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Sleep Apnea (also called Sleep Apnoea) is a common sleep disorder that is characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep, which force the sufferer to wake up to resume normal breathing, and disrupt and disturb their normal sleep cycle. These episodes, called apneas, usually last from a few seconds up to as long as sixty seconds in severe cases, and may occur repeatedly throughout the night. It is important to keep the lines of communication open with your doctor at all times. He or she is a worthwhile source of information in regards to every aspect of the disorder sleep apnea. You are the patient after all and deserve to know everything you can about the disorder you have been, or are about to be, diagnosed with. Let's take a look at some relevant questions to discuss with your doctor.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder where a person ceases breathing for anywhere from ten to sixty seconds at a time during nighttime sleep. In more serious cases, the breathing lapses can be even longer. These "apnea events" can occur as often as three hundred to four hundred times per night. Some people wake up during these episodes while others do not. Those who find themselves constantly waking up throughout the night end up with "excessive daytime sleepiness" which is one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea. Loud, habitual snoring is the other major symptom.
What are the different types of sleep apnea?
There are three types of sleep apnea- obstructive, central and mixed. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most widespread, afflicting nine out of ten individuals suffering from the sleep disorder. In this case, an obstruction is blocking the trachea (or wind pipe) from allowing air in and out of the lungs. Other causes of the obstruction could be too much fatty tissue in the area of the throat or in still other cases, throat muscles are too relaxed. The second type, central sleep apnea, is connected to the work of the central nervous system. In this case "the muscles you use to breathe don't get the 'go-ahead' signal from the brain. Either the brain doesn't send the signal, or the signal gets interrupted." This form is extremely rare. The third and final type, mixed sleep apnea, is a combination of the other two but has more in common with obstructive sleep apnea.
Is sleep apnea a common disorder?
It is believed that an estimated eighteen to twenty million Americans suffer from sleep apnea in one form or another. It is more common in men than women and more likely to commence after the age of forty but like many disorders, sleep apnea doesn't necessarily follow any special guidelines.
How do I know for sure if I have sleep apnea?
If you exhibit any of the symptoms of sleep apnea (such as loud snoring, cessation of breathing during the night, extreme tiredness during the day) the doctor can send you for a special sleep-recording test known as a polysomnography which can diagnosis the disorder.
Is sleep apnea dangerous and/or life threatening?
If left untreated sleep apnea can lead to more serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. The chance of having a car accident or a work related accident is also increased for those suffering from sleep apnea.
Is there anything that can be done to improve sleep apnea?
Making lifestyle changes initially can go a long way in preventing sleep apnea from worsening. Suggestions for changes include losing weight, quitting smoking, limiting your use of alcohol four hours before bedtime, not using sleeping pills or sedatives and sleeping on your left or right side instead of on your back.
Written by: Scott Parat
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If left untreated, Sleep Apnea can be life threatening. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) can cause people to fall asleep at inappropriate times, such as while driving, endangering their lives and the lives of their passengers and those around them.
Sleep apnea also appears to put individuals at risk for stroke and Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs), also known as "mini-strokes", and is associated with coronary heart disease, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, gout and high blood pressure.
So, if you or a loved one are suffering from sleep apnea, be sure to see your doctor so that the sleep apnea symptoms can be treated, removed, or reduced before they become life threatening.
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