Sleep Apnea

What You Must Know about Sleep Apnea

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Sleep apnea is a form of sleeping disorder that can be observed by having pauses in breathing while the person who has this is sleeping. Each episode causes a person to miss out one or more breaths and may repeat continuously throughout their sleep. The fact that this causes you to stop breathing even for short periods of time means that this can be dangerous. This disorder poses a great risk to your health if you will not act in order to improve your condition.

More about the Disorder

There are two kinds of this sleeping disorder that are known as obstructive and central. The obstructive kind is when you feel like something is blocking your throat as you sleep that is why you stop breathing. The central kind refers to the act of your brain as it send the wrong signal to the muscles of your body that causes you to lack sleep and feel restless all along.

The most obvious symptom of this disorder is the sound of the sufferer's snore. Instead of the usual and more common kind that most people create as sounds of their snore, you will hear something that sounds more of a grunt. Aside from the snore, you will stop breathing for short periods of time as you sleep through the night of you have this disorder. You will also suffer from morning headaches because you are not getting proper amount of rest. Other symptoms include urinating often at night, getting mood swings, dry mouth, impotence for men and depression. As a result of your sleeping patterns, you will feel tired and sleepy during the day.

Be Alert

The first thing that you need to do at this case is to accept the fact that you have this sickness. This is the only way for you to detect the causes of such disorder and you can start finding solutions to the problem. You must not take this lightly even if you are still able to sleep even if you are no longer getting enough amount of rest.

If you will think and accept that this is only normal, you may find the situation getting worse as time passes by. If you will allow this to happen, you may be surprised one day that you can no longer do anything to cure it on your own but instead, you have to resort to expensive medications and you may even be required to undergo surgical procedures.

Some of the causes of this disorder include obesity, enlarged tonsils, old age, high blood pressure, vices like smoking and alcohol and family history. You have to take the matter seriously. If you have to conduct brief research about the topic, do it and do it fast. You need to help yourself resolve the problem before it gets too complicated to handle. This may cause your other ailments like heart problems and high blood pressure to get worse.

This disorder happens more likely with men than on women. And this occurs at people who are 65 years or older. Women become more prone to get this disorder after menopause or when they get too much excess fats and become overweight.
You must not ignore sleep apnea. You have to act on it while you still can. You can consult dental professionals about how they can help you in this regard.

You can also try to improve your condition by keeping your body fit, healthy and strong.

What Sleep Apnea Is

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There are several known sleeping disorders that are commonly diagnosed in people. One of which is sleep apnea. This disorder happens when a sleeping person experiences several pauses in breathing or indicates shallow taking in of air. Usually, breathing pauses involved could last a few seconds to even several minutes. In most cases, such breathing pauses happen about 10 to 30 times (sometimes more) in just an hour. This is the reason why many people are very much alarmed when they incur this sleeping disorder.

In reality, sleep apnea is usually considered as chronic or ongoing. It is a condition that often leads to disrupted sleep and could happen in a person for about three or sometimes more nights every single week. The affected person often suddenly moves out of deep sleep and goes into a very light sleep as breathing pauses or becomes very shallow. It is also observed that when the person resumes normal breathing after a sleep apnea attack, he creates a loud choking sound or snort.

Needless to say, sleep apnea is resulting to poor quality sleep, making the person tired and restless all day. The condition has been identified by experts as among the main causes of inevitable and excessive daytime sleepiness. Contrary to what others usually think, sleep apnea is not normal. It could be very risky.

Often, the disorder goes undiagnosed. No doctor could ever detect the condition upon patient consultation or visit. It is not detected through blood tests. In fact, most people who are affected by sleep apnea are not aware that they have the condition during their sleep. It is usually a bed partner or a close family member who first notices manifestations and symptoms of sleep apnea. This is the reason why it is considered very dangerous, especially if its sufferer is often sleeping alone.

There are even several types of sleep apnea. The most common of such kinds is what is called as obstructive sleep apnea. It is noted that when the condition happens, the airway collapses or gets blocked during sleep. This blockage may lead to breathing pauses or shallow breathing. Loud snoring is produced when air squeezes past this blockage. Obstructive type of sleep apnea is often manifested by overweight people, though experts warn that it could also likely affect anyone.

Another type of sleep apnea is what is called as central sleep apnea. It is a less common kind of this sleep disorder. It happens when the specific brain area that controls breathing fail to send correct signals to breathing muscles during sleep. The result: the affected person makes no effort to breathe during sleep, but only for just a few seconds. In many cases, central sleep apnea combines with the obstructive type. In some people, central sleep apnea could occur solely. Unlike in obstructive type, snoring is not common to people experiencing central sleep apnea.

There are other factors to consider when looking at sleep apnea. First, it has been found that the condition could raise the risk for heart attacks, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. It could also increase risks for heart failure.

There is of course irregular heartbeats and there is a risk that the affected person may experience driving or work-related accidents, probably due to lack of sleep or sleepiness.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

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Sleep apnea, a disorder that affects about 12 million Americans, is characterized by breath pauses during sleep, which may last for 20 to 30 seconds or more. Sleep apnea episodes usually happen five to 30 times in an hour and may cause sleep disturbances. Snorting, choking, and snoring are typical to people with sleep apnea. It is common in men and older people, although women and children can also be diagnosed with it.

Because of the nature of the condition, people with sleep apnea are normally not aware of their sleeping irregularities. In fact, it is said that 80 to 90% of people with sleep apnea are undiagnosed. Usually, it is their bed partners who notice their condition.

Types of sleep apnea
There are two types of sleep apnea. The more common is called obstructive sleep apnea and involves a blocked airway. This blockage can result from over-relaxed throat muscles and tongue, obesity, and facial and bone structure deformities. Once the airway is blocked, breathing stops and the person begins to gasp and snort.

The oxygen level decreases, while carbon dioxide level increases. This then stimulates the brain to normalize the breathing process and prompts the person to wake up and to open the airway by adjusting the tongue and throat muscles. Normal breathing then ensues followed usually by loud snoring. The person, however, may neither remember being awake for a short time nor be aware of his gasps for air.

The other type is called central sleep apnea, which is caused by the brain’s delayed signals to the breathing muscles. Breathing stops and oxygen level begins to drop. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea is less common. It is a central nervous system disorder and can result from an injury or disease that involves the brainstem. This can be in the form of stroke and brain tumor, among other things. Though people with central sleep apnea may not typically snore, they may experience shortness of breath.

Both types have different causes, but their effects are the same: low level of oxygen in the brain, poor sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and even depression. They can also contribute to high blood pressure and heart irregularities when the oxygen reaches a dangerously low level. However, sleep apnea can also be literally disturbing to the bed partner because of the loud snoring that can cause sleep deprivation.

What to do
It would rather be hard for a person to know whether he has sleep apnea, since the condition manifests only during sleep. However, if he suspects to having the condition, especially if he shows the symptoms, he can opt to document his sleeping patterns. For instance, he can ask his bed partner to journal episodes of breath pauses, snoring, choking, or snorting. Or if he sleeps alone, he can videotape himself sleeping and notice if there are irregularities. These observations would help determine if seeing a doctor or a sleep specialist is necessary.

Upon diagnosis, the sleep specialist would recommend treatments or surgeries depending on the severity of the condition. But for minor sleep apnea, some behavioral treatments or lifestyle changes can be helpful. Examples are avoidance of alcohol and tobacco, weight loss, and having regular sleep hours.

But in any case, seeking the professional advice of a sleep specialist is necessary in treating a diagnosed case of sleep apnea.

What Are The Sleep Apnea Tests?

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Though the medical field took note of sleep apnea as early as 1965, it is only just recently that the public became more aware of this sleep disorder. In 2004, the sudden death of football superstar Reggie White due to sleep apnea complications made headlines and has since allowed sleep apnea emerge as one of the sleep disorders of top concern.

Though its nature is not as serious as cancer, diabetes, and other more popular fatal conditions, sleep apnea is equally threatening, much so is the undiagnosed and untreated case. Therefore, any person with suspected sleep apnea should immediately undergo sleep apnea tests to eliminate the possibilities of complications.

Sleep apnea diagnostic tests are done in sleep centers or laboratories by a qualified sleep specialist or a doctor. With technological advancements, a few tests can now be performed at home, although these tests should still be performed under the guidance of the attending physician. Which test to perform is determined by the pretest results, symptoms, and availability of the tests. Some of the tests that help diagnose sleep apnea are the following:

1. Polysomnography. Because of its extensive nature, polysomnography is considered the standard test for diagnosing sleep apnea and its severity. Polysomnography monitors and records activities of the brain, heart, and lungs; eye, arm, and leg movements; oxygen levels; air flow; breathing and respiratory patterns; and heart rate. It is used for all suspected cases of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

2. Oximetry. The purpose of oximetry is to monitor the oxygen levels in the blood. It is an overnight test done at home and uses a sleeve that is fitted into the finger, which shows if there is an abnormality in the oxygen level. A low registry of oxygen means a case of sleep apnea. Oximetry, however, cannot screen all cases of sleep apnea, so doctors normally run polysomnography tests to confirm and validate oximetry results.

3. Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). Usually performed to test excessive daytime sleepiness, MSLT measures how fast a patient falls asleep by allowing him opportunities to sleep during the day. People without sleep disorders normally fall asleep within 10 to 20 minutes, while those who have, especially those with sleep apnea, do so in less than five minutes.

4. Portable cardiorespiratory tests. These are simplified tests that are designed to use at home. They measure airflow and breathing patterns, among other things. However, these tests are only done with use of comprehensive sleep evaluation and upon the recommendation and supervision of the attending physician or qualified sleep specialist.

After the diagnosis, the doctor or sleep specialist may refer another specialist or set of specialists to manage the cause and effect of sleep apnea. These specialists include cardiologist (heart problems), psychiatrist (emotional and behavioral issues), neurologist (nervous system irregularities), and otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat abnormalities). Determining appropriate treatments must then take place after the diagnosis.

As it seems, taking sleep apnea tests is the first step toward sleep apnea management. If one has symptoms of sleep apnea such as snoring, daytime fatigue, excessive daytime sleepiness, mood changes, and anxiety, going to a sleep specialist or doctor should be an immediate action.

Sleep apnea should never be taken for granted or underestimated. Social figures and ordinary people alike are not spared from this serious sleep disorder.

Ways to Handle Sleep Apnea Conditions

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If you have no trouble sleeping, you must consider yourself lucky. It will help you a lot in coping with various conditions and tasks that you have to face each day. You will feel the negative effects of lack of sleep, especially if you need to handle certain things with alert body and mind. Even animals need to get enough rest and full hours of sleep to keep their body fit. But there are certain conditions that you may not be aware about, which interfere with your healthy sleep patterns, one of which is known as sleep apnea.

Apnea is a Greek word that literally means to breathe. So when you have this sleep disorder, as you lay to rest, you may not notice that your airway is blocked that is why your breathing is halted. As this occurs, your brain will help you cope by going into a defensive mode. Your brain automatically forces you to breathe by waking you up.

How do you know that someone has this? The more obvious observation can be through the way they snore. You will hear more of a grunt than a snore actually because the person is gasping for air that is why they are making such noise. The blockage is there as long as you are still suffering from the disorder. This is why there will be a constant cycle of sleeping then waking up throughout the night.

Tireless Nights

If you are not worried about this condition, you will do so as time goes by. You may think that this is not alarming because at least, you still can sleep even though you are often being awakened. But the fact is that this is not healthy. You are not only losing hours of sleep but you are not reaching the most important part of this activity. There are five stages of sleep and among these, the most important part is the REM. REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement and this is deepest stage and gives you the feeling of becoming refreshed and well-rested. If you have the disorder, you will never reach such stage.

Aside from losing quality sleep each night, there are more serious problems that people who are suffering from the disorder face each time they go to sleep. Because you cannot breathe easily and regularly as you are sleeping, you lack the needed oxygen that you body has to be supplied with all the time. This can lead to more serious health problems like high blood pressure and heart disorders. If you already have problems with high blood and anything with regards to your heart, this certain sleeping disorder makes the matter worse and may lead to even more difficult problems if you will not act on it as soon as possible.

The Right Actions

The first thing that you need to do to help yourself is to accept that there is a problem. After that, you have to take the necessary actions to alleviate the condition. Here are some recommendations that you can follow in this regard.

1. If you are overweight, it is high time to lose those excess pounds and be fit. You have to know that most people with this disorder are overweight.

2. You can ask for the available dental services that can help you solve the dilemma. You just have to go to the right professional for this action.

3. You can also choose surgery to eliminate the problem of sleep apnea permanently.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

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Sleep apnea could be a risky and pressing health concern especially if it gets further worse as the days go by. People affected by this form of sleep disorder should not worry too much. That is because there are different types of treatments that are readily available. The sufferer only needs to go to the doctor who specializes in such health problems.

It is important to note that there are two major goals for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. First, it is aimed at restoring regular breathing especially during sleeping hours. Second, treatment for sleep apnea is basically intending to relieve basic symptoms like daytime sleepiness and loud snoring during sleep. It is also a delight to most sleep apnea sufferers that available treatment for the condition could also significantly help treat medical problems that are directly linked to the sleeping disorder. Such diseases include hypertension, diabetes, and heart ailments.

Basic treatment options against sleep apnea include mouthpieces, breathing devices, lifestyle changes, and surgery. There are still no regulatory approved medicines that are specifically for sleep apnea treatment. As mentioned, the best first step to attain an effective treatment for the sleep disorder is to approach a sleep specialist or doctor and discuss the most suitable treatment option available for you.

Mouthpiece for sleep apnea is often called oral appliance. It could specifically help sufferers of mild sleep apnea. Such instruments are usually recommended to people who snore very loudly, whether they have sleep apnea or none. Orthodontists and dentists could custom-make plastic mouthpieces to treat sleep apnea. The object would help adjust the lower jaw as well as the tongue so that airways could be kept open even during sleep. However, a patient may not be spared from any pain or discomfort caused by the device. Periodic visits to the doctor would be necessary.

There are specific breathing devices available for treatment of sleep apnea. Severe cases in adults could call for the use of CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure. It is a special machine that uses a mask so it could fit over the nose and the mouth. It would gently blow air into the throat. This air would press against the airway wall. Air pressure would then be adjusted so that narrowing of the airway would be prevented and blockage problems could be eliminated. CPAP is ideally setup and installed by a technician.

To treat sleep apnea effectively, you would also be asked to brace several lifestyle changes, especially habits and daily activities. Here are some of the common changes. Rule out intake of alcohol and sleeping pills as such substances could make it harder for the throat to remain open during sleep.

Second, lose weight especially if you are obese or overweight. Third, be used to sleeping on the side instead of on the back as doing so could help keep throat open for breathing. Stop smoking. And lastly, keep nasal passages wide open all night through nose sprays and allergy medicines.

The last treatment option is the least liked by sleep apnea sufferers. Surgery is performed to further widen a person’s breathing passages. Such an operation usually comprises of shrinking, stiffening, and removing excess tissue located in the throat or mouth as well as resetting the lower jaw. In some cases, tonsils are also removed.

The Dangers Of Sleep Apnea: A Rundown

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Many people choose to disregard sleep apnea, thinking it’s just about snoring. Unfortunately, snoring is just a symptom; it only mirrors the irregularities happening inside the body during an episode of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea, which is characterized by breath pauses usually lasting for a few seconds to minutes, is foremost a sleep disorder that requires proper attention.

If ignored, it can result in a number of problems, many of which are too serious they may not look like they have been caused by a seemingly simple sleep disorder. But the truth is, sleep apnea is not as simple as people think. On regular occasions, it can be troubling, but in some instances, it can be life-threatening. Not knowing the dangers of sleep apnea can place a person at a heightened risk, so it pays to be aware of them.

The dangers
There are two main effects of sleep apnea, both of which may result in dangerous conditions and events.

1. Poor quality of sleep.
People with sleep apnea have shallow sleep and experience frequent waking. They are therefore deprived of the therapeutic and restful sleep the body needs to restore the lost energy and refresh the mind. The following morning, they wake up feeling tired, annoyed, and restless.

The sleep disturbance caused by sleep apnea also often leads to excessive daytime sleepiness. Some may fall asleep while doing their regular routines like eating or talking. However, it can be dangerous if they are caught driving. Researches have tallied a number of car crashes among people with sleep apnea, confirming they are more prone to car accidents than other drivers and motorists.

Lack of concentration, which normally results in poor performance at work and in school, is also observed from people with sleep apnea. They may also have memory and learning difficulties.

People with sleep apnea may as well experience psychological problems such as anxiety, irritability, mood and behavior changes, and depression. Gain weight may also be apparent since lack of sleep essentially boosts the appetite.

2. Oxygen deprivation.
Many people are unaware that sleep apnea interrupts a body function as important as oxygen saturation. Oxygen is vital in the body and when absent, it creates a strain in the cardiovascular system. This happens because as oxygen level drops due to breath pauses, the cardiovascular system, which is responsible in delivering oxygen through the blood, tends to work harder. The effect of which is high blood pressure, a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, stroke, and heart attack.

In fact, studies showed that people with sleep apnea are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular problems, especially those with untreated sleep apnea. Another study said that sudden death due to irregular heart rhythm during sleeping hours is more likely to happen among people with sleep apnea. Such death usually occurs in waking hours among people without the sleep disorder.

There are two sure ways to counter the dangers of sleep apnea—having oneself checked and treated. As it seems, this sleep disorder is more damaging and serious than what others seem to think. It can make everyday life a little troubling and, worse, can claim life in the most subtle ways.

With sleep apnea, there is no room for taking chances. So if you think your body shows sign of the sleep disorder, see a sleep specialist at once and undergo treatments.

Symptoms and Manifestations of Sleep Apnea

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Are you suffering from a sleep disorder known as sleep apnea? Chances are that you are not fully aware or you could be in denial. Unlike many disorders, sleep apnea is not easily diagnosed. No doctor could tell if you have one only after one consultation or visit. It is also not diagnosed through blood tests and other clinical procedures.

It is often the roommate or bed partner of a patient who could tell if a person has sleep apnea. That is because no person could really tell what goes on during his sleep, just like no person could tell if he really snores because he could not hear himself do so during his own sleep.

There are general symptoms and signs that a person has sleep apnea. It is important that you know of such indications. If you could not observe it in yourself, probably you could observe it in your bedmate or roommate. It is also important that your housemates or family know of the following manifestations and symptoms of the condition.

First, there is chronic or ongoing and loud snoring. You may notice sudden and prolonged pauses in between snores. This could indicate that breathing is pauses, a major symptom that there is actually sleep apnea. After a while, the person could suddenly gasp or choke, an indication that there is difficulty in breathing. Take note that this could only happen during sleep.

Snoring is a good indication and it should be observed well. Usually, snoring is at its loudest when a person sleeps in his back; less noisy if a person turns to his side. It may not happen every single night. However, when there is sleep apnea, snoring happens more frequently and it gets louder and louder. You could not tell if you have sleep apnea, as mentioned. You are probably asleep when gasping or snoring occurs. Another thing to emphasize is that not all people who snore suffers from sleep apnea.

Another major symptom of sleep apnea is a person’s tendency and strong urge to fight off sleepiness on daytime, especially after the sleep apnea attack. It could be very dangerous if the person would go on to drive or operate risky equipment at work. That is because lack of sleep may catch up anytime of the day.

You could find yourself immediately and rapidly falling asleep especially during the quieter time of the day or when there is temporary idleness. If you think you have attained enough hours of sleep but still you are sleepy the following day, you might be suffering from sleep apnea, which triggers stress hormone production that leads to this manifestation.

There are more signs and symptoms observed. Sleep apnea could possibly be present if you suffer from regular morning headaches, depression, personality changes, and mood swings. Feeling of irritability is often observed in people with the disorder. There is also frequent urination at night. When you wake up, you may feel that your throat is all dried up, which should not be the case.

Sleep apnea is more frequent in adults but children are not totally spared. Sleep apnea in children is shown through hyperactivity, aggressiveness, and poor school performance. They also tend to have unusual sleeping positions and may breathe through the mouth instead of through nose during daytime. Bedwetting could also be a manifestation.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

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Sleep apnea can exist for years without being diagnosed. This is because the sleep disorder manifests itself only during sleep, just when the person suffering from it is totally out of the bounds of consciousness to actually notice the irregularities. On the other hand, his bed partner may take the snoring and snorting as normal occurrences.

An undiagnosed case of sleep apnea, however, can be irritating and fatal all at the same time. Those who have it can experience as simple as fatigue and as life-threatening as heart disease. But the question is, how can one be so sure if he or his loved one is already having bouts with sleep apnea? There are warning signs to look out for, and they come as sleep apnea symptoms.

Red Flag: The signs and symptoms
Sleep apnea requires prompt attention. If the following symptoms surface, a consultation with a doctor or a sleep specialist must immediately take place.

1. Snoring. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, but snoring is typical to those who suffer from the sleep disorder. Loud and chronic snoring is ordinarily accompanied by grunts, snorts, gasps for breath, and restless movements.

2. Breathing irregularities. Sleep apnea renders a person to have breath pauses that lead to frequent and brief silences during sleep, but which then break into loud snoring. It is the bed partner who notices these breath intervals.

3. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). It is described as the unordinary and persistent sleepiness. People experiencing EDS normally feel the urge to and sometimes involuntarily fall asleep for brief moments many times during the day and when performing daily itinerary such as eating, talking over the phone, and driving. Over time, EDS becomes a threat to someone’s performance at work and in school because it usually weakens a person’s competency to complete tasks.

4. Daytime fatigue. Due to disrupted sleep, people with sleep apnea normally feel tired as though they haven’t slept the night before. It then results in forgetfulness, lack of concentration, and learning difficulties. Mood changes are also apparent, causing the person to become irritable and anxious.

5. Depression. Although it is not clear how exactly sleep apnea contributes to depression, it is said that people with the sleep disorder are five times more prone to developing depression. Sleep apnea is also reported to aggravate an existing case of depression.

6. Morning headache. People suffering from sleep apnea wake up with morning headache. In fact, statistics says that headaches occur in approximately half of the people with sleep apnea. Headaches at night are also reported.

7. Other symptoms. People with sleep apnea have a frequent need to urinate at night and experience excessive sweating when asleep. Upon waking up, they tend to have a dry throat. Sexual dysfunction is also observed from people with sleep apnea.

Experts suggest that the more sleep apnea symptoms present in a person and the more intense they are, the more severe his case of sleep apnea is. Undergoing sleep test and treatment then is necessary. But because it is hard for a potential patient to observe some of these symptoms from himself, the bed partner is put in a place of greater accountability.

Any suspected case of sleep apnea should not be taken for granted. Rather, it should be monitored extensively.

Sleep Apnea In Children: The Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments

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Although sleep apnea mostly affects the older population, it is also experienced by children usually under the ages three to six. Sleep apnea in children is in the same way troubling as in adults. If it remains undiagnosed and untreated, it leaves the children with learning difficulties, weak school performance, mood and behavior problems, poor interpersonal abilities, developmental delays, and worse, high blood pressure and heart problems.

Causes
A common sleep disorder, sleep apnea occurs when the person stops breathing for brief periods that average 30 seconds. It is caused by an obstruction in the airway. In children, majority of the cases of sleep apnea result from enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Some cases of enlargement are due to infection.

But in some children, facial and structural deformities cause the narrowing of the airway. It can be that the children are born with smaller jaw, larger tongue, and smaller opening of the throat. Some facial deformities are also caused by certain craniofacial syndromes such as Down Syndrome, Treacher Collins Syndrome, and Pierre Robin Sequence. Children with these syndromes have structural deformities in the jaw, nose, and mouth, and have poor muscle tone, making them more at risk for developing sleep apnea.

Tumors anywhere that affects the airway can also contribute to the development of sleep apnea, since the presence of a tumor diminishes the muscle tone and therefore causes an obstruction. Although very rare, obesity can also be a cause. The fatty cells that amass in the throat tissue result in the narrowing of the airway.

Symptoms
As in adults, loud and heavy snoring is always the first symptom of sleep apnea in children. But since 10 to 20% of children snore at some point, even without the presence of sleep apnea, it is important for the parents to look for other symptoms in their kids.

Other symptoms include mouth breathing, bedwetting, odd sleeping positions, extreme sweating while sleeping, hyperactivity, excessive sleepiness, short attention span, aggressiveness, and behavior problems. Other children may also do poorly in school, have learning problems, and not grow according to their age.

Unlike adults who have the tendency to get overweight, children with sleep apnea are usually thin and may experience weight loss. This is because obstruction in the airway, especially in the throat and nose area, makes eating quite uncomfortable. Burning of calories is also at a higher speed due to abnormal breathing patterns.

Treatments
Since the enlargement of tonsils and adenoids is the common cause of sleep apnea in children, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, where enlarged tonsils and adenoids are removed, are the usual treatment.

But those who won’t benefit from such surgeries or may develop complications after going through them will be prescribed to use continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP. This is a nose mask connected to a machine that delivers pressurized air and keeps the airway open. Parents need to realize that CPAP may be a little uncomfortable to use, but some adjustments may allow the kids to get to use to it.

Sleep apnea in children requires immediate medical attention. If parents suspect their kids to have this sleep disorder, they need to promptly see a doctor or a sleep specialist. The severity of the case and identification of treatments will be based on the symptoms, medical evidence of enlargement of tonsils and adenoids, and sleep test results.

Sleep Apnea Device Options

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If not properly addressed, sleep apnea may result in serious and even life-threatening conditions. Excessive daytime sleepiness, hypertension, and heart failure may be some of the numerous dangers of sleep apnea. But these effects on health can be eliminated by use of a sleep apnea device that allows sufficient flow of air into the lungs.

Here are the common airflow devices available for people with sleep apnea. Though they work differently, their effect is one and the same: less or, at best, no sleep apnea events.

1. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
The most common airflow device, CPAP comes with a machine, tubes, and a mask worn over the nose. But if the person breathes with the mouth while sleeping, a full-mask, which also covers the mouth, is more apt to use. CPAP works by providing pressurized air into the body, thereby pushing the tongue forward and opening the airway. CPAP is normally recommended to people with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, though it is also shown to be effective in people with central sleep apnea. CPAP is available only upon doctor’s prescription.

However, CPAP is said to be a bit uncomfortable to use. Some, if not totally abandoning its use, tend to wear CPAP only for a few hours or a few days. It is for this reason that new improvements in CPAP were initiated. CPAP manufacturers, for instance, created heated humidifier to provide warm and moist air. This consequently prevents dry mouth and sore throat, the common side effects of CPAP. Ramps are also new CPAP features. They are set to provide low pressure at the onset of sleep and gradually increase it for the whole duration of sleep.

2. Bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP)
Unlike CPAP that pushes a steady level of pressure into the airway the entire sleep, BiPAP provides varied levels. Upon exhalation (breathing out), BiPAP decreases the pressure and increases it upon inhalation (breathing in). BiPAP, however, may be a little more expensive than CPAP, but some find that the varying levels of pressure it provides are more comfortable and tolerable than one, constant level CPAP offers.

3. Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV)
ASV stores breathing patterns and information in a built-in computer and uses it to prevent airflow disruptions. It does so by releasing pressure that in turn normalizes the breathing process. Compared to CPAP and BiPAP, ASV is a newly approved device. ASV has been said to produce higher success rate in addressing central sleep apnea.

4. Mouthpiece
Mouthpieces, also called oral appliances, are now commonly used to prevent breath pauses in sleep. Because they are easier to use, cheaper and smaller, they have become the alternative to CPAP. When before their use was only limited to mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea, mouthpieces are now found effective in treating severe cases.

One of the most common mouthpieces is mandibular advancement device (MAD). Made by a dentist or orthodontist, MAS is custom-fit and looks like an athletic mouth guard. It prevents sleep apnea events by pushing the lower jaw forward and adjusting the tongue, keeping it from blocking the airway. Tongue retaining device (TRD) is another common sleep apnea device.

Held by the teeth, TRD places the tongue forward and keeps the airway open. MAS and TRD need to be prescribed by the doctor and should be FDA approved. Visits to the dentist are necessary for periodic fitting, check-up, and other concerns that may rise from using these sleep apnea devices.

Sleep Apnea and People Who are at Risk

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It is estimated that in the United States alone, over 12 million of the adult population could be experiencing obstructive sleep apnea. It is also noted that about half of such people have one common condition: they are overweight. Thus, many researchers and experts could not help their selves but associate or link sleep apnea with excessive weight problem or obesity. This makes the condition a risk factor for any person to develop or suffer from sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a condition wherein the airway passage gets blocked when a person sleeps. It could cause breathing pauses for about 5 times to as much as 30 times in just an hour. It seldom leads to instant death, but the sleep disorder could lead to many health and body problems. Of course, when there is lack of sufficient oxygen level, the body would secrete stress hormones that could alter sleep or make the body tired and weary the next day. It has also been found that untreated sleep apnea could also be related to other ailments like diabetes, heart attack, hypertension, stroke and irregular heartbeat.

Sleep apnea could be treated. The problem comes in diagnosis. Usually, any person could not tell if he is experiencing sleep apnea. This is because no normal person could ever tell what happens during sleep, just like no person hears his own snoring during his sleep. Usually, it is the roommate or bed partner of the affected person who could get the attention and relay the story about sleep apnea episodes. This is because the sleep disorder could come with loud sound that could be alarming and disturbing to some.

There are identified risk factors for sleep apnea. As mentioned, excessive weight could be one. It has also been found that the condition occurs more in men than in women. In the United States alone, a middle-aged man out of 25 and a middle-aged woman out of 50 could be diagnosed with sleep apnea. This also shows that the disorder is more common in middle-aged and older adults. Researchers point out that the problem gets more common as a person ages. There is at least a person out of 10 aged 65 and higher that could experience sleep apnea. In women, they are found to be more likely to develop the condition after menopause.

It has also been noted that race could also be a factor in the occurrence of sleep apnea. Studies highlight that Pacific Islanders, African Americans, and Hispanics are more likely to have sleep apnea. In the same line, it has been found that Caucasians are less likely to suffer from it. The sleeping disorder could also be hereditary. That means that if someone in your immediate family has a history of sleep apnea, chances are higher that you would also develop the problem.

Also at risks are people who naturally have smaller airways in their throats, nose, or mouth. Small airways could be attributed to shape of structures, onset of allergies, or some other medical conditions that could lead to congestion in the areas. Enlarged tonsils in children could make them prone to sleep apnea regardless of their age.

Some research efforts have even found that the sleeping disorder could even be more common among smokers.

Risk Factors And Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

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It is during sleep that people are supposedly having the most restorative and restful time in the day. This is not true, however, with people with obstructive sleep apnea. Their apneic events, which happen when there are breath pauses, wake them hundreds of times a night and therefore disturb what should be a continuous, good night’s sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs for a number of reasons. However, not all people are aware of them, which makes it hard for the potential patients to seek immediate medical attention. Treatment is necessary, but it starts by knowing the risk factors and causes of obstructive sleep apnea.

Causes
1. Problems in the airway. Obstructive sleep apnea results from an obstruction in the airway, which is usually caused by certain problems in the airway components. These include the upper and lower jaws, tonsils, soft palate, tongue, and throat muscles.

Some sleep apnea cases involve over-relaxed throat muscles and tongue. When a person sleeps, his muscles normally relax, but when his throat muscles and tongue relax more than normal, it results in narrowing of the airway and causes apneic events.

Enlarged and collapsed soft palate and tonsils also cause obstructive sleep apnea.

2. Structural abnormalities. Anatomical abnormalities contribute to a person’s tendency to experiencing obstructive sleep apnea. For instance, the bone structure and shape of the head and neck may affect the size of the airway. A thicker neck may mean narrower airway. Moreover, large tongue and tonsils may also have an effect on the air passage. There are also structural abnormalities in the jaw, nose, and mouth that appear in people with craniofacial syndromes, making them more prone to obstructive sleep apnea. About 50% of those with Down Syndrome, for example, experience obstructive sleep apnea largely due to decreased muscle tone, comparatively large tongue, and narrower nasopharynx.

3. Obesity. Studies show that obesity has a part to play in the development of obstructive sleep apnea. Fatty cells tend to amass and clog the throat tissue, thereby causing narrowing of the airway. Obese people with sleep apnea are also shown to have more pressure on the airway, which results in more obstruction.

Risk Factors
1. Being Male. Obstructive sleep apnea is more likely to occur among men, although women are predisposed after menopause. Statistics show that one out of 50 middle-aged women has obstructive sleep apnea, compared to one out of 25 among middle-aged men.

2. Old age. Children and adolescents may have obstructive sleep apnea, although those over the age of 65 are twice or thrice more likely to experience it.

3. Use of alcohol, sedatives, and cigarette. Alcohol and sedatives make the muscles more relaxed. Smoking, on the other hand, is said to cause inflammation in the upper airway, thereby making smokers thrice more prone to obstructive sleep apnea.

4. Family history. Sleep apnea seems to run in the family. Therefore, those with family members suffering from obstructive sleep apnea should be more careful for being at a heightened risk.

5. Snoring. Though snoring indicates the presence of obstructive sleep apnea, chronic snoring, in some cases, is said to also cause apneic events. This is because frequent vibration due to snoring may cause the soft palate to stretch, thereby increasing its possibility to collapse. It doesn’t mean, however, that snoring automatically makes a person a candidate for obstructive sleep apnea. Snoring should not be regarded as a sole factor. Other risk factors and causes of obstructive sleep apnea should also be considered.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgery: The Solution

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Obstructive sleep apnea, which is literally the stoppage of breaths during sleep, happens when there is an obstruction in the airway. Although the breath pauses normally last for 10 to 30 seconds, they happen on average 30 times an hour. The effects obstructive sleep apnea has on health put people in great danger. This is why necessary treatments, including sleep apnea surgery, have been designed to correct the obstructions in the airway, which involve the jaws, tonsils, soft palate, and tongue.

Surgical operations are normally done to treat severe sleep apnea, although a few are developed for mild to moderate cases. The severity of the case, however, dictates the degree of the invasiveness of the surgical procedure. The more severe sleep apnea is, the more invasive the surgery is.

The cause of sleep apnea is a major consideration in determining which surgery to perform. Yet, the personal preference and medical condition of the patient are also factors. Though some surgeries can stand alone as a treatment, a few are best combined with other surgical procedures in a series of treatment.

Following are only some of the sleep apnea surgical options from which surgeons, upon diagnosis and careful study of the patient’s condition, choose the most appropriate and effective.

1. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)
Aimed at widening and keeping the air passage open, UPPP removes the tissue from the back of the throat that might be the cause of airway obstruction. It can be some parts of the soft palate, throat tissue, tonsils and adenoids, and uvula (the soft tissue that hangs from the back of the mouth). UPPP is considered helpful in eliminating snoring, although sleep apnea may still occur after the surgical procedure. In this case, the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is necessary. UPPP is normally recommended to people with severe obstructive sleep apnea. Patients need several weeks to recover.

2. Tracheostomy
This procedure involves making a hole in the neck to the windpipe (trachea) and inserting a tube in the opening. The tube then makes way for the free flowing of air when the patient is asleep. At daytime, the tube is closed using a valve to allow the patient to breathe and speak normally. The effectiveness of the procedure is remarkable, although it can present medical problems and emotional issues that normally involve self-image. Because of the associated risks, tracheostomy is only performed to treat severe sleep apnea or if it is the only appropriate surgery for the patient.

3. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
These procedures are performed if there is an enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are usually the first-line of treatment among children since enlarged tonsils and adenoids are the usual causes of their sleep apnea. These procedures are also effective among adults.

4. Maxillary or maxillomandibular advancement (MMA)
In this sleep apnea surgery, the surgeon repositions the upper or lower jawbone forward. Based on the diagnosis, some surgeons choose MMA as an auxiliary or phase II operation for patients with persistent sleep apnea. In other instances, MMA is performed as the main and sole surgical operation. This is if the patient has certain medical conditions that may not benefit from multiple surgeries or if he personally chooses to undergo a single operation. Though it can significantly change the facial structure, MMA is a consistently effective treatment.

Lifestyle Changes for Treatment of Sleep Apnea

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There are several treatment options for sleep apnea. If you fear undergoing surgical procedures and if you dislike using breathing devices and mouthpieces, there is one more option left. It is not intake of medicines since there is still no approved pill or injection for sleep apnea treatment. It would help a lot if you would try to change or improve your lifestyle. You may need to do several alterations or changes to your habits and daily activities so you could attain the relief and improvement you need.

First, try to change your sleeping position. If you always been used to sleeping on your back, this time, learn to sleep on your side. Most sleep apnea patients admit lying on the back when sleeping. This position could narrow airway passages due to impact of gravity. Try rolling over into your side and see the improvements not just in sleep apnea but also in loud snoring problems.

Second, try to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages not at least four hours before bedtime. As you know, alcohol could make your muscles more relaxed. This way, your throat and airway muscles could squeeze and narrow the air passage, which would lead to sleep apnea. Also avoid medicines (for your other ailments) that could induce sleep as they bring about the same effect as alcohol to the muscles. It would be better if you would approach your doctor about possible alternatives or strategies you could use so you could adjust your medicine intake, if it could not be helped.

Third, start losing excess weight if you are obese or overweight. You would notice that even the slightest weight loss could bring about great heaps of improvements of symptoms. As you know, weight loss could reduce snoring, at times eliminating it completely. A research conducted in 200 has found that sleep apnea sufferers who lose weight by about 10% of total current weight could expect to experience up to 26% decrease in risks of sleep apnea development.

Fourth, start quitting smoking. Many smokers are arguing about the helpfulness of eliminating the habit for treatment of sleep apnea. If you have been into smoking, you would certainly deal harder to stop smoking. Specific studies have shown that smoking could worsen sleep apnea. Start reducing your smoking habits now. You do not need to stop it suddenly. You could begin by subtracting a stick of cigarette each day to your average daily cigarette-stick intake.

Fifth, keep the nasal passages always open especially at night. You could use allergy medicines and nose sprays to do so. You could also try out nasal strips that are available over-the-counter. You need to make sure your nose and mouth are in good condition before you sleep. If you have runny and stiff nose, such strip products could also spell a great difference.

Last but not the least, sleep beside your bed partner. This way, you could always monitor how you are doing. Listen to their accounts. They may be complaining about your very loud sleep and their anxiety from thoughts that you are stopping breathing during your sleep.

You could have your partner wake you up whenever manifestations of sleep apnea are surfacing. Hugging your partner while sleeping could also be a good way of how you could adopt sleeping on side position.

Key Points about Sleep Apnea

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Sleep apnea is usually considered as chronic or ongoing. It is a condition that often leads to disrupted sleep and could happen in a person for about three or sometimes more nights every single week. The affected person often suddenly moves out of deep sleep and goes into a very light sleep as breathing pauses or becomes very shallow. It is also observed that when the person resumes normal breathing after a sleep apnea attack, he creates a loud choking sound or snort.

It could result to poor quality sleep, making the person tired and restless all day. The condition has been identified by experts as among the main causes of inevitable and excessive daytime sleepiness. Contrary to what others usually think, sleep apnea is not normal. It could be very risky. If you are diagnosed with the condition, it would be wise and best if you would resort to temporality giving up daytime driving and operating heavy machineries at work.

In many cases, the sleep disorder is undiagnosed. It is because doctors are not able to detect the problem during routine clinic visits. No form of blood, urine, or stool test could point out presence of the problem. It is best if you would discover the condition on your own. You could ask your bed partner or roommates about the snore and noise you make during your sleeping hours. You could take it from there.

It is estimated that in the United States alone, over 12 million of the adult population could be experiencing obstructive sleep apnea. It is also noted that about half of such people have one common condition: they are overweight. Thus, many researchers and experts could not help their selves but associate or link sleep apnea with excessive weight problem or obesity. This makes the condition a risk factor for any person to develop or suffer from sleep apnea. In the same regard, it is estimated that the ratio of sufferers worldwide are greater.

Race could also be a factor in the occurrence of sleep apnea. Studies highlight that Pacific Islanders, African Americans, and Hispanics are more likely to have sleep apnea. In the same line, it has been found that Caucasians are less likely to suffer from it. The sleeping disorder could also be hereditary. That means that if someone in your immediate family has a history of sleep apnea, chances are higher that you would also develop the problem.

There are several types of sleep apnea. The most common of such kinds is obstructive sleep apnea. It is noted that when the condition happens, the airway collapses or gets blocked during sleep. This blockage may lead to breathing pauses or shallow breathing. Loud snoring is produced when air squeezes past this blockage.

Obstructive type of sleep apnea is often manifested by overweight people, though experts warn that it could also likely affect anyone. Central sleep apnea is less common. This type is caused by slight malfunction of the brain, specifically the signals sent normally to muscles in the throat, mouth, or airway passages for breathing.

Available treatment could help improve overall health and quality if sleep. Basic options available to treat sleep apnea are mouthpieces, breathing devices, lifestyle adjustments, and surgical operations. You could always have the freedom to choose which treatment option to take based on your comfort, budget, and preference.

Effective Sleep Apnea Treatments

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Because sleep apnea can prove to be a distressing and fatal disorder, undergoing treatments is necessary. Sleep apnea treatments are designed to meet two goals. One is to relieve symptoms and two is to normalize breathing patterns.

Treatments depend on the severity of the disorder. However, the effectiveness of the treatments is partially dependent on the regularity of follow-ups and constant and open communication between the doctor and patient.

For your guidance, following are the treatments for sleep apnea.

1. Lifestyle changes. Also called behavioral therapy, lifestyle changes are aimed at treating mild cases of sleep apnea by adjusting habits, activities, and lifestyle. For instance, losing weight can significantly alleviate sleep apnea since obesity or being overweight can contribute to the narrowing of the airway. It’s also important to avoid alcohol, sedatives, and other medicines that can further relax throat muscles and may cause sleepiness.

Tobacco should also be avoided. Moreover, sleeping on the back rather than on the side is also found to help people with sleep apnea. Sleeping on the back is said to relax the tongue and palate more and thus block the airway. The use of saline nasal sprays is also helpful in keeping the nasal passages open.

2. Treatments for co-existing medical conditions. Sleep apnea may either be the cause or result of other medical conditions. Taking the treatments for such diseases or disorders can help alleviate sleep apnea.

3. Devices. Breathing and oral devices are used in treating sleep apnea of different severities. Examples are continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) and mouthpiece. Recommended for people with moderate and severe apnea, CPAP is a mask-like device connected to a machine. CPAP is worn over the nose while sleeping and delivers pressurized air to prevent the airway from narrowing.

Mouthpiece, on the other hand, is designed specifically by a dentist or orthodontist. It is a custom-fit dental device that resembles the common athletic mouth guard. It prevents sleep apnea by adjusting the lower jaw and tongue, thus keeping the airway open. Other devices include bi-level positive air pressure (BiPAP) and adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV).

4. Surgeries. The main purpose of surgeries is to keep the airway wide and open, thereby allowing the free flowing of air. Surgeries are normally done on people with severe sleep apnea, but which surgical operation to perform is based on its cause. There are surgeries that remove excess tissues from the throat and soft palate that block the airway. Others, meanwhile, shrink tissues in the mouth and throat.

In some surgeries, enlarged tonsils and adenoids are removed. And some others involve reconstruction of the lower jaw. Surgeries are known to confer long-term and even permanent benefits, but since surgeries can be sometimes risky, it is best to consider other sleep apnea treatments first before undergoing any surgery.

The success of sleep apnea treatments still lies on the person’s commitment, since some mentioned treatments may be quite challenging to sustain. Take, for instance, the lifestyle changes. Expectedly, it won’t be as easy for some people to lose weight or kick alcohol as it is for some.

However, knowing that altering or adjusting some habits or activities can improve the course of their day and even their life should be enough of a motivation. In the end, it is still about healthy living. It is about taking steps toward eliminating the dangers of sleep apnea.

Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea

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Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that is one of the hardest to diagnose. No doctor could easily and accurately tell if you are suffering from one with just one consultation or even a series of blood tests. Sleep apnea symptoms appear when you are asleep so the best way to know if you have one is to ask your bed partner or roommate about the noise you make when you are asleep and the presence of any period when breathing seems to pause or stop for a while.

Aside from that, most doctors also run several other forms of diagnosis to support your suspicion and the testimony of your bed partner or roommate. The primary care doctor would evaluate symptoms before going further. There are three diagnostic measures to take after: an analysis of family and medical history, physical examination, and sleep studies.

Be prepared when the doctor starts asking you about your own as well as your family’s medical history. It would be best if you would be as honest as you could. It would help if you would start keeping a sleep diary even for just a week or two. In the diary, list the number of hours of sleep you get every night and how sleepy you get at different times of the day. One of the symptoms of sleep apnea is sleepiness during daytime due to lack of sleep (induced by sleep apnea). Your roommate or bed partner would also be asked about how loud and how often you gasp or snore during sleep. It would be better if you would tell him of any sleep apnea record of any of your family. The disorder is hereditary.

The next option or step to diagnosis of sleep apnea is physical examination. Your nose, mouth, and throat would ne checked and analyzed for any presence of large or extra tissues. The doctor would also check out the bone structure in your head and neck as it could affect airway passage. Physical exam along with a rundown of family history could be enough to diagnose presence of sleep apnea in children.

As for adults, there could be enlargement of the soft palate or uvula. Soft palate is the roof-like structure at the back of your throat. The uvula is a small tissue that hangs conveniently from the back of your mouth’s middle section. In some cases, enlarged tonsils are checked out.

Finally, sleep study is so far the most accurate diagnostic test for sleep apnea detection. It could capture your breathing pattern as you sleep. Needless to say, it is conducted as you sleep within a sleep lab or a sleep center. You may be asked to stay overnight in the hospital’s sleep lab for observation. A polysomnogram is at type of specific sleep study for sleep apnea detection. It is able to record brain activity, heart rate and breathing pattern, eye movement, muscle activity, blood oxygen level, and air passage to the lungs as you sleep.

Do not worry because polysomnogram is usually painless. You would be induced to sleep, though there would be sensors attached to your face, limbs, fingers, chest, and scalp. This sleep apnea test is done within a sleep study in a hospital sleeping lab overnight.

It could reveal any presence of the disorder, the type, and even severity of the condition.

Dealing with Sleep Apnea

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Whatever the type of sleep apnea is, it certainly could be serious eventually. There could be other problems or ailments caused by continuous suffering from this sleeping disorder. By getting an appropriate and effective treatment, you surely could also improve the overall quality of your life. Treatment could help improve your overall sleeping habit and relieve your daytime tiredness.

If you could curtail the problem, you could also prevent development or onset of heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other health concerns. There are many other ways to deal effectively with sleep apnea so it would not hamper your overall quality of life.

Be watchful about your overall health care needs. It would be appropriate if you would always set appointments to follow up your condition with your doctor. You need to make sure your treatment is truly working. You should advise your doctor immediately if you are having problems or discomfort in continuing the treatment. This is most especially true if you are not very comfortable using mouthpieces and breathing devices like continuous positive way pressure or CPAP. Such a device should constantly be adjusted to fit your size and specifications. You may also not be totally comfortable with it like most other people.

From now on, intend to control your overall weight. It has been noted that sleep apnea is more likely to appear in people with excessive weight or obesity. Some studies also suggest that losing even the slightest amount of weight could bring about significant improvement in snoring and sleep apnea problems. If you are still not overweight, strive harder not to gain weight to the level that is excessive. Remember that body weight could eliminate or worsen sleep apnea, so you better control it to your advantage. Try losing weight as an alternative way of treating sleep apnea.

Be honest to yourself and strive much harder to know more about possible effects of sleep apnea to your daily activities. The condition could prompt your body to release stress hormones during sleep, which could trigger your body to adopt the flight or fight response, and in the process make you worn out.

This is the reason why no matter how long you sleep, if you are suffering from sleep apnea, you would always feel deprived of quality and adequate sleep. Particularly be careful when driving or when operating special heavy machineries in your workplace if you are sleepy.

If you are set to undergo any form of surgical procedure (for other body conditions or ailments), do not fail to tell your surgeon that you are suffering from sleep apnea. This is to give them time and idea about how they could take several other additional steps that would make your airway passage keeping open even during surgery. You would be induced to sleep during operations, so expect several disruptions and abnormal breathing or heartbeat patterns, which might be inappropriately taken or read by the surgical team.

Most of the time, people are now aware that they have sleep apnea. Family members, bed partners, and roommates certainly could be of great help. If you have a family member who shows signs and symptoms of the condition, immediately call his attention but in a calm and casual manner.

You should also start encouraging the person to quickly seek medical help. Emotional support is also very necessary.

Coping With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

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Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a person to stop breathing for brief periods during sleep. These breathing pauses are caused by an obstruction in the airway. Though a person may not remember it, sleep apnea results in frequent awakenings and therefore disruption of sleep.

While it is true that obstructive sleep apnea is a serious and sometimes fatal sleep disorder due to the many complications that come with it, it shouldn’t be a cause of panic. There are ways to cope with it. If you are one of the millions of people with sleep apnea, here are some things you can do:

1. Use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) upon the prescription of your doctor. CPAP is used in providing air pressure to keep your airway open and therefore avoid sleep disturbances. It also diminishes the possibility of snoring, so your bed partner can equally have a restful sleep. CPAP is a bit uncomfortable to use though, but you can make some adjustments to get use to it. Use nasal pillows, for instance.

Nasal pillows are fitted into the nostrils and eliminate pressure on the nose. You can also use skin moisturizer or other skin products for CPAP users to avoid skin irritation. To keep your jaw locked and the air in, use a chin strap. Don’t easily give up on CPAP; instead, ask your doctor for ways to make it more comfortable to use.

2. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused and aggravated by some habits or activities such as drinking and taking sedatives. Lessen your intake, if not totally get rid of them. Quit smoking as well. It will, of course, take some time. However, if you find it hard to kick the habits in the course of time, remind yourself that keeping a healthy lifestyle does not only allow you to sleep peacefully, it can also add years to your life.

3. Keep an open and constant communication with your doctor or specialist. This is so that he can monitor your improvements and can warn you of risks, if there is any. This also allows you to inform him of any problem that may arise. You must keep in mind that the success of treatment and management of obstructive sleep apnea lies partly in the doctor-patient communication.

4. Educate yourself. While you can certainly trust your doctor or specialist to inform you of everything you need to know about your condition, it is best that you research and study on your own. Find out more about the sleep disorder and the associated complications and risks, so you can learn how to live with it, be more tolerant to the treatments, and monitor your own improvements. The supplemental knowledge you obtain can also help you evaluate treatment options.

5. Find and join a support group. In the United States alone, 12 million are estimated to have sleep apnea. It would, therefore, not be too hard to find people who share what you feel and what you have to go through. Support groups not only provide you with moral and emotional encouragement, they can also impart substantial information about obstructive sleep apnea.

However, if you find it rather hard to look for one in your area, you can do your search online.

Causes of Sleep Apnea

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Sleep apnea is one of the more common types of sleep disorder. Many people who suffer from it may not be totally aware of the presence of the condition. This is because sleeping people are not normally aware of that is happening as they sleep. In most cases, it is the bed partner or room mates of an affected person who could tell if he is suffering from the condition. Sleep apnea does not pose immediate and very severe threats, but it is still considered a very dangerous condition. What actually cause the problem?

Your throat muscles are responsible for keeping the airway in your throat stiff and open when you are awake. This helps keep the lungs open for air breathing. During sleep, the same muscles get more relaxed. Relaxed throat muscles usually keeps airway open so that air could still flow into the lungs. However, at times, the airways could get blocked or narrowed especially during sleep. Such is the condition when there is sleep apnea.

There are several specific reasons why the airway passage gets obstructed or blocked during sleep. First, the throat muscles and even the tongue get more relaxed than normal. Second, tonsils and tongue are naturally larger than normal that they serve as obstruction to opening of your windpipe. Third, if you are overweight, there could be extra soft fat tissues that could thicken your windpipe’s wall. This occurrence makes the interior of the airway opening narrow, making it also harder to remain or keep open.

Blocking of the airways during sleep apnea could also be due to the natural shape of your own head and neck. If you have a bony structure in the areas, chances are greater that you could have a smaller than normal airway size in the throat and even in the mouth. Lastly, the aging process could also be factor. Old age could limit the brain’s ability to send signals that would keep throat muscles ideally stiff during sleep. Such an occurrence could make airways narrower and eventually collapse.

In general, it is logical that not sufficient air supply flows into the lungs when the airways are partly or fully blocked, especially during sleep. In most cases, such a condition could lead to very loud snoring and to significant decline in your body’s blood oxygen level. Be reminded that there could be risks when the oxygen level falls to very dangerous levels.

It could trigger the brain to effectively disturb your sleep. This is a natural reflex to that the upper airway muscled would be kept tight and the windpipe open. Sleep apnea occurs in a few minutes, after which, normal breathing could effectively resume. This is often heralded by a sudden loud choking sound or snort.

It is also natural that frequent drops in your body’s oxygen level and at the same time reduced or lack of sleep could trigger unlikely release of natural stress hormones. When this happens, the heart rate is raised and there is increased risk for heart attack, hypertension, stroke, and even irregular heartbeats. Stress hormones could also worsen a prevailing heart failure or ailment.

It is important that sleep apnea be treated or you could develop obesity and diabetes due to significant changes on how the body is using energy.

Brief Overview about Sleep Apnea

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If you think that you have the disorder known as sleep apnea, you must not disregard that feeling by doing something about it fast. As long as you ignore the symptoms, you are exposing yourself to more and bigger risks that may occur in the future. This can become potent because this causes you to stop breathing as you sleep. As a result, you will never get to the highest peak of the sleeping activity, which is the REM or Rapid Eye Movement. This stage lets you feel well-rested and refreshed. Just imagine what will happen if you will continuously feel like you lack sleep or that you only lay in bed but your mind did not actually rest.

Conduct a Research

Do not just sit there while waiting for something to become better without actually doing anything about it. You need to look at the situation as something serious that if you don’t act on it, it will become unmanageable. And you don’t want to reach that point when your only option left to resolve the problem is to undergo surgery.

How do you research about the topic? This can easily be achieved by going online and browsing various sites that cater about the subject. Read about every detail that is available to enlighten you about this. You can also try to look for personal blogs of those who are telling their experiences about the matter.

If you like, you can look for online forums that contain discussions about this so that you can meet people who have been through the same symptoms and feelings that you are currently getting. You can ask them about various questions that may have been bothering you for quite a time already. They can be like a support group that can lead you to the right way as to what you can do and recommend you the right professionals that can help you get out of this situation.

Possible Risks

As time passes that you have this kind of sleeping disorder, you are exposing yourself to higher health risks. You need to identify that you actually have this to start with. This can be seen by having a different kind of snore that sounds more like a grunt than the regular kind. You will also stop breathing for short periods of time many times throughout the night. As a result, your brain will help you by acting out and trying to wake you up to remind you to breathe. This is why you can never reach the highest stage of sleep, which is the Rapid Eye Movement. When you wake up in the morning, you will feel as if you haven't slept at all.

The situation leads to other problems like frequent morning headaches. You may also develop memory problems through time. At night, you will find yourself urinating frequently. You'll suffer from mood swings, depression and some men say that they get impotent as a result of this condition. You will also feel very tired in the morning and sleepy that is why you cannot perform the tasks that you have to accomplish.

This can really affect you in many ways that is why you need to find solutions to the problem before it becomes too late. You may want to consult a professional at this point about what can be done to help you with what you are suffering from and so that you will find out more about sleep apnea.

Breathing Devices as Treatment for Sleep Apnea

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It is not a very likely to have sleep apnea, but most of the time, people could not help but contract it because the disorder is hereditary. Although the condition could lead to some other more serious and severe ailments, sufferers are always advised to attain effective treatment as much as possible. Yes, sleep apnea could be treated. However, treatment does not involve medicines in the form of pills, syrups, or injections.

The most usual and considered among the most effective treatments for sleep apnea include the use of breathing devices. In definition, sleep apnea is a condition that happens when the airway passages and surrounding muscles contract to reduce inflow of air breathed during sleep. It is easy to infer that devices that could help keep the air passages open is a viable treatment option.

The most common breathing device used for sleep apnea treatment is CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure. This device is most recommended for people who are suffering from moderate or severe sleep apnea. In general, the device uses a special mask that is customized to fit over a person’s nose and mouth. It works by gently blowing air into the throat, aiding the entry and passage of air into the airways. Through this action, air is pressed against the airway wall. At the same time, pressure of air is also set so it would be just enough to stop and prevent blockage and narrowing of airways during sleep.

Breathing devices could help stop loud and even minimal snoring. This way, CPAP could be used by people with sleep apnea and those who do not suffer from the condition but are annoying during sleep due to loud snoring. However, be reminded that sleep apnea problems could return when use of CPAP is stopped or when it used incorrectly.

People who prefer CPAP usually are turned off by several requirements. Because CPAP could be complex equipment, there is a need to call a technician to setup, install, and adjust the equipment into the mouth or nose. The technician would need to make specific adjustments based on the orders of the doctor. After an initial setup session, you may still need to call back the technician so that the device could be appropriately adjusted for best results.

Another setback is the possible side effects of using CPAP. Such unlikely effects include stuffing or drying of the nose, onset of sore eyes, irritation of facial skin, and headaches. If the device is not properly setup, installed, or adjusted, it could cause stomach bloating and unnecessary discomfort. If any of the side effects appear, it is best if the CPAP user would approach a specialist, a nursing staff, or a CPAP technician. Side effects could be reduced or eliminated upon the correction of any error. As for stuffy and runny nose, nasal sprays may provide instant and more effective relief.

To date, there are several types of CPAP masks and machines available in the market. It would be best if you would approach your doctor and tell him your dissatisfaction if you are not comfortable or happy in using the device. Other treatment options for sleep apnea could be more effective and more comfortable for you. In general, most sleep apnea sufferers start feeling better upon CPAP use for treatment.

Bits of Information about Sleep Apnea

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If you are suffering from any ailments, you must not feel contented that you know that you have it but you are not doing anything to alleviate the condition. This is very true when you have something like sleep apnea because this can cause other problems in all aspects of your life. Just imagine your every day without having a good night's rest. You will not have the energy to do the things that you have to with the required energy and alertness that people are expecting from you.

Apnea is a Greek word that actually means to breathe. When you have this disorder, the airways that you use to be able to breathe are being blocked. As a result, you gasp for air and cannot breathe right. This happens several times during the night. This is why you cannot get into the highest stage of sleep where you will feel most refreshed and this is the REM of Rapid Eye Movement.

You will easily detect someone who has troubles with their breathing as they try to rest. Their snore sounds more of a grunt that means that they are gasping for air. As they lose breathes throughout the night, their brain goes into defensive mode and it tries to wake them up. This is why you will find yourself mostly awake and may have trouble going back to sleep.

The fact that you are not breathing right makes this more troubling. This means that you are not getting the right amount of oxygen each night. When this happens, you are opening yourself to develop high blood pressure and other heart complications. If you already have these ailments, the risks that these will become worse are higher.

Knowledge is Power

The best thing that you can do when you start feeling like you are suffering from the disorder is to try to find out as many information about it. This can be achieved by reading about the matter through the available resources. You can start by browsing the internet and various websites about the topic. If you want to meet people who have dealt with the same situation or those who are still suffering from this, you can seek out online forums and join in the discussions about this disorder.

You can throw in your questions and there are people who can try to answer your problems or recommend solutions to these. It will be very helpful if this is going to happen because at least, you know and you will feel that you are not alone with the battle.

Once you have gained the right information that can point you to the direction that you must take about your disorder, you must act on the situation as fast as you can. This ailment happens more often on those who are overweight. You can start losing those extra pounds if this is the case. You will not only solve your dilemma regarding the sleep condition but you will also be able to help your body become more fit and healthy.

You can also ask the right professionals about the dental devices that can be utilized in your condition to help you breathe as you sleep. The purpose of such tool is for the blockage to remain open while you are trying to rest.

If all else fails and your condition is getting more serious, you may want to ask around about the surgical procedures that you can do to help you get better and surpass your sleep apnea disorder.

Basic Things You Need to Know about Sleep Apnea

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You must not disregard any ailment that you feel like your body is suffering from. This is very true if the condition is already getting in the way for you to do the tasks that are required for you to finish. This is the case for people who have the sleeping disorder known as sleep apnea. They are no longer getting the right amount of rest and as a result, they suffer from various forms of side effects.

The latter can be very risky, depending on the situation, the age and other health problems of the person who has this ailment. The word apnea is a Greek term that means to breathe. So when you have this condition, it means that there is something that is blocking your airway that causes your breathing to stop at irregular periods as you rest.

The situation causes your brain to act immediately as you suffer from the disorder. When you breathing stops, your brain sends signals and goes into a defensive mode to force you to wake up and breathe.

Signs and Clues

How do you know that you actually have this condition? You will be able to determine the factor through the sound of the snore. The one who is suffering from this makes snoring that sounds more like a grunt. This is how you will perceive that they are finding it hard to breathe and they are trying to gasp for air.

It will continuously go on and on throughout the night. The result of this condition is that you will not get the right amount of sleep that you need to feel refreshed when you wake up the next day. There are five stages of sleep and the last one or the REM or Rapid Eye Movement is known as the peak or the point where you will fall into the deepest part of your slumber. Just imagine many nights and days without actually reaching this point.

The most risky part of this condition is the fact that you are not getting the right amount of oxygen at night. If this will not be resolved, this may lead to high blood pressure and serious heart conditions. If you already have these health ailments, you are only making it all worse when you are suffering from this sleeping disorder.

Act on Your Condition

You have to know as much information regarding this condition so that you can actually start to do something about it. If you still cannot find time to consult a professional regarding your condition, you may want to conduct some research about it. You can never go wrong if you will have some knowledge about what you can do and what you are going through.

When you already have basic idea of your disorder, you can begin addressing such condition. If you are overweight, it will help if you start losing the excess pounds. Most sufferers of this condition are also overweight. If this is the case, you should start acting seriously about your weight by exercising regularly and eating healthy and right.

You can also resort to some dental procedures to help resolve the problem. If your sleep apnea condition is already worse, you can opt to undergo surgical procedures to remove whatever is blocking your airways as you sleep.