Sleep Apnea: An Overview

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea is a common nighttime breathing disorder which affects over 15 million Americans. Sleep apnea affects people of all ages; even kids can suffer from sleep apnea. Without treatment, living with the disease can cause important complications including daytime sleepiness, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, obesity, mood disorders and poor daytime work. Most individuals who have sleep apnea do not realize they have the condition; even though their sleep is frequently interrupted throughout the night. People suffering from sleep apnea may wake up often through out the night because of their oxygen being restricted or completely cut away. When apnea sufferers wake up, normal breathing is restored; however, they do not enter a state of complete wakefulness. The apneic events can last unnoticed because sufferers don't completely awake or recognize they're waking though out the night. Together with sleep apnea, breathing may temporarily cease or become shallow countless times during a night's sleep.

A regularly reported symptom related to sleep apnea would be daytime sleepiness, some times being so extreme individuals have reported drifting off at work or while driving. Other common complaints include lack of focus and poor mental sophistication that can cause bad performance on the job and an life span. In Greek, "apnea" means "with out breath". There are two kinds of Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which is the most frequent, and Central Sleep Apnea.

The reason behind Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when the air passage in the rear of the throat becomes blocked. When muscles in the throat relax, this causes the soft palate to relax too, which narrows the airway. This same class of events additionally causes snoring, although, not all individuals who snore have obstructive sleep apnea. As one gets in through the mouth or nose, the airway narrows additional or completely shuts and cuts breath short. The airflow restriction triggers a gasping feeling, which arouses a period of shallow wakefulness. While partly alert, normal breathing is restored. This persistent congestion of the airway could happen several times a day , replaying the length of events through out the night, causing a fragmented night of sleep.

Central Sleep Apnea happens when your brain fails to send impulses into the body to breath. Central Sleep Apnea takes its name in the Central Nervous System, which regulates the body's essential functions. This uncertainty from the brain's respiratory control centre could have several causes, the most frequent being central nervous system dysfunctions or individuals who have suffered a stroke. Individuals who suffer from heart failure or other heart and lung ailments could also create Central Sleep Apnea.

Who apnea affects...

Obstructive Sleep Apnea can influence people, in any stage, and even kids can develop sleep apnea. Men are at greater risk. The danger increases if you're over weight and more than twenty decades old. Other risk factors include a large neck size; 17 inches or higher for males or 16 inches or greater for women. Huge tonsils or even a massive amount of tissue at the back of your throat may cause increased congestion and greater risk also. Obstructive Sleep Apnea may run in families, indicating that there may be a genetic element.

Exactly how apnea affects your body and mind...

There are lots of different effects sleep apnea can have on you, both physically and mentally, which range from mildly bothersome to life endangering. One result is excessive daytime sleepiness. Many individuals do not realize when they drift off for a moment or two, however, the consequences can be devastating. Sufferers may see they have a problem concentrating and a gain in forgetfulness or problem understanding new things. Some of the signs of sleep apnea may be confused with symptoms of depression as they are so similar; character changes, irritability, and mood swings, memory problems, feeling lethargic and perhaps even feeling sad are some of the shared similarities.

Signs and Symptoms...

A common sign of obstructive sleep apnea could be a sore or dry throat in the morning upon waking. Often people with apnea will wake many times during the night, sometimes by their own snoring, or by a choking or gasping sensation brought on with their airway being blocked. These wakeful intervals during the night disrupt their sleep and lead to daytime sleepiness, and it can be yet another well documented symptom. Some other symptoms might be noticed; such as forgetfulness, mood swings, headaches or even a decreased sex drive. Individuals with central sleep apnea can experience many of the very same symptoms as individuals with obstructive sleep apnea.

How can it be diagnosed?

Only a medical professional can diagnose Sleep Apnea. If you are suspicious you've got sleep apnea or suffer from the usual symptoms, visit your wellbeing care provider. Your healthcare provider may indicate that you have a sleep test conducted to ascertain the cause of your symptoms; your test usually includes a polysomnogram or even a Multiple Sleep Latency Test. A polysomnogram will monitor your pulse, breathing and muscle activity throughout an evening of sleep. A sleep specialist and your health care provider will examine the electronic records generated. A Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) will simply measure how much time it takes you to fall asleep or if you are inclined to fall asleep once you'd normally be awake. If sleep apnea can be detected during the sleep study, you might be requested back for further testing to find the most suitable therapy.

What to expect...

Sleep tests are typically performed at sleep centers or hospitals. After you arrive, you will have a private space, which may be embellished to feel much more like home than a medical centre. Some hospitals or centers permit you to deliver your clothes to sleep in, to promote relaxation and a feeling of ease. Your room will be near the monitoring area where the sleep technicians can track the information gathered by the polysomnograph. Whenever you're ready to sleep with the technicians will attach the monitoring devices. Most people have little trouble sleeping together as they include a few electrodes, a belt to observe your pulse and breathing, and an oximeter fitted over a fingertip to measure the oxygen level in your blood.

If your health care provider desires you to have a MSLT, it will most probably be performed at a rehab center or clinic as well. The evaluation is done to gauge the amount of time that it takes for you to reach sleep, or to learn whether you're not able to fall asleep when you ought to be completely awake. A sleeping technologist may video tape you while you sleep to document your movements during the evening or to be aware the number of occasions you drift off during your regular waking time.

What could be done?

There are many different treatment options for sleep apnea ranging from conservative therapy to major surgery.

The most common remedy is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). A CPAP machine is composed of a specially fitted mask which covers your nose or mouth while you sleep. The machine delivers a continuous flow of air in your nostrils. The pressurized air flowing to your airways boosts open airways thus breathing isn't impaired while you sleep.

Some people who have obstructive sleep apnea discover their treatment with dental apparatus. These appliances are especially designed to keep airways open during sleep. Dentists that have a specialization dealing with obstructive sleep apnea, and personalize the devices to the wearer.

Surgery is a treatment choice for apnea also. Surgical options frequently involve procedures that attempt to increase the diameter of the upper airway.

Individuals with sleep apnea may be instructed to make lifestyle changes. Some suggestions might include weight reduction to alleviate constriction of the throat. Avoidance of alcohol, even over-the-counter sedatives and other unnecessary sedating agents is also recommended, as these can further loosen the muscles at the back of the throat.

How to proceed?

See your physician for an evaluation if you feel that you are having the symptoms mentioned above like daytime sleepiness, coughing and snoring, morning headaches, or waking out the evening. Just a trained health care provider may diagnose sleep apnea. Your health care provider will evaluate your sleep problems and may refer you to a sleep expert, with specific training in sleep medicine. Sleep apnea can be a serious medical illness that may cause other conditions like hypertension, heart attack, irregular heart disease or stroke therefore early therapy is desirable.