What Is Sleep Apnea
The Definition
Sleep apnea is a critical sleeping disorder characterized by a discontinuous breathing interruption or significant breathing reduction and situation in which breathing stops during sleep. “apnea” come from The Greek word means “without breath”
These stop breathing condition could happen repeatedly from ten to hundreds of times during sleep and often for 10 seconds to minute or longer. Sleep apnea is a major, though often unrecognized as a cause of daytime sleepiness.
There are three types of apnea known, they are obstructive, central, and mixed. Obstructive is the most common.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Central Sleep Apnea
- Mixed Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea found.
Signs and Symptoms
Because of the normal sleeping pattern is getting disrupted throughout the night, it means that the person is not able to reach the deep level of sleep, which we all need to restore our body functions. This leads to daytime sleepiness throughout the day, exhaustion, adn even unstable emotion. This poor quality of sleep may also lead to “drowsy driver syndrome”, which increase the risk of road accidents.
Moreover the lack of oxygen supply gave a serious threat over our cardiovascular system. Our lungs going to try really hard to deliver oxygen in sufficient amount to all of our organs and areas, because of there is a sign of reduction in blood oxygen level. This strain could lead to hypertension and eventually increases the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Characteristics
If an individual is suffering apnea of any type, their sleep possibly got disrupted and sufficient air supply to his lungs is going to be obstructed, even though they try hard to breathe. This situation lead to a significant reduction in the blood oxygen level which in turn initiates breathing pattern with a loud snort or choking sound.
You could be at risk
Apnea may occur to anyone in any age group. Studies reveal over 12 million Americans adults are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.
Commonly, there are few reasons that make individual vulnerable to suffer on apnea, such as :
- high blood pressure
- loud snoring
- overweight or obesity
- decreased air passage size in noses, mouth and throats.
More over family history is also believed to be a big influential factor. Caucasians have less risk for sleep apnea compared to African Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics. Men are found more vulnerable towards sleep apnea than same aged women. As mentioned before sleep apnea could occur in children as well. If you find your child is snoring, you must visit your doctor as soon as possible.
How to treat
The treatment aims to restore normal night time breathing and relief symptoms of sleep apnea such as snoring and daytime sleepiness. In addition, treatment methods also focus on relieve other related health conditions such as obesity and high blood pressure in order to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
The most common treatment method practiced is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). Under this treatment procedure, people are asked to wear a special designed mask over their nose while they are sleeping. This special mask helps them to blow the air sufficiently at an appropriate pressure level. Additionally, certain sleep positioning therapy is also put into practiced.
Conclusion
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder, it used to seen as unimportant and posses no danger at all. Sometimes it even used as a joke on someone.
Now we know that it does posses threat, that’s why if you noticed anyone snoring you should advice them to visit doctor
Posted in Sleep Apnea Facts