Sleep apnea reduces the overall health of millions of Americans. It is a very common sleep disorder, affecting one in fifteen Americans, and can have serious health consequences if left untreated. Sleep apnea is characterized by loud snoring and periodic cessation of breathing throughout the night. Breathing often stops for periods of ten to thirty seconds at a time, but can stop for longer periods too. Men are at a higher risk than women. Those who are older are at the highest risk for sleep apnea.
Most people aren’t treated for sleep apnea. This is unfortunate because there are many effective treatments available. However, it can be difficult to diagnose. More than eighty percent of people have no idea they have the disorder.
Two Different Types
Sleep apnea comes in two flavors. The most common kind is obstructive sleep apnea. This type is characterized by breathing difficulties resulting form an airway obstruction. The airway might become blocked due to physical abnormalities such as swollen glands, a large tongue, or excess tissue in the throat area. A great many cases of obstructive sleep apnea are caused by obesity. Even being overweight a little bit can lead to sleep apnea.
During sleep, the airway becomes blocked and breathing temporarily stops. This leads to a drop in blood oxygen content. The body reacts as if it is suffocating and a person gasps for air, eventually starting to breath again. Usually the person begins snoring again and then the process repeats, sometimes hundreds of times a night.
Central sleep apnea is the second variety. Although much less common, it has similar results on the body. In this type, breathing problems are a result of problems with the brain. Signals sent to important muscles involved in respiration are often delayed. This results in a cessation of breathing. The body reacts as if suffocating and releases adrenaline as the person gasps for breathe.
Both sorts of sleep apnea result in similar results despite having very different causes. Oxygen levels are too low throughout the night, putting strain on the cardiovascular system. A person never gets to experience deep, rejuvenating sleep resulting in excessive daytime tiredness. In both varieties, health deteriorates over time if no treatment occurs. Cardiovascular disease is a common result. Mood disorders are often commonly reported.
Taking Action
Sleep apnea usually goes untreated despite its dramatic potential for causing poor health and even death. This is too bad because there are many very effective treatments available. The real problem is diagnosis. If you suspect you might be at risk, get yourself checked out! If you are a loud snorer, wake up with headaches or a dry throat, or suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, then you ought to find out for sure whether you have sleep apnea. Having your spouse or bed partner watch for signs is the easiest way to find out. Setting up a video recorder to record your sleep is another option.
Once sleep apnea is diagnoses by a specialist, you can decide on an appropriate treatment. There are many treatment options available. Some are more suited to particular cases of sleep apnea. Many times it just takes lifestyle changes to treat sleep apnea. Other times surgery might be required. There are also breathing devices that can be used with success.
Seeing your doctor or sleep specialist is an essential step. Each sleep apnea case has its own unique causes and may require certain treatments.
There is tons of info about sleep apnea on the internet. For more information take a look at this website on what is sleep apnea.