight, suffering a stroke or heart attack, having high blood pressure and hypertension, and migraine headaches.
Since fatigue is a major side effect it is harder for people to heal. A cold that may take the average person 2-3 days to get over may take someone with sleep apnea 5-7 days to overcome because of lack of rest. People also report having more post-surgery complications and longer healing times because of a the level of fatigue that exists as a result of the condition. It is recommended that anyone who suffers from sleep apnea report it to their health care provider before having any medical procedure.
Often forgotten are the partners of people who suffer from this condition. They often also have problems with fatigue and tiredness because their partner keeps them awake at night.
So What Should You Do?
You continually feel tired during the day or your partner has commented about your breathing or snoring while you sleep or and you think you may have sleep apnea, what should you do next?
First off, arrange an appointment with your family medical practitioner to discuss your concerns.
As there are no post event tests that can be done it is potentially useful to keep a sleep diary that you and your partner can use to record how you sleep, your snoring and how loud it is, your breathing patterns during the night such as any gaps in breathing, choking or gasping events, and how you feel in the morning when you wake up. You should also record any other irregularities that may be noticed such as restlessness or leg movements during sleeping and even periods during the day where you may seem to fall asleep or fell really tired.
If your medical practitioner suspects that you have this potentially life threatening disorder, they will probably then arrange for you to see a Sleep Specialist, who will usually require this referral prior to a visit.
Your Sleep Specialist will normally do a physical examination of your throat for physical reasons for your condition and your suitability to a range of treatment options. Your specialist may also suggest that you have a sleep study done to record your sleeping habits and manner in a controlled and monitored environment.
Sleep Apnea should not be taken lightly and as discussed the risks associated with failure to act if you are a sufferer are too great to ignore.
If you suspect that you may have this serious and potentially life threatening condition take steps now, get yourself assessed, it could be a life saving action (yours).
About the Author:
The Author was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea a number of years ago. At his site http://www.Sleep-Apneax.com the author covers a wide range of general information on sleep apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Sleep Apnea Treatment as well as other sleep disorders.
http://www.sleep-apneax.com/sleep-apnea
The Author was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea a number of years ago. At his site http://www.Sleep-Apneax.com the author covers a wide range of general information on sleep apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Sleep Apnea Treatment as well as other sleep disorders.
http://www.sleep-apneax.com/sleep-apnea
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