My Life and Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea, strokes and small lesions

2012-02-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

I have read in the past about the connection between strokes and sleep apnea. Unlike a heart attack a stroke has to do with the blood supply being cut off from the brain which in turn stops certain functions within the brain. Stroke victims often suffer from paralysis and diminished body control due to brain damage. Similar to sleep apnea, diabetes and high blood pressure can also be a factor with regards to having a stroke.

An article from Occupational Health Safety states that small lesions in addition to strokes can come about because of sleep apnea. The article refers to a study that shows 91 percent of the stroke victims (in the study) also had sleep apnea. To me that is a really frightening number to think that large of percentage of stroke victims had sleep apnea beforehand. The type of stroke that they refer to is called silent strokes where there are none of the usual effects of strokes but it can be just as dangerous. And the article goes on to say that one third of the study participants had white matter lesions which are attributed to the strokes.

For more information on strokes go to the Stroke Organization website

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Hag phenomena and sleep apnea

2012-02-05T05:00:00.000-08:00

There are many sleep disorders besides sleep apnea with one of the most frightening called hag phenomena or sleep paralysis. As I described in a post a few years ago sleep paralysis is what happens when you wake up and can’t move, which can be terribly frightening. The reason it is called hag phenomena that the feeling of not being able to move when you wake was compared to having a witch sitting on you in bed.

I received a comment recently regarding the sleep paralysis post

Here is part of the post from Reesy…

I have had the experience about three or four times. I consider myself to have quite a strong resolve but to wake up unable to move or breathe is horrendous. I focus so hard on trying to move and snap myself out of it but it is almost impossible - I have been researching online and most conclusions are that the body will eventually kick in and it is just connected with REM.

In fact webmd.com states that a possible reason for sleep paralysis “Sleep researchers conclude that, in most cases, sleep paralysis is simply a sign that your body is not moving smoothly through the stages of sleep” and it isn’t connected to any psychiatric problems. However a study by stanford.edu states that 16 percent of those who have experienced sleep paralysis met the criteria for panic disorders.

For more stories on sleep paralyses check out this site.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Can losing a few pounds help with your sleep apnea?

2012-01-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

If you have done any research on sleep apnea and what causes it then you know the connection between it and being overweight. In fact most folks realize that being overweight increases your chances of developing sleep apnea. Excess fat around the neck and face area contribute to the blockage of your air way which in turn causes the apnea. While there are other reasons for sleep apnea such as an enlarged tongue and a round face, being overweight is one of the main reasons why folks have sleep apnea.

Will weight loss cure your sleep apnea?

Not all the time, but it will decrease the severity of it. According to Webmd.com “ Researchers found that people with severe obstructive sleep apnea who lost the recommended amount of weight were three times more likely to experience a complete remission of sleep apnea symptoms compared with people who didn’t lose weight.”

That is certainly good news and a definite reason to try to lose some weight. Unfortunately as we all know losing weight and keeping it off can be quite an endeavor especially for those with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea zaps you of most of your energy (which isn’t much because of the lack of sleep you get!) making it very difficult to keep up an exercise program which is has to be a part of any weight loss program along with a proper diet.

There are things that you can do like joining a weight loss program where you will be losing weight slowly which is very important and also make sure the program has a detailed exercise plan as well.

The government also has a wonderful site about all things dealing with nutrition and eating right, definitely checks it out.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Oxygen therapy for sleep apnea

2012-01-22T05:19:00.000-08:00

If you have been in the hospital or have visited someone there you probably have noticed that oxygen therapy is used a lot with patients. It can be administered by putting tubes in your nose to raise the amount of oxygen that you receive which is extremely important especially if your health isn’t 100 percent. Sleep apnea also has to do with a lack of oxygen as well. That lack of oxygen can result in serious health risks to the heart and the brain. So the question is can you use oxygen therapy for sleep apnea.

You would think that it would be reasonable to conclude that oxygen therapy would be beneficial to those with sleep apnea. Unfortunately that isn’t the case.

According to About.com there are some drawbacks to using it to help with sleep apnea such as morning headaches along with confusion. And it doesn’t seem to help with the actual apnea episodes at all. Although it doesn’t help with obstructive sleep apnea there is an indication that it can help with central sleep apnea (sleep apnea due to brain functions instead of the throat being obstructed. The Mayoclinic.com states that “Using supplemental oxygen while you sleep may help if you have central sleep apnea. Various forms of oxygen are available as well as different devices to deliver oxygen to your lungs.”

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Get checked for sleep apnea

2012-01-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

In the past I have written about how difficult it is to have sleep apnea and work the late shift. Even for folks who don’t have sleep apnea changing your sleep pattern so dramatically can cause sleep problems. Years ago I had a job where I had to sleep during the day and it was very difficult to get used to it (at the time I didn’t know that I had sleep apnea either. Last week I work a post about the growing concern of police officers having sleep disorders particularly sleep apnea. I received a comment from someone who had police officers in her family. She also wrote about her own situation regarding being a nurse and working the night shift.

Here is part of the comment…

I am a Nurse and used to work nights. I had much difficulty with a sleep pattern that worked for me. I began to fall asleep at work, driving, at the dinner table etc...The dr. thought I had sleep apnea but it wasn't until I became non responsive at the dinner table with my family thinking it was a normal episode until I would not respond at all. I ended up in Critical Care Unit for 3 days and my husband insisted for them to check for apnea which he has asked for years. They finally listened I have severe apnea, obstructive, mixed, central w 42 apnea events at normal sleep and 72 at REM. I now have bi-pap. Sleep apnea is not an easy thing to live and do everyday activity.

Thank goodness she was able to get help before it was too late. I hope that the bi-pap works for her, although I didn’t have much luck with it.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Sleep apnea in children may lead to diabetes

2012-01-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

While you hear a lot about sleep apnea today most of it involves how adults are handling or not handling this sleep disorder. But children of all ages can also have sleep apnea and like adults they can suffer from the same problems that are brought about by this disorder. There are 2 very dangerous problems that can occur with sleep apnea, one is heart disease and the other is diabetes which can also affect children.

A study had taken place at the University of Arizona where 50 children between the ages of 10 and 16 all having diabetes but only one third having sleep apnea. Their health was monitored.

According to Medpagetoday.com “Diabetic children with more nightly apnea events had significantly higher glucose levels and spent more time in hyperglycemia than young type 1 diabetics without sleep disturbances”

The study concludes that diabetic children with apnea not only have a worse condition of diabetes their day to day life including school is also made worse, even if they are following a strict lifestyle for diabetic patients.

Children have sleep apnea for much of the same reasons that adults do: being overweight, enlarged tongue and the shape of their faces. And like adults their options for correcting sleep apnea are the CPAP mask and surgery, such are removing tonsils and adenoids.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Sleep apnea and the police

2012-01-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

Due to their ever changing shift hours and overtime it isn’t any wonder that police officers have sleeping problems. Unfortunately not getting enough rest can lead to serious consequences when you are in an occupation where police chases and guns are involved. Of all the sleep disorders one of the most prevalent is sleep apnea, where sleeping is interrupted hundreds of times each night due to blockage of the air way in the back of your throat.

A study was done at Harvard where at least 40 percent of the officers had some sort of sleep disorder. And of that total number 33 percent had sleep apnea. Another result that isn’t surprising is that out of the group of officers who had sleep disorders had an increased chance of heart problems, diabetes or mental issues like depression.

How did it affect their work performance?

An astonishing 26 percent of those with sleep disorders said that they fell asleep at least once during the month while driving! That is pretty scary. Those with sleep problems also had administration errors as well as other work related problems.

This is just another example of how significant the effects of sleep disorders are today. I think that a lot of folks are just realizing the dangers of being tired and not rested. It causes a lapse of judgment, slower reflexes not to mention damage to your heart and your emotional state.

If you feel that you have a sleep disorders talk to your doctor about it.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Family support and sleep apnea

2011-12-25T08:11:00.000-08:00

It is tough to face any problem alone, whether it is health related or one of the many situations that life puts us into. Of course it can be done alone and for a lot of folks that don’t have any support system there really isn’t any choice. Sleep apnea is one of those health related problems that can be greatly helped by understanding and supportive friends and relatives.

Most folks don’t like to ask for help or even support from others, maybe they feel they don’t need it or maybe they think it is a sign of weakness. They are wrong on both accounts. Most folks wouldn’t hesitate to help others then they shouldn’t hesitate to ask for help from others.

What kind of support is needed for sleep apnea?

Before you even know that you have sleep apnea your sleeping partner probably knows that something is wrong because of the strange and intense snoring that they hear at night. If they urge you to go to the doctor about it listen to them! A sleep study will show whether you have it or not.

If your treatment is using a CPAP machine, and that is common for most folks with sleep apnea, then you will definitely need help and encouragement to use the mask and to continue using the mask. Using a CPAP mask can be frustrating to use at first and it is much easier when you have help putting it on and keeping it on.

Sleep apnea if left untreated can be dangerous to your health so try to get as much help and support as you need to conquer it.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Can you have sleep apnea without snoring?

2011-12-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest signs of sleep apnea is snoring, but not just any kind of snoring, the snoring that sleep apnea sufferers have is a kind of grunting and then gasping for air. Which is exactly what happens because your air way is blocked and when you grunt you wake yourself up to breathe, If your sleep apnea is pretty bad than this happens frequently through the night. That is why a sleep study is so important because the results of the tests will tell you whether you have sleep apnea or not. Lots of folks snore but not everyone has obstructive sleep apnea. But can you have sleep apnea without snoring.

I guess that would depend on what you would consider as snoring, whether it is the regular rhythmic snoring that goes without stopping or the grunting that I had earlier described. While I have read that it is possible to have sleep apnea with snoring I would think that it would be very rare and very dangerous. The loud grunting noise of sleep apnea is a great warning to you or your partner that something is definitely wrong.

But also keep in mind that there are other symptoms of sleep apnea such as daytime drowsiness which can be very dangerous especially if you do a lot of driving. Being unable to concentrate and to keep things in your memory can point to sleep apnea as well.

So if you feel that your sleeping (with or without snoring) is a problem have it checked out by a doctor who may want you to go for a sleep study.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Sleep apnea, sleep disorders and behavioral therapy

2011-12-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

Of all the sleep disorders obstructive sleep apnea has to be one of the worst to correct. A blockage in the back of throat causes you to stop breathing many, many times each night and when you find out that you have sleep apnea you are then told by your doctors how to eliminate it. Which is usually by CPAP machine or surgery, the choices really aren’t that good.

Of course that’s not to say that it is easy to cure insomnia, excessive snoring, restless leg syndrome and others. But with sleep apnea not “fixing it” could lead to serious health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. and to make it really bad if you have sleep apnea you may also have other sleep disorders like insomnia where being able to rest is nearly impossible. Luckily there are things that you can do to alleviate the other sleeping problems, mostly through behavioral therapy.

Behavioral therapy in this type of situation doesn’t have much to do with a therapist mostly it is changing your bad sleeping habits. While these wouldn’t help much with your sleep apnea they will certainly have an effect on sleep issues like insomnia. Sometimes this type of advice is referred to as sleep hygiene.

For more information on how to change your sleeping habits go to this post on sleeping habits.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Sleeping too long on the weekends

2011-12-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

Most folks take the opportunity to sleep late on the weekends in an attempt to catch up on rest that they lost during the week. Taking a little nap on Saturday or Sunday also is great way to rest up for the upcoming week. Of course if you have sleep apnea or some other sleep disorder your sleeping in or napping might go a little overboard which is probably an indication that you need to receive more rest during the week.

What besides sleep apnea causes us to oversleep?

According to webmd 2 of the biggest reasons for oversleeping (hypersomnia) are socioeconomic reasons and depression as well as alcohol and certain prescription drugs. They also state that oversleeping can lead to big health problems like heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

What prevents oversleeping?

Going to bed at the same time each night as well as getting out of bed the same time every morning, even on the weekends.
Relax or meditate before going to bed.
Don’t eat before you go to bed.
Everybody knows what caffeine does to you
If you exercise in the evening give yourself plenty of time to relax before trying to sleep.
Don’t drink alcohol late at night.

It is also good to remember is that sleeping longer on the weekend doesn’t necessarily make up for your sleep deficit. After staying in bed for long stretches you probably find that it is difficult to get moving and motivated to do anything but get back in bed. The feeling that you get is usually classified as “groggy”.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Marriage problems and sleep apnea

2011-11-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

As you probably know by now sleep apnea causes more problems than just being tired. Health problems such as heart disease and diabetes are high on the list as well as relationship problems with your partner.

If you are a man with sleep apnea and in a relationship the thought of having erectile dysfunction also may be too much to deal with. Erectile dysfunction is an issue for a large percentage of men whether they have sleep apnea or not. But if you are suffering from this sleep disorder than you should know sleep apnea as an adverse effect on those with ER.
Having a healthy sex life can be difficult when you are always tired and if you have sleep apnea chances are you tired most of the time. Besides the ER issues being tired as well as being down or depressed can make it tough to have the intimate relationships that you need with your partner.
Depression as mentioned before can put a terrific strain on marriages as well as a strain on your self and unfortunately being tired all the time from sleep apnea makes it even worse. If the depression is severe it might be a good idea to not only go to a sleep doctor but also a counselor who can help you through this time.
Sleep apnea might not be the only reason that some couples would get divorced but it certainly could be a major factor.

With all the things that can go wrong while you have sleep apnea it certainly shows that you should consider all treatments that your sleep doctor recommends.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Giving in to sleep apnea

2011-11-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

I was first diagnosed with sleep apnea about 12 years ago. I knew that I was a loud snorer because my wife often complained about it although I didn’t know that it was sleep apnea at the time, in fact I wasn’t sure what sleep apnea was exactly. But it wasn’t just the snoring that caused me to seek help I was also very tired during the day. I had other health issues that I thought would be more manageable if I had more rest. So I went for help.

My doctor sent me to a specialist who set up a sleep study for me. After my first sleep study it was apparent that I did indeed have OSA. I was given a CPAP mask to use and as I have written many times before it didn’t really help much. After the first CPAP disaster I waited about a year or two before trying it again. This time it was with a different doctor who sent me to another sleep study. Once again it was shown that I had sleep apnea and another CPAP (BIPAP) was issued to me. Once again it didn’t work; frustrated I didn’t go back to the doctor for about 2 years.

I guess all in all I have been to at least 5 specialists and 6 sleep studies. After all that I still have sleep apnea but I do know a few things, one the CPAP doesn’t work for me and two I will probably require surgery at some point in the future to correct (hopefully!) my sleep apnea.

The journey with sleep apnea can be long and filled with disappointments but that doesn’t mean that you should just give in entirely. Although I haven’t found the right path to be free of sleep apnea I will continue to look and hopefully you will too.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Mediterranean diet and sleep apnea

2011-11-13T06:03:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows that there is a connection between sleep apnea and what you eat, or rather how much you have been eating. A good percentage of sleep apnea sufferers are overweight which makes the problem of sleep apnea that much worse. All of the weight that you gain from over eating doesn’t end up around your waistline; weight gain is all over your body. Not only will your face look bigger which is bad for sleep apnea you will also increase the size of the tissue in the back of your throat which causes the blockage of air which in turn causes sleep apnea. However not all sleep apnea is connected to weight gain, the shape of your face and the size of your tongue also plays a part. While a proper diet may be completely cure you of obstructive sleep apnea you should definitely consider it. One diet that has been in the news is called the Mediterranean diet which is supposed to help with sleep apnea.

In the past this type of diet has been known to help with other ailments such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. The diet consists of fruit, vegetables, fish and low fat proteins. A study from the University of Crete in Greece found that those on this diet, combined with exercise and using a CPAP lowered the number of apneas that they had at night.

While this sounds pretty good I would imagine that any sensible diet along with exercise and the use of the CPAP would also lessen the number of apneas.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

How many apneic episodes equal sleep apnea?

2011-11-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

Before I went to my first sleep study I had no idea if I had sleep apnea or not. My wife thought that something was wrong because my snoring was very loud and strange sounding, more like a grunt than the typical sound of someone snoring. At the time I knew little about sleep apnea other than the fact that it keep you up most of night, and making you feel exhausted during the day. One of the first things that I found out about this sleeping disorder was that the number of times that you wake up from it is a good indicator of how bad your sleep apnea is.

At the sleep study you are attached to many wires that record many things regarding your sleep. One of the main issues is how many times that you will awake in a given hour. This is referred to as apneic episodes, which happen after your breathing stops and you gasp for air which triggers you awake.

If you have had 5 to 15 apneic episodes than your sleep apnea is considered in the mild range, if the number of episodes 15 to 30 then it is considered moderate whereas 30 episodes is severe. I can’t remember what my number was but I believe that it was in the high range.

Of course at a sleep study they check quite a few things out but the number of apneic episodes is one of the most telling findings.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thank

Sleep apnea and gas

2011-10-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

One of the most irritating and embarrassing things that can happen at night while you are trying to sleep is having excessive gas. Not only will it keep your sleeping partner up (and probably moving into another room) it will also keep you from sleeping as well. If you have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine it might be even more of a problem.

Most of know that one of the main causes of gas is what we eat. Vegetable, beans and milk products are the usual suspects when it comes to having gas. Poor indigestion and the ability of the smaller intestine to handle the food that you consumed will contribute to having gas. So cutting back or laying off late night eating will certainly help but it doesn’t cure every case of flatulence. There are familiar over the counter medications that you can certainly try and if that doesn’t do it then your doctor might have something for you.

Another reason for gas is swallowing air and this can be a problem if you are using a CPAP machine. I know when I used a full face mask on my CPAP I would swallow a good deal of air causing quite a bit of flatulence. Belching is another problem that can occur when you are using a full face mask but fortunately I didn’t have that problem.

If excessive gas, caused by using a CPAP mask, is preventing you from getting any sleep, then check with your sleep doctor. Maybe the air pressure is too high on the machine or maybe he can adjust the ramp feature (how fast the air pressure increases to its highest level). Or a prescription med might do the trick.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Sleep-related eating disorder

2011-10-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Do you eat while you are asleep? I don’t but it appears that some folks do. Sleep eating is apparently just another sleep disorder that affects people.

According to about.com, “Sleep-related eating disorder (SRED) is characterized by repeated involuntary episodic eating that occurs during nighttime sleep. It is more than a midnight snack, and individuals with this disorder remain largely asleep while they are eating.”

And if eating while you are asleep is strange it seems that what some folks are eating at night is even weirder, odd combinations of foods such as salt, sugar, flour and even, this is disgusting, cat litter. Foods that are high in calories (I don’t know what the calorie content is for cat litter) are also prevalent.

What makes this happen?

This usually occurs in people that have other sleep disorders like restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea and periodic limb movements. There also seems to be a link between Confusional arousals and SRED. The demographic for this is women in their 20’s.

I have also read that there can be a link between sleep medication, like Ambien and Trizolam, and this sleep disorder

The first step of course is going to your doctor and scheduling a sleep study which will determine which sleep disorders you have or don’t have. Treatment can include sleep hygiene and possibly medication.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Sleep apnea can cause headaches in the morning

2011-10-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

Headaches are bad at any time of the day, but when you wake up with one that is particularly irritating. Drinking way too much the night before is definitely one way to have your head splitting open in the morning. The need for caffeine when you wake up will also give you a pretty good headache, especially if you are a big coffee drinker. Sleep apnea can also cause headaches in the morning.

According to WebMd.com, “Because breathing stops so often, the person does not receive sufficient oxygen, causing carbon dioxide to build in the blood. This affects the nervous system as well as blood flow to the brain, causing headache as well as memory and mood changes”

In a study cited by Webmd 35 percent of complained of morning headaches. In many cases the headaches go away when the sleep apnea is treated.

Of course the thing to remember is that just because you have headaches in the morning doesn’t necessarily mean that you have sleep apnea. If you have other symptoms of sleep apnea, like feeling tired during the day, or maybe your partner has told you about how loud your snoring is then you might just have it. Check with your doctor to see about getting a sleep study scheduled. You will know for certain when the results get back if you have sleep apnea or not.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Testosterone and sleep apnea

2011-10-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

It is interesting to see how some things that don’t seem at all connected with sleep apnea have an effect on it. One such problem for men is erectile dysfunction where sleep apnea can be a deterrent on men achieving an erection. Another problem that also is intertwined with sleep apnea as well as other sleep disorders is low testosterone.

The Hormone testosterone, which is created in the testes, does many things for the body

Builds muscle and mass
Spurs the growth of facial and body hair, lowers the voice
Increase sperm production
Increase sexual stamina

Women also have testosterone much not at the same level as men.

As we age our levels of testosterone goes down creating such problems as ER, hair loss and even depression. Testosterone therapy which increases the level of testosterone in men can be used but it also has side effects, such as aggressive behavior, acne, liver damage and impotence. A lot of this is well known because of professional sports athletes taking steroids to increase their strength and muscle size.

According to the National Institute of Health the problem of low testosterone is considerably worse in those with sleep apnea. During the REM stage of sleep our levels of testosterone is at its highest, of course those of us with sleep apnea don’t experience the benefits of REM sleep.

If you have sleep apnea and you feel that you might be suffering from low testosterone then contact your doctor to see what can be done.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Sleep latency and sleep apnea

2011-10-02T05:00:00.000-07:00

One of the signs of sleep disorders especially sleep apnea is daytime sleepiness. As the day drags on you find it harder and harder to stay awake. Caffeine is a little help but really not that much. By the time you get home you find that all you want to do is fall asleep, take a little nap before you do anything else. Of course that little nap gives you enough energy to stay up for a while before going to bed. But when you try to go to sleep you find that you just lay there staring at ceiling and walls hoping that you will fall asleep soon. Anxiety starts to build as you look over at the clock and it is getting later and later. If this is you then your problem has to do with sleep latency.

Being able to fall asleep quickly and having interrupted sleep can be a problem with sleep apnea. You wouldn’t think falling asleep would be a challenge considering how tired you are but it is. The problem of sleep apnea is bad enough with the way to wakes you several times an hour but there are other things that contribute to you have difficulty falling asleep, namely taking naps and drinking anything with caffeine in it.

Cutting back or eliminating caffeine from your diet will not only help your sleeping it may also help with lowering your stress and anxiety. Cut back slowly and within time you will find that you will rest better and have more energy.

As for eliminating the afternoon nap not everyone is in favor of that. Some think that it can be beneficial and refreshing while others aren’t so sure. But if you have a sleep disorder then it might not be such a great idea. For more information on napping go to MSN Health.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Are you worried about dying from sleep apnea?

2011-09-25T08:14:00.000-07:00

It seems like there are a million things to worry about in life from health to family to making a living all this stuff constantly gives you reasons for concern (and headaches!). Health matters whether they involve your family or you are right up there at the top of the list. One of my concerns is the amount of rest that I get or don’t get each night. As you probably already know sleep apnea has been a thorn in my side for many years. In fact I can’t remember when I wasn’t affected by it, maybe it wasn’t a problem when I was a kid or a teenager but I can’t say for sure. Sleep apnea can be a precursor of many ailments like diabetes, depression, gout and the biggest concern is what it does to your heart. As we all know heart problems can lead to the most unfortunate conclusion, which is unexpected death. Are you worried about dying from sleep apnea?

This question is relevant to me because my father who suffered from sleep apnea died of heart troubles at the age of 61 in 1977. Of course at that time little was said about sleep apnea and he certainly hadn’t heard about it. But I remember hearing his grunting snoring like he was gasping for air (it was very loud) and add the fact that he didn’t seem to have much energy during the day, I can only imagine that it was sleep apnea. He had at least 5 heart attacks with the last one being fatal. Whether it was all due to his sleep apnea I can’t say for sure. He was on a strict diet after the first heart attack and he didn’t drink or smoke so I think that the sleep apnea had something to do with it.

If you do a search on the web about sleep apnea and heart disease you will see that a lot of doctors believe that sleep apnea can definitely be a contributing factor in getting a heart attack. So you should be concerned about dying from heart disease especially if you have sleep apnea. But worrying really won’t help your condition, the best thing that you can do is see your doctor about what your options are for eliminating your sleep apnea or at least curtailing it. Heart disease is also caused by many other factors such as lack of exercise and eating the wrong foods. A healthy life style will help combat heart disease as well as sleep apnea.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

The importance of controlling sleep apnea

2011-09-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows how important sleep is to our daily lives, without the rest and rejuvenation that you receive from it our productivity lessens, and we open the door to various ailments that are connected with sleep disorders. Even with that said a lot of folks ignore sleeping problems and continue to exist without the proper rest. You can survive on less sleep and maybe even get used to it, but you are doing our mind and body a great disorder. One of the biggest and well known sleep disorder is sleep apnea, where the back of the throat is blocked which in turn stops your breathing and forces you to wake up several times each hour that you attempt to sleep. The result of sleep apnea is more than just feeling tired in the morning.

Sleep apnea leads to many health problems probably none greater than what it does to the heart.
Obstructive sleep apnea also limits the amount of oxygen that flows through the body potentially causes such disorders as dementia.
You wouldn’t think that sleep apnea would have any connection between low blood sugar and diabetes, but it does.
Most folks feel grumpy when they don’t get enough sleep, imagine how you would feel if you didn’t ever get enough sleep, you would probably be depressed.

This is just a short list of the things that can happen when you let sleep disorders, especially sleep apnea, go unchecked. There are things that you can do to control sleep apnea such as using a CPAP machine, or a dental device and as a last resort possibly surgery.

If you feel that you may have sleep apnea talk to your doctor about setting up a sleep study. The test will show whether you have sleep apnea or not.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Are pediatricians being trained to handle sleep apnea?

2011-09-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

As many of you already know sleep apnea isn’t just for middle-aged people who are overweight. Potential victims of sleep apnea cover a much wider range than that, young adults and children may also experience the dangerous effects of sleep apnea. We don’t hear much about children having sleep apnea; usually you read about how older folks try to cope with it by using the CPAP machine or a dental device or maybe even surgery. But some children do suffer from it. What is really surprising is something that I read the other day that a lot of pediatricians aren’t being trained to handle sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea isn’t the only sleep disorder that children, including infants, can have. Bedwetting is something that a lot of parents have to deal with as well as night terrors where the child will wake up terrified. Snoring can also be a problem.

According to an article in Medscape “The vast majority of pediatricians believe it is their role to advise parents or guardians on sleep hygiene for their children, yet very few have ever received training do to so, according to new research published online August 28 and in the September print issue of Pediatrics.” this seems rather troubling news considering how dangerous sleep apnea can be in children as well as adults. Hopefully this research will rectify this training issue.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

1. Children's sleep problems

2. Can infants have sleep apnea?

3. Sleep apnea and night terror

Post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep apnea

2011-09-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

It is well known that sleep apnea isn’t good for your health. High blood pressure, heart problems, circulation problems, diabetes and the list goes on and on. If you have sleep apnea then you also know how it can affect you emotionally. Lack of sleep from any sleeping disorder brings on anxiety, stress and even depression. It also can bring on OCD obsessive compulsive disorder as well as Post traumatic stress disorder.

What is post-traumatic stress disorder?

According to the National Institute of Health post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is” a type of anxiety disorder. It can occur after you've seen or experienced a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death.” This can be caused by being in a terribly stressful situation such as an accident, assault, rape and any other event that caused you great anguish. The main symptom of PTSD is the reliving of that particular event over and over again. Support groups have been found to be the best cure for PTSD along with certain medications.

Strangely enough one preexisting condition that might make you a candidate for PTSD is sleep apnea or any other sleep disorder. Sleep apnea is also connected to panic attacks and the before mentioned OCD.

If the obstructive sleep apnea is controlled this will also help with controlling the post-traumatic stress disorder.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks

Sleep apnea and emotional problems

Sleep apnea and OCD

Worry, stress and sleep apnea

Ten things I know about the CPAP mask

2011-08-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

After years of having sleep apnea and writing a blog on sleep apnea I have learned quite a bit about the subject. One area of sleep apnea is particularly interesting and that is about how the CPAP works for some folks and not for others. In addition there are many aspects of the CPAP machine such as why it doesn’t work for everybody, side effects caused by using the CPAP machine and what is gained and lost from sleeping with it on your face all night.

Ten things I know about the CPAP mask...

My first post about my initial encounter with the CPAP machine at a sleep study. It wasn’t a good experience.
One of the best devices that now come along with the CPAP machine is a humidifier. The air that blows through the hose tends to become dry which in turn dries out your mouth. The humidifier helps with that.
Having a beard and trying to use the CPAP machine isn’t a good idea. The beard can cause leakage which is definitely something you don’t want.
Make sure to clean your CPAP machine if you are able to use it. Germs can build up without proper cleaning.
You lose a lot by not being able to sleep. Can you regain any of it by using a CPAP.
Wearing a mask at night can be uncomfortable especially if it is during the summer when it is hot.
It is wise to learn as much as possible about the CPAP machine before buying it.
There are other things that can help with your sleep apnea besides using a CPAP.
With some folks insomnia is the result of using a CPAP machine.
What is a hybrid CPAP mask? A combination of the best features of all makes of the mask.

Feel free to comment and please subscribe to my RSS Feed

Thanks