Sleep Apnea - Dealing With This Common Sleep Disorder

By George Royal

One of the most well-known sleep disorders, sleep apnea is a fairly common condition. Marked by interruptions in breathing during sleep, sleep apnea causes the person suffering from this condition to wake up, or partially wake, several times during the night. Because of the frequency of these interruptions in breathing, a person with sleep apnea will have trouble getting a restful night’s sleep, causing them to feel the effects of sleep deprivation during their waking hours.

Two types of sleep apnea have been diagnosed: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea. OSA is caused by the soft palate becoming so relaxed that it actually blocks off the breathing passageway, while central sleep apnea is caused by the brain relaxing to the point that it does not remind the body to breathe. While both types can cause interruptions to breathing on their own, most people with sleep apnea actually have mixed apnea, which is a combination of both forms.

Sleep apnea is sometimes difficult to diagnose, simply because it only strikes while the person is asleep and won’t notice that it is happening. Because most people with sleep apnea awake only partially – not fully – so they do not actually notice that they have had their sleep cycle interrupted. Thus, if someone wants to determine if they have sleep apnea, they will have to look for the symptoms.

The most common symptom of sleep apnea is excessive sleepiness upon waking. Because the sleep cycle is being interrupted, the person is not refreshed during the night and will wake up feeling lethargic, fatigued, or even feel like they need to go back to bed for another round of sleep. Also, people with sleep apnea almost always snore; often very loudly. However, a person does not necessarily have to show these symptoms to have sleep apnea. In fact, a bed partner may be the only person to notice the interruptions in breathing during the night.

Additionally, people with sleep apnea are often overweight to obese, so treatment usually involves helping people to lose weight. Treatment can also include eliminating alcohol or other substances that help people relax, quitting smoking, using special pillows or other appliances that help keep the airways open, or even special apparatus that uses air pressure to keep the airways open. This last form of treatment, continuous pressure airway pressure (CPAP), uses a breathing mask to pressurize the airways and inflate them, almost like a balloon. Though this form of treatment is more than a little disconcerting at first, they quickly get used to the mask and find that they feel much more alert in the morning.

Sleep apnea is very difficult for a person to self-diagnose but, once the problem is found, there are treatments available. But for people who are overweight and have large necks, smoke, use sedatives or muscle relaxers, or just drink too much alcohol, lifestyle changes would be the best place to start either keeping sleep apnea away or treating it before it becomes a major health concern. After all, not breathing is a problem whenever it happens. So by treating sleep apnea now, sufferers can keep performing the one act they need to perform every day and every night.

Sleep HQ http://sleephq.com/ your guide to sleep apnea and getting a good night's sleep.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Royal

Sleep Apnea - The Facts About This Important Sleep Disorder

By Leonard Mutch

Sleep apnea is a common problem in the adult population, and is characterised by a reduction or stoppage of breathing when someone is asleep. There are 2 main types - obstructive (which is more common) and central,but also a mixed type which is a combination of both obstructive and central. Treatment for sleep apnea can be nonsurgical or surgical.

What is apnea? In layman's terms it means that someone has stopped breathing for about 10 seconds or perhaps more. These episodes of apnea have a tendency to occur more often when a person is asleep, thus disrupting the sleep, and often wakening the sleeper up. Doctors use various indexes which measure the severity of the sleep apnea to decide on their treatment options.

What causes sleep apnea? In the case of central sleep apnea it happens when the brain fails to send signals to the respiratory muscles. This is most common in babies, and in adults with heart problems, but can also be caused by some medicines. In obstructive sleep apnea the message from the brain to the respiratory muscles gets through but breathing fails through an obstruction preventing the flow of air. Mixed sleep apnea is caused by a combination of these failures.

Obstructive sleep apnea affects more men than women,and is more common and has increased severity in obese people.

What are the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea? Not only does it disrupt sleep, it also causes heart problems and high blood pressure, and increased risk of stroke. Sufferers are also more likley no have accidents at work and on the road through lack of concentration related to not getting enough sleep.

How is obstructive sleep apnea treated? There are several non surgical options varying from behavioral changes to medications and dental appliances. Behavioral changes may simply involve getting the sufferer to change their sleeping position, as most apneas seem to occur whilst sleeping on the back. A change in diet and lifestyle with consequent reduction in obesity can also markedly reduce the severity of symptoms. However, these changes are easier to talk about than to implement. Dental appliances are sometimes used for mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea - these work by holding the jaw and tongue forward and the palate up to prevent airway closure. One of the best non surgical treatments is called CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure. This is a machine which delivers heated and humidified air under pressure through a mask to the sufferer whilst they sleep. The machine is light and portable, and most people quickly get used to the noise the machine makes, and to wearing a mask.

Surgical options for obstructive sleep apnea include palate implants, reducing the size of the tongue, procedures on the jaws, and surgery of the nasal passages. Surgery should not be undertaken lightly because of the underlying risks of anesthesia and complications from the surgery itself.

If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea or know anyone who does, then it is important that you seek qualified medical advice as soon as possible. Continuing your life without recourse to treatment leaves you open to much higher risk of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and even sudden death. Seek specialist help today.

Leonard Mutch writes extensively on medical and health related topics. Discover how you too can get the latest information on sleep apnea at his website. Go there now - http://www.sleepperfectsleep.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leonard_Mutch

Sleep Apnea Symtoms - A Complete Overview of Sleep Apnea Symtoms

By John Spencer

The crazy thing about sleep apnea is that many of the sleep apnea symtoms can be misconstrued to be something that they aren't. For example, one of the classic symtoms of sleep apnea is depression. However, when you're feeling depressed you generally go to a therapist, not your primary care physician. As a result, the therapist will work with you to treat your depression, but no matter what he or she does, the root cause of it will be untouched. As a result, the sleep apnea will continue and you'll continue to experience the depression. Moreover, as the apnea progresses you'll start to feel more and more depressed, with no real hope of feeling better until you find someone who can make the connection to the sleeping disorder.

Unfortunately, depression is only one of the many sleep apnea symtoms that confuse doctors. Anxiety, irritability and other behavior changes all are signs of sleep apnea. However, when a psychiatrist is presented with these symtoms, he or she may reasonably think that the patient is bipolar or schizophrenic. Again, the treatment that will be given in these cases will have nothing to do with solving the actual problem. That said, how does one know whether or not they're really depressed or bipolar, as opposed to when they're just experiencing the side effects of sleep apnea?

The answer to this question isn't an easy one. The best way to go about answering it, however, is to look for these symtoms to be coupled with other sleep apnea symtoms. Signs to be aware of include decreased sex drive, getting up frequently in the middle of the night to urinate, headaches, loud snoring and esophageal reflux. Also, if you're sweating heavily at night it may not have anything to do with the temperature of your room. Heavy sweating is yet another symtom of sleep apnea.

To uncover the best remedies for snoring, visit http://www.StopSnoringSystem.com/ today! FREE sleep apnea symtoms mini-course!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Spencer

Sleep Apnea Treatment - Popular Options for Sleep Apnea Treatment

By John Spencer

If you're looking for a good sleep apnea treatment, I suggest that you do some research before deciding on anything. In many cases, surgery is the only viable option for permanent relief from sleep apnea. However, following surgery on the mouth or throat, the temporary swelling that occurs can be as bad, if not worse, than the sleep apnea itself. Postoperative swelling can have disastrous effects on the airway, making it difficult, if not impossible, to breathe. Because of this, patients who have had tonsillectomies, adenoidectomies or tongue reductions have to be monitored very carefully.

If having a piece of your throat or mouth removed isn't your sleep apnea treatment of choice, you may want to consider handing the problem with pharmaceuticals. While there are currently no drugs you can take to cure obstructive the sleep apnea, if the blockage is caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoids due to infectious mononucleosis there are prescriptions that can help you. For example, a regimen of anti inflammatory medicines such as prednisone and other glucocorticoid drugs can drastically reduce the lymphoid tissue. Immediately, you'll see a drastic reduction in snoring and sleep apnea. These effects will be short term, but since the enlargement is also temporary it will be the perfect solution. If not, perhaps neurostimulation will be the answer to your prayers.

Still, if you're looking for a more natural sleep apnea treatment there are some available. Avoiding alcohol and other medications that relax the central nervous system have been proven to make a difference in some cases. Other natural treatments include losing weight and kicking smoking habits to the curb. If you don't smoke, don't drink and aren't overweight, breathing exercises that are taught in Yoga classes may do the trick. These breathing exercises work to restore muscle function in the throat and mouth.

To discover the best snoring remedies, visit http://www.StopSnoringSystem.com/ today! FREE mini-course reveals natural sleep apnea treatment options!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Spencer

Sleep Apnea Treatments - Effective Treatments for Anyone Suffering From Sleep Apnea

By John Spencer

There are many different sleep apnea treatments to choose from if you find yourself suffering with the sleeping disorder. However, depending on your age, some may be more effective and easier than others. For example, when children are suffering from sleep apnea, quite frequently the treatment of choice is a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy surgery. These surgeries don't just treat the sleep apnea, they cure it. Before surgery is decided upon, many times the doctor will try prescribing a course of anti-inflammatory steroids (like prednisone or a different kind of glucocorticoid drug). These drugs will provide short term solutions to the short term problem of tonsillar and adenoidal enlargement due to acute infectious mononucleosis.

While many of the words describing sleep apnea treatments are long and hard to pronounce, some are easier to say and understand. Some doctors, for instance, believe that sleep apnea is a neurological condition, caused by the nerves that control the soft palate and tongue failing to stimulate those muscles. These doctors are currently working on neurostimulation trials, checking to see if the use of pacemakers or other similar devices can put a quick and easy end to the sleep apnea. So far, the early trials look promising.

Surgery is also one of the more common sleep apnea treatments available for patients today. That said, in some cases the use of sedatives and analgesics in patients can cause life threatening breathing irregularities, even when used in low doses. As a result, post op use of these drugs should be minimized, if not avoided altogether. Also, sometimes the swelling that occurs after the surgery is so bad that it causes more interference with normal breathing. Again, in extreme cases death can be the end result. The best way to avoid these complications is to be intensively monitored while you sleep.

To discover the best snoring remedies, visit http://www.StopSnoringSystem.com/ today! FREE mini-course reveals most effective sleep apnea treatments!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Spencer

Sleep Apnea - A Helpful Suggestion For Sufferers Of Sleep Apnea

By Gorden McMurry

Sleep apnea is a very common problem both in adults and children. The causes of sleep apnea are multiple. Sleep apnea syndrome is potentially a very dangerous medical condition which can lead to serious medical problems including death. Other problems that are aggravated or caused by sleep apnea include daytime sleepiness and drowsiness and a tendency to go to sleep when ever one is sitting quietly, even if that happens to be in the automobile when one is driving. Daytime sleep apnea symptoms may include never feeling completely rested and they may have trouble concentrating during the day.

The simple explanation for sleep apnea is that people simply stop breathing for periods of up to many seconds during the course of their sleep. These episodes seem to occur when the person drops into what is called REM sleep. REM sleep is the sleep that produces rest and relaxation and is necessary for normal sleep patterns. The difficulty is that people with sleep apnea tend to stop breathing anytime they drop in to REM sleeping patterns. A sleep apnea study is one of the tests used in determining if someone suffers from sleep apnea and to what degree.

Certainly there are multiple causes for sleep apnea but one major factor appears to be excess weight. The vast majority of people with sleep apnea are to some degree overweight and a large percentage of them are extremely obese. Being over weight, increases airway resistance. When one breathes, the excess fatty accumulation around the abdomen, chest, neck and even in the nasal passages, restricts the ability of the diaphragm and other muscles involved in breathing to move air in and out of the lungs.

Weight reduction to normal physiological weight for height will, in the vast majority of cases, dramatically improve if not relieve sleep apnea altogether. Most of the other ways of treating sleep apnea are, at best, aggravating an irritating to the sufferer. Though certainly not easy, weight reduction is certainly one of the best treatments for the ultimate control of sleep apnea for many people.

Dr. Gorden T McMurry http://www.YourDoctorOnDVD.com is a physician with over 30 years experience in the practice of medicine, seeing and treating patients on a daily basis. Through a series of informational DVD’s, The Guides To Healthy Living series, he is providing sound advice to people on health and life style issues to help them control, maintain and improve their health and well being. He developed the series for use in his practice and they were so successful that he decided to significantly expand the list of available titles and make them

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gorden_McMurry

Sleep Apnea Cures - Is There Really a Remedy For Sleep Apnea?

By John Spencer

There really aren't any definite sleep apnea cures, but there are several different treatments for the dangerous sleeping disorder. For example, some people have to undergo surgery for it, but there are several problems that can occur with surgery, even though the surgery itself may be a relatively easy procedure for the surgeon. The swelling that occurs following surgery is especially dangerous for sleep apnea patients, as it can totally block off the airway and cause suffocation. Moreover, some of the drugs used for anesthesia can exasperate the problem while the surgery is underway. Scarier still, the drugs that many doctors prescribe to relieve post surgery pain and discomfort can depress the nervous system, making the apnea worse for a short period of time.

Some people never have to go under the knife. Some patients can find that sleep apnea cures are as easy as purchasing a special pillow that positions their head, back and neck in a way that opens the airway and puts an end to the apneas. Other people have to sleep attached to a CPAP machine, which delivers pressurized air through a mask. In cases where sleep apnea is caused by infectious mononucleosis, a regimen of anti-inflammatory drugs works just fine (although it's important to note that in these cases, the drugs are a temporary solution to a temporary problem).

Currently, there are lots of clinical trials that are searching for more sleep apnea cures. In particular, doctors are exploring the option of neurostimulation to relieve the problem. In these cases, a pacemaker like device is implanted, sending gentle shock waves to the brain that stimulates the muscles in the throat, ending the apneas. Still, some people are exploring more natural solutions, such as breathing techniques that are taught in yoga. Many people find these breathing exercises strengthen the muscles in the throat, effectively curing the problem.

To learn how to stop snoring quickly and easily, visit http://www.StopSnoringSystem.com/ today! FREE newsletter reveals natural sleep apnea cures!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Spencer