Understanding Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that happens when an individual stops breathing while they are attempting sleep. Those people who deal with untreated sleep apnea will stop breathing multiple times during the night. This in turn can cause serious oxygen deprivation to the brain and body. 

Types of Sleep Apnea

Two types of sleep apnea are more common than any others. They are:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): This happens when soft tissues at the back of the throat collapse when a person is sleeping; blocking the airway.

Central sleep apnea: This is a little less common. It is a condition whereby the brain is unable to signal muscles properly, and the person is unable to breathe. The condition is associated with lack of stability in the respiratory control center of the brain.

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

Some factors are known to contribute to sleep apnea. These include:

• Obesity: most cases of OSA are associated with being obese. With every unit increase in BMI comes a 14 percent increase in the risk of sleep apnea. People with a BMI of 30 and above have the highest risk of developing apnea.
• Hereditary factors: there are people with narrow throats and thick necks which lead to breathing obstruction when sleeping. Women with a neck circumference of more than 35 centimeters and men with a neck circumference of more than 40 centimeters are at risk of developing sleep apnea.
• Allergies and medical conditions such as a deviated septum could also lead to obstruction of the airways.
• Smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol, and the use of sleeping pills in adults has also been known to cause sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

One of the main reasons why sleep apnea is hard to diagnose is the fact that the symptoms of the obstructive and central apneas often overlap. The most common symptoms include the following:

• Loud snoring which when sleeping. The snoring is louder for people with central sleep apnea.
• People sleeping with the sick person witness cessation of breathing during sleep.
• The person may awaken rapidly during sleep and have shortness of breath, especially when they have central sleep apnea.
• Getting headaches in the morning.
• Insomnia, which leads to excessive sleepiness during the day.
• Irritability and problems with concentration.

People with these symptoms should see a doctor and get a diagnosis and treatment as soon as they possibly can. While it is true that all snoring is not a sign of sleep apnea, intermittent pauses accompany that during sleep is a clear indication of apnea and should be treated immediately.

Treatment Alternatives for Sleep Apnea

The course of treatment recommended by the doctor for sleep apnea depends on the cause. For milder cases of apnea, caused by obesity, the doctor will recommend weight loss as a way of resolving the problem.

In cases where an obstruction is causing apnea, the doctor may recommend certain devices which open a blocked airway. If the blockage is extreme, surgery might be necessary. Some of the therapies used in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea include:

• Controlled Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
• Oral appliances
• Surgery
• Implants and jaw repositioning

Top 5 Routes for "Sleep Apnea"

1. Mayoclinic.org The website gives a detailed description of what sleep apnea is, the causes, treatments, and therapies can be used to manage sleep apnea.
2. Nhlbi.nih.gov This site is run by the national heart, lung and blood institute. It discusses the causes, symptoms, risk factors, and diagnosis and treatment options for sleep apnea.
3. Sleepeducation.org The website outlines the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea. It explores the connection between obesity and sleeping disorders.
4. Sleepapnea.org This website has comprehensive information about sleep apnea, including personal accounts from people affected by the sleep disorder. The site also shares information on research into sleep apnea.
5. Menshealth.com The site talks about insomnia in men. It details the causes, risks associated with sleep apnea, prevention, and treatment of the disorder.