Why Sleep Apnea can be so Dangerous

Sleep apnea not only affects your sleep, but can prove dangerous to other people, as well as put your own life in severe danger from the array of health issues attributed to the condition.  A lack of sleep as a result of suffering from sleep apnea causes hundreds of car crashes every year alone, and highlights the extreme dangers of sleep apnea and underlines why sleep apnea can be so dangerous.

For those sufferers receiving treatment for sleep apnea, they soon find their blood pressure lowers, allowing them to lose weight much more easily.  Motivation and work performance both improve as does the short term memory.

Sleep apnea can be so dangerous in terms of road accidents.  Studies indicate that driving whilst excessively tired is equally as dangerous as driving under the effects of alcohol or drugs.  This not only identifies a danger for the sleep apnea sufferer but also for other road users, whose lives are being put in potential danger.  This is due to the fact that whilst tired, reaction times reduce and judgment is often skewed.

Cardiac related problems have also been connected with sleep apnea and a lack of sleep.  The body does not have as much time to recuperate during reduced sleep, which in turn causes the pulse speed to increase and blood pressure to consequently rise.  Less time to relax, does not offer enough time for the body to properly heal itself.

Strain is put on blood vessels which can lead to heart disease and strokes.  In extreme cases, this can lead to arrhythmias and death.  Sufferers of sleep apnea have larger hearts, but by using the treatment available, within 6 months, the heart can return to a more normal size and the function of the heart considerably improves.

Due to a dramatic decrease in oxygen levels and an increase in carbon dioxide levels, sleep apnea sufferers remain at a high level of risk of a cardiac arrest during the hours of 10pm and 6am.  More than half of all cardiac related sleep apnea deaths occurred during this timeframe.

The brain requires rest to grow and to continue to function correctly.  The lack of sleep caused by sleep apnea can lead to decreased cognitive learning, short term memory loss and skewed judgment.  Simple tasks become more difficult, which can have a dangerous affect on your job if your performance continues to suffer.  The nature of the symptoms has resulted in the condition being regarded as a Federal Social Security disability.

Obesity has also been linked to a lack of sleep.  Hormones which control how much we eat become unbalanced with sleep apnea sufferers, and when combined with the lack of energy to perform any kind of exercise can result in heavy weight gain.

The dangers of sleep apnea are clear, and if you suffer from sleep apnea and are currently not treating the condition then you should seek medical assistance immediately to combat the effects which make sleep apnea so dangerous.

Sleep apnea threatens our sleep and causes what should be a peaceful experience to be a potentially life threatening one.  One of the best ways to combat the sleep disorder is by using a sleep apnea machine, which have and will continue to save lives for those suffering from sleep apnea.

There are four standout sleep apnea machine benefits, which we will now look at individually in a little more detail.

1.  Sleep apnea machines improve your quality of sleep

Let’s start with the most important benefit.  Sleep apnea machines will allow those suffering from sleep apnea to experience a more peaceful sleep.  This is due to the fact that the machine assists breathing during sleep by encouraging air into the airways to avoid snoring, choking and general disruptive sleep.  The machine improves the flow of oxygen into the windpipe, allowing you to finally sleep much like anyone else.

2.  Sleep apnea machines help improve your partner’s sleep

As any partner of a sleep apnea sufferer will tell you, their own sleep is disrupted just as regularly as the sufferer themselves.  It is also incredibly alarming to wake up to hear your partner choking and struggling to breathe properly; especially in the beginning.  With the sufferer using a sleep apnea machine, their sleep will improve and your partner will be extremely thankful and more energized after a good nights sleep themselves!

3.  Sleep apnea machines are simple to use

Many people may be dissuaded from using one of these machines due to the fact that they look large, complex, and in a way appear quite intimidating at first glance, whereas in reality, essentially all you are required to do is slip on a mask, and turn on the machine.  The mask may take some getting used to, but after using it for a few successive nights it will soon become part of your routine, especially after realizing how successful the machine actually is for you, and how much healthier and refreshed you feel as a result.

4.  Sleep apnea machines are a worthy investment

The decision to invest in one of these machines should not be taken lightly.  These sleep apnea machines can be the difference between life and death, where the sleep apnea disorder is concerned.  No value can be placed on life, so investing in one of these should require very little encouragement.  Once you realize that you can sleep soundly night after night after night, you will learn to really respect your initial decision to invest in one of these machines, as they really can change your life, and most important save your life.

These are the four main sleep apnea machine benefits, and if you are suffering from the disorder and are now debating investing in a machine, then do contact your local doctor or sleep specialist to discuss things further and ensure you choose the correct machine for you.  There are a whole host of sleep apnea machine benefits for you to enjoy and all of which can relieve you of the effects of sleep apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Myths and Misconceptions

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Only Affects Men

It is estimated that 6 million American women suffer from sleep apnea, and has been linked to depression and female sexual dysfunction. Gestational obstructive sleep apnea can also develop in pregnant women.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Only Affects Older / Overweight People

Weight is a common factor which contributes to the likelihood of developing sleep apnea, but people of all shapes, ages and sizes can develop the sleep disorder. In skinny sufferers, the condition can develop from excess tissue in the throat or the build of the jaw. Alcohol also increases the chances of developing sleep apnea as can smoking, aging and a family history of the disorder.

I Can Live With Sleep Apnea, All It Does Is Make Me Tired

Obstructive sleep apnea does make you tired, but there are numerous side effects of the condition as well as consequences of neglecting to treat the disorder. Sleep apnea has been connected to sexual dysfunction, strokes, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. In an alarming study, those suffering from sleep apnea are three times as likely to die from any disease as those who do not suffer from the disorder.

I’m Depressed, Which Is the Reason I Am Tired

Depression and sleep apnea share similar characteristics, including lethargy, loss of concentration, weight gain, mood swings and excessive fatigue. Many people immediately associate these symptoms to depression; therefore do nothing to attempt to combat the issue. Ensure that you are 100 percent positive whether you are suffering from depression, or indeed from sleep apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Does Not Affect My Driving

If you are constantly exhausted, then you are a danger to yourself and other if you decide to drive. A tired driver offers as many risks as those of a drunk driver. You are not invincible, and when suffering from sleep apnea you have to realise that driving is extremely dangerous. A four hour sleep shortage equates to a blood alcohol level of 0.10 percent, the level that a driver is considered drunk. Research has shown that drowsy drivers cause more accidents on the roads than drunk drivers.

Most People Snore, What Exactly Is The Problem?

The majority of people do snore throughout the night, but those suffering from sleep apnea will also choke or gasp whilst they sleep. This is a very obvious sign, and probably the best way for a partner to recognise a problem. This can look very unsettling and painful, but sufferers can go through this hundreds of times in one night, completely obliviously.

Sleep Apnea Masks Are Too Uncomfortable To Wear

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), is typically the most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. The sufferer wears a mask, which is directly connected to a machine which provides air into the nose, preventing a collapse of the airways. Many people have no problem using the mask, but if you feel it is unpleasant or uncomfortable, there are a number of alternative masks, which come in a whole host of shapes and sizes to suit your face. Don’t abandon treatment too early, seek alternatives!

This disorder is probably more common that many of us realize and this is because it often goes undiagnosed. Many of us do not even realize that we have problems breathing when we sleep so we do not seek help and therefore it goes untreated.

Sleep Apnea causes the sufferer to have pauses in their breathing whilst they are asleep. In more serious cases these can last for a few minutes however generally last just a few seconds. They are broken by a loud snort or chocking sound and can occur numerous times an hour.

It is not unusual for sufferers to have broken nights of sleep 3-4 times a week which can leave them feeling exhausted and unrested. Often if you have this condition you slip from deep sleep to light sleep very easily which means that you find it hard to wake up feeling properly refreshed and rested.

If you go down the route of being diagnosed with this condition then you will have to spend time at a sleep clinic being observed over a number of nights. It is not something that your normal doctor will have the means to diagnose you with.

In actual fact it is usually our partners that first notice our symptoms of Sleep Apnea. This is because the most common type is the obstructive sleep apnea. This causes your airway to become blocked during sleeping, when your try to breathe the air pauses past the blockage and causes the snoring sound we are all familiar with. It is usually this that is noted by our partners as although we remain asleep our loud snoring sounds keep them awake throughout the night.

Although this doesn’t sound like a serious condition to live with it can cause numerous problems for both us and our families.

For example if we have numerous nights where we are unable to sleep then this can cause us to become exhausted. After weeks of not being well rested our day to day live will start to suffer, we lose concentration easily, our reactions become slower and our work can be affected.

It is not only work and routines that can be affected. Sleep Apnea can have a negative effect on your relationship. If you share a bed with someone who has this condition then you can become frustrated at the snoring and the fact that you are being kept awake. Although you know that this is not their fault it is hard not to become angry at them. This means that when they are tired throughout the day they are likely to snap and take it out on you. This can cause a great strain on your partnership.

If you do suspect that you have a Sleep Apnea that it is important that you seek medical advice. There are effect treatments that can make living with Sleep Apnea easier and more manageable however if it is left untreated that it can lead to more serious medical conditions.

Sleep Apnea and sleeping problems in general are not a rare condition however it is something that often is not properly diagnosed. A lot of people do not even realize that they have a problem with not breathing properly as they sleep so do not seek help and therefore do not get a diagnosis.

If it does get to the stage where you are to be diagnosed then you will undertake a polysomnography (PSG) test usually conducted by sleep specialist at a sleep clinic. The PSG looks at the brain waves, muscle activity, eye movement, and heart rhythm of the patient.

In fact Sleep Apnea goes back at least as far as 1837 when it was mentioned in Charles Dickens literacy masterpiece “The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club”.

Since then there have been many groups of doctors and scientists looking into this condition and carrying out extensive research. This has helped improvements in treatment and also educating people so that more of us are aware of this condition, its implementations and the treatments involved.

It was in the 1960′s that the condition really started to become recognized and doctors and scientists started to look at the causes of sleep problems. In 1965 Dr Gestalt, a French specialist doctor undertook an extensive look at people that had problems with breathing in their sleep and named them ‘sleep issues’. Around 30 years ago a group of Australian doctors founded a positive way to treat sleep apnea. They found that people who had problems sleeping responded will to continuous positive airway pressure during sleep. This method of treatment is still one of the main forms of treatment today.

Right at the start of the 1990’s it was founded that many people have sleep problems are undiagnosed. If this continued and the condition was left untreated it can become life-threatening and lead to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Hence The American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) was founded. Their mission was to increase understanding of this sleep condition – not just amongst the public but with health care professionals and organizations.

This was stepped up another gear when the ASAA launched a new project – The Alert, Well and Keeping Energetic (A.W.A.K.E) network. This was launched across America to educate everyone about this sleeping disease. They visited every state across the country to make sure everyone knew the signs and symptoms of this condition and how to seek treatment.

Now a days the condition is easily treated as long as you contact your doctor. Many people are becoming more education about the condition to know to get treatment and recognize the signs of this possibly life threatening disease.

Our understanding of this condition has improved so much since it was first documented in Charles Dickens’ book and this is thanks to the French doctor and the Australian group that looked into the condition, helped us develop treatments and increase education across American so that more people are aware of this condition.

This video shows a young child, struggling to sleep with his sleep apnea. The video shows his distress, however after the child has had sleep apnea surgery performed, his sleep is filmed again, with incredible results, allowing the boy to experience a peaceful nights sleep. This video demonstrates how much of an improvement can be made by having sleep apnea surgery, which can prove essential especially within children who require a good amount of rest.

The latest sleep apnea video we have decided to show is from Rosie O’Donnell’s show.  Rosie and her guest, sleep doctor Michael Breus, discuss the treatment and diagnosis of her sleep apnea.   Rosie talks about being diagnosed with sleep apnea via a sleep study, and also demonstrates how to use her CPAP mask.   Dr. Breus explains exactly what obstructive sleep apnea is and how it can affect both physical and mental health.   He also explains the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea and talks about how women in particular often believe they have insomnia when in fact they have sleep apnea.

The importance of obstructive sleep apnea treatment can be very much under estimated.  Sufferers of the obstructive sleep apnea disorder may decide to ignore the available treatments.  Some of the treatments include wearing masks and dental appliances which have to be worn every night, and also a range of sleep apnea surgery techniques which can be painful, with no guarantee of success.  This can deter a lot of sufferers from seeking treatment, but there are a number of dangers associated with untreated obstructive sleep apnea.  The importance of obstructive sleep apnea treatment cannot be stressed enough.

It is thought that of all sleep apnea sufferers, only 10% are being treated, with the majority of the remaining 90% unaware that a problem even exists.  However, a portion of the 90% have made the decision to ignore the available treatments, which is their own moral right, but when they are driving, for example, they are endangering the lives of innocent people.  Due to this concern, people who opt to refuse treatment and continue to drive can be reported to the DMV, and have their driving licence suspended.  This demonstrates how important it is to seek treatment for sleep apnea.

Untreated sleep apnea also increases the likelihood of the following;

• High blood pressure
• Strokes
• Heart attacks
• Reduced productivity at work
• Reduced attentiveness at home
• Sudden death

If you feel you may have obstructive sleep apnea, or know someone who you think may be suffering from the condition, please consult with your doctor as soon as possible, to identify and provide treatment for any apparent problem.  Learn the importance of obstructive sleep apnea treatment.

So, how common is sleep apnea?  Obstructive sleep apnea is thought to affect approximately 4% of men, and 2% of women.  In one particular study, for those people above 18 years of age, obstructive sleep apnea developed in 1.5% of the volunteers, per year, over a five year period.  Due to the population becoming more obese can be attributed to the increase in how common sleep apnea is in the modern climate, as obesity greatly increases the effects of sleep apnea.  The most concerning statistic is the fact that of all sleep apnea sufferers, only 10% are receiving treatment.

From all the research done in this field, it has been concluded that some groups of people are more likely to develop sleep apnea than others.

• Before the age of 50, men are more likely to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea than women.
• After the age of 50, the risk of developing sleep apnea becomes the same for both genders.
• 70% of obese patients have obstructive sleep apnea.
• 30-50% of cardiac patients have obstructive sleep apnea.
• 60% of stroke patients have obstructive sleep apnea.
• One recent study revealed that 14% of NFL players, and 34% of NFL linemen suffer from sleep apnea.
• African-Americans have a 2.5 times greater risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea than Caucasians.
• In India, 7.5% of the male population suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.

These figures illustrate how common the sleep apnea disorder actually is on a global scale.

There are various signs of sleep apnea which you can look out for to evaluate whether or not you suffer from the sleep apnea disorder.  The signs to look for include, but are not limited to, the following.  Ask yourself these questions, and then assess the results.

If you feel the majority of questions result in a yes, then it would be wise, and recommended, to contact your doctor for further analysis.

• Do you snore loudly, and regularly?
• Do you find your sleep disturbed, and wake up several times per night?
• Do you suffer from daytime tiredness, causing you to fall asleep whilst driving / at work etc?
• Do you have low libido, and wake in the middle of the night gasping and/or choking?

If you can relate to these questions, and these issues affect your everyday life, then you would be best to further investigate your situation, and book an appointment with your doctor, who may then refer you to a sleep specialist.  But not to worry, as sleep apnea is treatable, and in some cases curable, and the improvement to your life once the condition is being treated is immeasurably positive.

Sleep apnea is commonly caused by excessive weight gain, which reduces the airway passage within the throat, which can be dangerous during sleep, forcing the sufferer to stop breathing, and wake up gasping for air or choking spurts.  This is sometimes experienced without any recollection, and can continue for years undetected.  Leading to daytime tiredness, a sleep apnea sufferer may fall asleep on the spot, whether at work, talking to others, driving or at the cinema.  For more physically demanding jobs this can prove quite dangerous, or for those sufferers who regularly take long drives.  Another sign of sleep apnea is low libido.

Snoring is not always directly connected with a sleep disorder, but is one of the signs doctors look for in a potential sleep apnea sufferer.  Sleep apnea sufferers typically snore fully and deeply through the mouth.  Since the patient struggles to sleep for a prolonged period of time, they never tend to reach an REM (Rapid Eye Movement) state of sleep, which is the deepest stage of sleep, and most beneficial to our bodies.  This is what is most attributed to the daytime exhaustion of sleep apnea patients; where the most trivial of tasks can drain every ounce of energy from the body, leaving you feeling weak and vulnerable.

These are the main signs of sleep apnea, to help determine whether or not you, or a partner, are suffering from the sleep disorder.