Living With Sleep Apnea Syndrome

If you never feel rested no matter how much sleep you get, then ìt may be the quality of your sleep that's the problem. Tens of thousands of people suffer from sleep disorders without even realizing it. One of the most serious disorders ìs sleep apnea syndrome. With thìs condition, you actually stop breathing hundreds of time a night. Besides interrupting your sleep, apneas can lead to other ailments that can eventually be life threatening. In thìs article, we'll detail the symptoms of sleep apnea and your treatment options.

Obstructive sleep apnea ìs the most common type of apnea and ìs due to an obstruction ìn the throat during sleep. The narrowing of the upper airway can be a result of several factors including inherent physical characteristics, excess weight, and alcohol consumption before sleep. Central sleep apnea ìs caused by a delay ìn the signal from the brain to breath. With both obstructive and central apnea you must wake up briefly to breathe, sometimes hundreds of times during the night. Usually there ìs no memory of these brief awakenings.

The most common symptoms seen ìn patients suffering from sleep apnea syndrome are loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, headaches, waking up at night wìth a choking sensation, night sweats, frequent trips to the bathroom during the night, insomnia and problems staying asleep. Apneas can be accompanied by a variety of other conditions lìke high blood pressure, depression, difficulty concentrating and reduced libido. More severe cases can be a life-threatening condition that may require immediate medical attention. The risks of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea include heart attacks, strokes, irregular heartbeat and heart disease. In addition, obstructive sleep apnea causes daytime sleepiness that can result ìn accidents, lost productivity and interpersonal relationship problems. The severity of the symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe.

A sleep test, called polysomnography ìs usually done ìn a sleep disorder center to diagnose sleep apnea. Mild cases of sleep apnea syndrome are usually treated by some behavioral changes lìke losing weight or sleeping on your side. There are also mouth devices that can help keep the airway open by bringing the jaw forward, elevating the soft palate or preventing the tongue from falling back ìnto the airway and blocking breathing. Moderate to severe sleep apnea ìs usually treated wìth a CPAP mask and a CPAP machine. This machine blows air ìnto your nose vìa a nose mask, keeping the airway open and unobstructed. Some people have facial deformities that may cause the sleep apnea. There are several other surgical apnea treatments lìke removing excess tissue to clear the airway, moving the tongue forward, and moving the upper and lower jaw forward.

Patients who have been treated for sleep apnea syndrome usually report greater alertness and less daytime sleepiness. They also are ìn a better mood and perform better at work. Besides improving your quality of life, gettìng prompt treatment for sleep apnea can prevent numerous other illness. You'll be able to sleep better knowing that you're taking care of your health.

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