Sleep Apnea: A Common Disorder
November 2nd, 2009 | by Jeff Trikoleti |
Sleep apnea is a common disorder that is characterized by very shallow breathing while sleeping. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea.
When sleep is upset throughout the night the next day can be one of fatigue and sleepiness. A person with sleep apnea does not get restful sleep because:
ÂBrief episodes of increased airway resistance and breathing pauses occur many times throughout the night
ÂYou may experience many brief drops in the oxygen levels in your blood
ÂPoor sleep quality occurs because you move out of deep sleep and into light sleep several times during the night.
Loud snoring is often a characteristic common to people who have sleep apnea. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea and there are people with sleep apnea that do not know they snore.
Sleep apnea happen more often in people who are overweight, however thin people can also have the condition. The majority of people with sleep apnea do not know they have it, and they do not know they are having problems breathing while they are asleep. A family member and/or bed partner may notice the signs of sleep apnea first.
An increase in the chance of having blood pressure which can lead to heart attack or stroke is one of the consequences of untreated sleep apnea. Sleep apnea left untreated can also increase the risk of diabetes and the risk for work-related accidents and driving accidents.
There is an estimation of over 12 million American who have obstructive sleep apnea. More than half of these people are overweight and most of them “snore” heavily. Sleep apnea is more common in men, and is more common in African Americans, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders than in Caucasians. It tends to run in families as well. It can also occur in children. If your child snores, you should discuss it with your doctor or health care provider.
Common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:
ÂLoud snoring
ÂChoking or gasping during sleep
ÂFighting sleepiness during the day (even at work or while driving)
ÂMorning headaches
ÂMemory or learning problems
ÂFeeling irritable
ÂNot being able to concentrate on your work
ÂMood swings or personality changes
ÂFeelings of depression
ÂDry throat upon awakening
ÂFrequent urination at night
Treatment of sleep apnea:
The goal of treatment is to restore regular nighttime breathing and relieve symptoms such as very loud snoring and daytime sleepiness. Appropriate treatment will also help the associated problems of high blood pressure and reduce risk for heart attack and stroke.
Tips of self-help for sleep apnea include:
ÂAvoid alcohol, smoking and or medicines that can make you sleepy.
ÂLose weight if you are overweight
ÂTry sleeping on your side instead of your back.
One of the most common treatments for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This treatment is wearing a mask over your nose during sleep.
If you snore, treating sleep apnea may help stop snoring, however, this does not mean you no longer have sleep apnea or that you should stop using CPAP. If CPAP is stopped or not used correctly, sleep apnea will return.
Possible side effects of CPAP include:
ÂDry or stuffy nose
ÂIrritation of the skin on your face
ÂBloating of your stomach
ÂSore eyes
ÂHeadaches
For people who have side effects working with sleep medicine specialists and technicians can help reduce the side effects. Some things that can be done include:
ÂUse a nasal spray to relieve a dry, stuffy, or runny nose
ÂAdjust the CPAP settings
ÂAdjust the size/fit of the mask
ÂAdd moisture to the air as it flows through the mask
ÂUse a CPAP machine that can automatically adjust the amount of air pressure to the level that is required to keep the airway open
ÂUse a CPAP machine that will start with low air pressure and slowly increase the air pressure as you fall asleep.
People with severe sleep apnea symptoms usually feel better once they begin treatment with CPAP. It is important to follow-up with your doctor and to discuss any side effects with your doctor.
Other sleep apnea treatments include:
ÂMouthpiece (oral appliance) for people with mild sleep apnea
ÂSurgery: The type of surgery depends upon the cause of the sleep apnea.
Types of surgery include:
ÂSurgery to remove tonsils and adenoids if they block the airway, this is especially helpful for children
ÂUvulopalatopharyngoplasty
ÂLaser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty
ÂTracheostomy
ÂRebuilding the lower jaw
ÂSurgery on the nose
ÂSurgery to treat obesity.
Source: The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Disclaimer: *This article is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any kind of a health problem. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Always consult with your health care provider about any kind of a health problem and especially before beginning any kind of an exercise routine.
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box. Article written 4-2007.
Connie Limon
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/sleep-apnea-a-common-disorder-139141.html
11 Responses to “Sleep Apnea: A Common Disorder”
By amber123 on Nov 2, 2009 | Reply
sleep apnea, sleep disorders,sleep tests?
i had apnea of infancy when i was first born and was in the hospital for 3 months. after that i slept on an inclined bed with a monitor for a year. im 22 now and i have always talked and walked in my sleep but it is hard for my bf to sleep with me yelling profanities and screaming. i was wondering if anyone knew if there is a link between the infancy problem and now. I also jerk alot in my sleep and sometimes wake up because i "forget" to breathe. my bf says i talk a few times a night. I just want to know if anyone has any things in common and what the treatments would be
By Laila. on Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
My sister had problems like this. She went to the doctors/ hospital and wanted to know if there was anything she can do to prevent it. and they decided to do sleep tests on her so she was in a room and told her when to sleep and they were monitering everything and they eventually figure out whats wrong. She got paid for it too :]
References :
By THE Cat on Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
It would have a thing or two to do with what happened to you when you were young. The only treatment for sleep apnea is something called a CPAP. it is O2 that you where as a mask at night. Some people can’t tolerate it. It would help much though until your older.
References :
By Madeline on Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
It does sound like you still have sleep apnea. The only way to get diagnosis and treatment is to have your doctor refer you to a sleep center. They will monitor your breathing and sleep patterns and diagnose any sleep disorders. If it is sleep apnea, they will prescribe a CPAP machine and determine the setting you need to control it. A CPAP machine does not produce oxygen. It just uses forced air to keep your airways open (prevent them from collapsing) while sleeping. I have sleep apnea diagnosed about two years ago. My face mask is very comfortable and I sleep so much better. I actually feel like I have slept when I wake up. Also my husband is so much happier now that I am quiet at night. I don’t disturb him anymore either. It only took a couple of nights to get used to the mask and the machine itself is very quiet. No problem at all.
References :
By Mens Health on Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
I keep want to start this comment with ‘good’ or ‘nice’ or ‘great’ but none of these seems strong enough, or appropriate enough for what you just posted.Just fantastic and mind blowing blog keep it up..!!!
By SleepDentist on Nov 7, 2009 | Reply
A common disorder that left untreated ( maybe with the help of sleep dentists) can become risky and dangerous for one’s health.
By Joe on Nov 28, 2009 | Reply
I’ve been a snorer for a long time. As I got older, my snoring has gotten more frequent and louder. I also noticed I was tired a lot and liked to take naps during the day. I was overweight. People complained about my snoring and I did not want to sleep in the same room with other people for fear of keeping them awake.
Finally, I asked my doctor about the problem. He sent me home with a machine to check my breathing and pulse while I slept. The results really shocked me! The doc said my airway was closing off up to 70 times each hour, and that I stopped breathing for as long as one full minute at a time! I had severe apnea. He strongly recommended I start using the CPAP machine, since I was risking damage to my heart due to lack of oxygen.
I had read about CPAP machines before and always thought I would never be able to sleep with one, since I am a little claustrophobic. Surprisingly, it only took me a few minutes to get used to, and I was able to start sleeping comfortably right away.
The mask part is just a small nose manifold that covers the nostrils to blow in air. That keeps the throat inflated like a balloon, preventing throat closures and snoring. One problem is the straps over the head that keep the nose piece in place. They can be a little annoying at first, and if you change sleeping positions at night, it is possible for these straps to move, causing the nose piece to slip off.
I have been using a Dreamhelmet (a combination sleep mask sound-muffling pillow) for years now, to sleep at night and for napping during the day. I always find it hard to sleep without the Dreamhelmet, and was afraid I would not be able to use it with the CPAP mask, but I was wrong about that too.
After using the CPAP machine and mask for a short while, I tried wearing the Dreamhelmet over the CPAP mask, covering up the straps – voila, it worked like a charm! I found that the Dreamhelmet actually helps keep the straps in place when I change positions, so now I can sleep all night in comfort, not being bothered by sound, light, or changing positions. The CPAP combined with the Dreamhelmet are the perfect sleeping combo for me.
Now I don’t snore, I wake up rested, and I have energy that lasts all day long. I’m still overweight, but I don’t feel so run down all the time or feel like I need an afternoon nap, but I still carry an extra Dreamhelmet in the car with me just in case I do need a nap. Buy one online only http://www.dreamhelmet.com
By CPAP Machines for Sleep Apnea on Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
Snoring, Sleep Apnea, or CPAP intolerance is a big issue in 90%’s life.CPAP Machines for Sleep Apnea is required for them.It is needed to escape their life from worries and troubles.Treatment for Sleep Apnea, exists to
deliver the very best in personalized treatment.Treatment for Sleep Apnea, works with you to discover exactly what is required to deliver the maximum results possible and offers customized treatment programs.
By PeterThomas40 on Jan 28, 2010 | Reply
Good Article. Thanks for the Article about the Sleeping disorder. When my sister suffered because these type of disorders. one of her friend suggest him to try hypnosis from http://www.thoughtsbecomereality.co.uk which helped to cure her problems.
By Jeff Creech on Mar 12, 2010 | Reply
One of my friends was diagnosed with a mild form of sleep apnea and it has completely changed his life. He has had a lot of success with a CPAP machine. It took him awhile to adapt to having the mask on his face while he sleeps, but now he sleeps like a log. If anyone needs additional information on sleep apnea, I would recommend checking out http://www.bestcpapprice.com/Frequently-Asked-Questions_ep_31-1.html#Maint1 for a handy FAQ sheet.
By mcroberts, patty on Mar 22, 2010 | Reply
I come from Alberta. I have the most horrible dr for the sleep apnea testing and was rude to me as not deaf friendly.. he was so curt to me and said you have sleep apnea and need a cpap
I am on aish due to my colitis disease and badly damage my back from my former job as a houskeeper at the foothills hopsital.
i dont get a free cpap.. i dont have the money for it.. as a matter of fact i had that sleep apnea for years before i was diagnosis after i kept waking up gasping for air last fall. is waht lead to this.. I QUIT smoking last year june.. and never had problems till last fall. now they tell me the foothill hsopital is a year waiting list to go for the sleep apnea test (staying overnite there) in order to get a cpap which AISH will cover. so in the meantime i feel i am slowly dying.. no body in my family arent not interested in what i have to say or feel. i rather commit suicide than having been mistreated and having to wait over a year.. i also going for a cardiovascular in may to rule out.. but i cant wait.. i am tired and i just dont want to live like this any more..my family doctor is NOT taking me seriously when i said i felt suicidal.. all she said was i have to wait in line to get a mental health to come to my home to assest me . 4 moonths waiting.. they came and not very deaf friendly and/or taking me seriiously.. just a job to jot down notes and embellish alot of things not true. i never heard from them again. so with my being deaf/lack of family support (divourced mom) two adult sons living on their own.. sister /brother/mother not taking me seriously. my body getting worse by all this sleep apnea taking a toll on my mentally and pyscially.. a pretty woman like me age 54! wow! good bye cruel world.