Go through Sleep Apnea Can Kill If Left Untreated additional

Sleep Apnea Can Kill If Left Untreated

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder caused by abnormal breathing, or breathing with significant pauses at the time of sleep. The breathing pause may range from a few seconds to maybe minutes, and occurs multiple times every hour while sleeping. The biggest worry is that individuals suffering from this are rarely aware of it, and often it remains undetected for several years.

It is obvious that people suffering from this sleep disorder are likely to be a victim of breathing and respiratory disorders, with also a risk of heart attacks. But can this lead to serious death. The answer is a painful YES. Surveys have shown that sleep apnea death is very much possible especially with people over 40. This sleeping problem increases the risk of strokes and congestive heart failures.

Obstructive sleep apnea has proved to decrease the flow of blood to the brain, which results in blood pressure and damage to the brain. In central apnea, the respiratory of control of the brain does not function properly, resulting in improper respiratory rate. Surveys taken regarding this disorder are conducted over a range of 8-10 years among people of different age groups, and it is observed that a significant percentage of folks pass away. Even children and newly born infants could possess this disorder. Sleep apnea is a disorder which may even be inherited in some scenarios from a father or mother.

To prevent premature death from this sleep disorder, many modern means of treatment and medication are available. Consult a well-known physician at the earliest to know all about CPAP masks and OAT therapies. For complete and long term cure, surgery is the most recommended means to prevent death from this sleeping affliction, and cure it permanently. The main motive behind all these treatments is to keep the airway unblocked and regulate the flow of air via the airway at the time of sleep.

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For certain biological activity to take place in the body, the brain must relay a message to that body part, or organ for that activity to be performed. In the case of central sleep apnea, the brain sends inappropriate signals to the muscles responsible for breathing, resulting in the repeated stopping and starting of breathing while the person is asleep.

Central sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by episodes of cessation of respiration while sleeping. The brain does not send the proper messages to the muscles of breathing. Central sleep apnea is not as common as other sleep apneas as is counted as less than five percent of all the sleep apneas combined.

Symptoms:

Observed episodes of stopped breathing or abnormal breathing patterns during sleep
Suddenly awake with shortness of breath, relief brought on by sitting upright
Insomnia- inability to go to sleep and staying asleep
Hypersomnia - sleepy during the day
Reduced concentration
Snoring

Snoring can be attributed to:

Enlarged tonsils - primarily in children
Excessive throat tissue
Loss of tone in the throat muscles
Increased weight
Use of alcohol
Certain medications

Use of alcohol and some medications cause relaxation of the muscles surrounding the throat, which can obstruction of the airway. Maintaining airway is of major importance and is always the first focus in any event. Without proper airway patency, life hangs in the balance and death could be the result if not attended to immediately.

Causes of central sleep apnea:

Periodic cessation of breathing during sleep
Cheyne-Stokes respiration
Brain stem damage
High altitudes of 15,000 feet or more
Medications: Opiates such as morphine, oxycodone, or codeine

Risks:

Gender - Males more likely to develop this disorder than females.
Heart disorders - Such as atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure
Stroke or brain tumor - Reduces the brain's ability to control breathing
Sleeping at high altitudes
Taking opioid medications

Complications:

Cardiovascular (heart) problems
Cerebrovascular(brain) problems
Daytime fatigue

Testing for this sleep disorder includes:

Nocturnal polysomnography - Monitors heart, lung and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels.
oximetry - monitors and records your blood oxygen level
cardiorespiratory testing - Measures airflow and breathing patterns.
Arterial blood gas testing (ABG) - Measures blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels

Treatment:

Treat other underlying medical problems
Reduction of opioid medications
Supplemental oxygen
Medications to stimulate respiration, such as acetazolamide
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
Bilevel positive airway pressure (bilevel PAP)
Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV)

Snoring may or may not be present with central sleep apnea as it is with obstructive sleep apnea. If you are always feeling overly tired during the day and irritable for no apparent reason,you should consult your physician as soon as possible. Any type of sleep apnea is a dangerous disorder that requires medical intervention.

Sleep Apnea Cause
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Central Sleep Apnea Disorder - Disconnection of the Brain

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Dental Cures For Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea

Are There Dental Cures for Sleep Apnea?

There are cures for sleep apnea! Dentists are in a wonderful position to help their patients experience relief from the anxiety of sleep apnea concerns by designing a dental appliance to treat sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when your airway is closing and you are not getting air and oxygen into your lungs. You become susceptible to stroke and heart disease as well as other life threatening conditions. You probably feel tired during the day and it is all because your airways are closing while you are sleeping.

A common unpopular apparatus that people use us a CPAP machine. With a CPAP machine, oxygen is very forcefully being pushed down your airways. Many patients do not like sleeping with all the hoses and masks. With a dental appliance. It is like wearing a little mouth guard. A dentist will position the jaw to stay forward. By keeping the jaw forward your airway does not close. If your airway does not close, oxygen is getting in.

With a dental appliance, you can roll over in bed. You can sleep on your back. Roll on your side. You cannot do that with a CPAP machine. Many patients with a CPAP machine complain, "I have to carry this big machine with me when I travel." However, with a dental appliance, you just snap in into your mouth. There are alternative ways to treat sleep apnea. There are different types of dental appliances out there. Go to a dentist. It is very easy to assess your needs and design a proper fitting appliance.

Your dentist will make an impression of your upper and lower jaw. Then he or she will make you an appliance. You put it in and you should not have anymore signs of sleep apnea.

Now, in order to get an appliance you have to be diagnosed with sleep apnea. How do you do that? You go to a sleep center. Your doctor can send you there. Your dentist can send you there. They monitor you when you are sleeping. They monitor how many times is your air way closing. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you can either wear a CPAP machine or a dental appliance. If you choose to wear a dental appliance, seek out a good dentist who knows how to do that and uses a good quality lab to make those. You can have a sleep apnea appliance made that has no hoses. Without any wires and you can toss and turn all night long.

At Dr. Anthony Grasso, DDS we specialize in creating custom solutions for your dental needs. We take every case individually, listening to you to understand your particular desires. Then, we discuss each option with you on how to best enhance your look. Dr. Anthony Grasso DDS is a member of the American Dental Association, New York State Dental Society and Onondaga County Dental Society. Dr. Grasso is past president of the Syracuse Dental Seminar. He is a lifelong resident of the Syracuse New York area, and received a Doctorate in Dental Surgery from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

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What is Sleep Apnea?

The Greek word "apnea" literally means "without breath." Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person's breathing stops for 10 seconds or longer during sleep. It can be mild, moderate or severe, depending on how many times in an hour a person's breathing stops (apnea) or becomes very slow (hypopnea). Apnea episodes may occur from 5 to 50 times an hour.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) sleep apnea affects more than 12 million Americans. However, due to a lack of public awareness as well as a lack of awareness on the part of healthcare providers, it is thought that the majority of cases remain undiagnosed despite the seriousness of the disorder and its consequences.

There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea, (CSA) and mixed sleep apnea, (MSA). OSA is the most common type of sleep apnea and is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. In CSA, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe due to instability in the respiratory control center. Mixed apnea is a combination of the two.

What Are the Effects?

With each type of apnea, the brain briefly arouses people, triggering them to start breathing again, causing fragmented, poor quality sleep. As a result, sleep apnea may also cause poor performance in everyday activities, such as work and school, motor vehicle accidensa and academic underachievement in children and adolescents.

If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a growing number of health problems including hypertension, stroke and heart failure, irregular heartbeats and heart attacks. Additionally, memory problems, weight gain, headaches, even impotency can occur as a result of sleep apnea when left untreated.

Who is at Risk?

Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, even children, however risk factors include the following:

Being overweight
Having a large neck size (17 inches or greater in men and 16 inches or greater in women)
Male gender
Being over the age of forty
Having a family history of sleep apnea
African Americans, Hispanics and Pacific Islanders have a greater risk of sleep apnea than Caucasions. Additionally, African Americans tend to get sleep apnea at a younger age.
Women who have been through menopause. After menopause women get sleep apnea at a rate similar to men.
Conditions that may cause head and face abnormalities such as Marfan's syndrome and Down Syndrome.
Being Evaluated - If you suspect that you have sleep apnea, check your insurance policy before making an appointment, as you may be required to get a referral to a sleep specialist from your primary care physician. You may also be required to go to a certain testing facility. Some insurance policies exclude coverage for the diagnosis and/or treatment of sleep disorders and some do not cover the durable medical equipment, and diagnosis and treatment can be a significant expense, usually over $1,000. Doctors who know sleep medicine may be pulmonologists (specializing in lungs), neurologists (the brain), otolaryngologists (the ears, nose and throat), psychiatry (mental health) or primary care physicians. Some doctors may be certified through the American Board of Sleep medicine (ABSM)., or hold degrees that meet the requirements of this board. At any rate, you will likely be referred to a sleep center. If your doctor does not refer you to a specific sleep center, you can visit http://www.aasmnet.org/ for the most up to date list of accredited member sleep centers and laboratories.

At the sleep center, you can expect to undergo a sleep study, which uses several devices to record activity during sleep. These generally include an electroencelphalogram (EEG) to measure brain waves and an electroculogram (EOG) to measure eye and chin movement, both to monitor the different stages of sleep. An electrocardiogram (EKG) will measure heart rate and rhythm; chest bands to measure breathing movements and additional monitors to sense oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood as well as monitors to record leg movement. None of the devices is painful and there are no needles involved.

Treatment Options:

Generally, your doctor will prescribe lifestyle changes and CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy, but surgery is an option if these treatments fail to succeed. The American Sleep Apnea Association identifies CPAP therapy as the most common treatment for the condition. CPAP therapy works by preventing the airway from closing during sleep. It is administered at bedtime through a nasal or facial mask held in place by Velcro straps around the patient's head. The mask is connected by a tube to a small air compressor. The CPAP machine sends air under pressure through the tube and into the mask, where it imparts positive pressure to the upper airways, preventing the tissues in the back of the throat from collapsing during sleep.

CPAP therapy can be an extremely effective form of treatment, however the biggest problem is non-compliance. It has been estimated that over 65% of patients use the machine for a maximum of just 4 hours per night when it should be used for the duration of the patient's sleep. In many cases, patients report using the CPAP for just a few nights out of the week.

Discomfort is a major factor contributing to non-compliance. During side sleeping or stomach sleeping, the mask presses and rubs against the patient's face, which is a major comfort problem and can also distort the mask, causing leaks and furthering the non-compliance problem.

Sleep Apnea

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Sleep Apnea and Sleeping With a CPAP Mask

Sleep Apnea

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Sleep Apnea

One usually wonders why he snores at night. Both friends and family members usually joke him around. The strange and funny sounds you make while on your sleep seems so amazingly hilarious to them. At first you seem amused as well, laughing your snoring issue with them. But then it gets to a point, that it is no longer a laughing matter to you; in fact, you don't find it funny anymore when they make jokes about it. Your lack of sleep from several nights puts you in a point where you seem edgy and oversensitive, especially when you finally realize that it is now a real problem for you, and others seem only to make fun of your predicament.

When you are losing sleep, and can't get a good night's rest - perhaps your snoring has become a sleeping disorder known as Sleep Apnea Snoring. You will know that you probably might have Sleep Apnea Snoring when occasionally choke and grasp for breath in your sleep, and when your snoring becomes very loud. There is obstructed breathing with this case. And episodes of obstructed breathing vary from 30 to 300 events per night, and last more than 10 seconds per event. These reduce oxygen levels in the blood, which causes the heart to work harder

The side effects of having Sleep Apnea Snoring is that the affected person will not have a good rest out of his sleep, and he will usually feel sleepy throughout the day. With several nights under this condition, he becomes jittery, unable to concentrate on the task at hand, moody and experiences headaches throughout the day. Worst effects of Sleep Apnea Snoring, especially if left untreated, include heart failure, irregular heartbeats and hypertension.

Usually experienced by males, overweight people, and those over age forty, this does not exclude children at all. Having large tonsils or having excess tissue in the throat area seem to increase the person's probability of having Sleep Apnea Snoring. Having larger neck sizes than normal also contribute to this.

If you observe these symptoms, it is wise to have yourself checked up by the doctor. A polysomnogram is used to diagnose for Sleep Apnea Snoring condition. This test records your heart rate, muscle activity, air flow, blood oxygen levels, electrical activity of the brain and the like, during your night's sleep.

Treatment of Sleep Apnea Snoring may be through self-help like having a healthy food diet combined with a sound exercise program. This is usually utilized for those on mild conditions only. Continuous positive airway pressure is also used to blow air through your upper airway, which prevents airways tissues from obstructing your breathing during sleep. For serious cases, surgery would be the answer. This is commonly applied for those with upper airway obstruction caused by enlarged tonsils, a deformed nasal septum, etc. Surgery should be the last recourse though in treating Sleep Apnea Snoring.

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Sleeping Disorder: Sleep Apnea Snoring

Sleep Apnea

Study Sleep Apnea Remedies additional

Sleep apnea is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is estimated that up to 20 million Americans alone have some form of it. It is also one of the most under-reported disorders as approximately 95% of sufferers go undiagnosed. The most common solution is for sufferers to be prescribed a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device. However, these machines are cumbersome, expensive, and downright uncomfortable to use. Most sufferers look to alternative treatments at some point for lasting relief. Here are a few remedies that might help:

Sleep on your side. Bed partners of sleep apnea sufferers already know that sleeping on ones back leads to the louder, more bothersome snoring. Sleeping on ones side will help alleviate the noise as well as better open up the airways in some people.

Use a sleep apnea pillow. Sleep apnea pillows are designed to help align the neck and spine to maximize the airflow in the upper respiratory system. They're not the cheapest solution, but compared to using a CPAP, they might be worth the price.

Improve consistency and amount of sleep. Going to bed at widely varying times as well as cutting yourself short on hours of sleep wreaks havoc on your body. Try getting yourself in a routine that works well for you on weekdays as well as the weekend and chances are you'll see some positive results.

Avoid drugs, alcohol, and caffeine before bed. Any substance that acts as a depressant (i.e. alcohol, sedatives,) or as a stimulant will only worsen your condition. If you must, make sure you imbibe at least 4 hours before bedtime to give your body a chance to work through it.

Eliminate allergies in your bedroom. Allergies have a pesky habit of narrowing down our airways. As a result their elimination or reduction is a necessity. A small investment in an allergen reducing device could help your sleep immensely.

Lose some weight. This is the biggest thing you can do to lesson or altogether eliminate your sleep apnea. As our body gains weight, the airways are one of the areas that are naturally affected as fat accumulates around the neck, soft palate, and tongue. Losing even a few pounds can make a huge improvement to your condition. (not to mention an overall healthier lifestyle!)

Sleep Apnea

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Sleep Apnea Remedies

Understand What Causes Sleep Apnea and How to Cure It additional

What Causes Sleep Apnea and How to Cure It

Sleep Apnea Cause

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can prove fatal if left untreated. People suffering from this condition often fall asleep quite normally, however once asleep they start to experience short interruptions of breath. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form, and is caused by the muscles in the throat becoming too relaxed and collapsing back down into the airways.

In order to survive, the body sends a signal to the brain that breathing has stopped, and this makes the sufferer wake up and either choke or gasp for air. Sleep apnea usually last for about 10 seconds, but can occur up to 50 times an hour. The person suffering from this sleep disorder is often unaware of it and cannot understand why they feel so tired during the day.

The most common cause of this sleep disorder is obesity as this creates dense tissue in the neck and throat. During sleep the sufferer turns onto their back and muscles such as the tonsils and uvula flop down into the airways causing partial or total blockage. This creates a loud snoring noise and sudden cessation of breath.

It's believed that sleep apnea affects between 18 - 20% of adults in the United States, and is more common in men. Some people have naturally large adenoids, tonsils or uvula, and this can make this sleep disorder more likely. One method to cure this complaint is to undergo laser surgery. This treatment involves burning away excess tissue and is done under a local anaesthetic. It can be painful afterward and in some cases the tissue can grow back again.

The use of a CPAP machine is another effective solution for sleep apnea. This involves the use of a face mask through which air is passed from a small portable machine. This can be uncomfortable to wear but does stop sleep apnea very effectively.

There are dental devices available to treat this condition in mild to moderate cases. The most commonly used is the mandibular device which is attached to the upper jaw, pulling the lower jaw and tongue forward. This keeps the airway open and thus stops it from occurring.

The disadvantage of any device is that it could make sleeping uncomfortable and although it may stop it, this treatment could make falling asleep more difficult. If obesity is the cause for your sleep apnea then it's strongly advisable to start losing weight as soon as possible. You could join a local slimming group for support and visit your doctor for advice on diet.

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Causes of Snoring

Sleep Apnea Cause

An estimated 45% of the population snores at least occasionally, and life typically goes on. But snoring can cause great distress for the bed partners of snorers, leading up to 80% of couples to end up sleeping in different rooms. This is not a recipe for a good marriage or relationship.

Some of the causes of snoring are as follows:

As you doze off and progress from a lighter sleep to a deep sleep, the muscles in the roof of your mouth (soft palate), tongue and throat relax. This causes the snoring sound.

Snoring also contributes to sleep apnea, a serious medical condition in which you breathing is temporarily interrupted while you sleep. In certain more serious cases this may cause death.

In 20% of all chronic snorers 25% of all preadolescent children are chronic snorers, and most of these have some form of sleep apnea.

Snoring causes sleep disturbances that lead to increased anxiety, hyperirritability, decreased memory and poor concentration.

Snoring causes both the snorer and their family to suffer from sleep deprivation. This has added dangerous side effects such as dozing off in the day while driving due to lack of sleep.

Another prominent cause of snoring is smoking as smokers tend to get more phlegm in their throats than nonsmokers.

Alcohol, tranquilizers, antihistamines, and sleeping pills have been linked to snoring because they depress the central nervous system and make your tongue and throat muscles overly-loose and relaxed.

The most common causes of this condition include the tongue interfering with the free flow of air to the lungs, narrow nasal passages, smoking and obesity.

If you are suffering from any of the above causes of snoring, and it seems to be affecting your personal and family life, then it might be time to analyze the causes and seek help from either a healthcare professional or a proven remedy such as surgery or medications.

Mary Freeman is an accomplished Author who writes articles on Natural and Home Remedies. To access her remedy website, please visit http://www.eRemedySpot.com

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Sleep Apnea - Chronic Sleeping Disorder

Sleep Apnea Cause

Sleep Apnea Cause

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by disruption in the breathing pattern while you are sleeping. It is a strange problem and most of the people are not even aware of it. In most cases, it is usually the sleeping partner who gets to know about the prevalence of this sleeping disorder. Victims of this complication face difficulty in taking proper breaths. It is a chronic problem which needs proper attention and if you leave it untreated, it can become a cause of worry and at times even life threatening. It is believed to cause physical as well as mental impairment.

Common Symptoms

Frequent choking episodes during night time
Morning headache
Waking up in the middle of night due to excessive sweating
Poor concentration
Loud snoring
Dry mouth
Excessive sleepiness during daytime
Low energy levels
Obesity
Mood swings

According to recent studies, women suffering from asthma are at a higher risk of developing the problem . Snoring is one of the most common symptoms of it. Studies are indicative of the fact that about 22% of young women suffering from asthma are prone to snoring. It has been found that this problem is more common among older women especially those females who have passed through the phase of menopause. It is due to hormonal changes in the body that is caused by menopause.

Many a time snoring is taken for sleep apnea; however, both are entirely different set of problems. Snoring is a symptom but not a cause in itself. Snoring is simply the occurrence of a whistle kind of sound while you are sleeping is the blockade in the way of air, as a result of which you are not able to breathe properly at the time of sleeping. Snoring, as such, does not have any health impact but this disorder demands good medical care.

Different Types of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive (OSA)
Central (CSA)
Mixed (MSA)

Obstructive (OSA)

Obstructive (OSA) is one of the most commonly found sleeping disorders. It is a medical condition in which there is obstruction in breathing that is caused due to disturbance in the flow of air in the mouth and nose.

Central (CSA)

It is a rarely found sleeping disorder that occurs when the signals of brain giving instructions to the body to breathe get delayed. It is a problem of the central nervous system which is mainly caused due to injury in the brainstem. For treating this problem, there are certain medications that help a great deal in stimulating the need to breathe oxygen.

Mixed (MSA)

Mixed Sleep Apnea (MSA) is a combination of the above two mentioned types of sleep apnea. It has often been found that patients of this sleeping disorder derive benefits from treatment but only to the extent of obstruction in the flow of air. It does not completely put an end to the episode of sleeping apnea.

To conclude, if you find any of the sleep apnea symptoms, it is advisable to immediately see a doctor and seek medical advice.

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Does Your Sleep Apnea Threaten Your Heart?

Sleep Apnea Cause

Sleep Apnea Cause

If you have heart-related problems, you probably also suffer from sleep apnea. And, if you have sleep apnea and don't yet have heart-related problems, you probably will have them in the future. We don't know for sure whether sleep apnea directly causes heart problems. But it's clear that if you currently have sleep apnea, there's a very good chance you'll have heart disease in the future.

If you have sleep apnea, you're 230% more likely to develop congestive heart failure than your neighbor who doesn't have sleep apnea. Your chances of having a stroke are 150% higher than you neighbor's, too. And if you're suffering from atrial fibrillation you are almost certain to have more complications because of obstructive sleep apnea. Atrial fibrillation is a situation where the upper part of your heart (the atrium) isn't beating in time with the lower part (the ventricle). If you have atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea, you're at a far higher risk of experiencing sudden, unexpected death. You're also at greatly increased risk for other heart problems, too.

When you have an "anemic episode" during sleep -- when your breath stops because of airway blockage, your blood pressure increases. This is because the failure to breathe causes a drop in your blood's oxygen level. The brain, sensing this drop in oxygen, signals the blood vessels to "tighten up," sending increased oxygen to the heart and brain, as well as other portions of the body. Recurring sleep apnea -- multiple episodes per hour, greatly stress the heart and the entire cardiovascular system. And in addition to all this nighttime stress and strain, your body is also learning to react to any type of stress -- not just breathing stress -- with increased blood pressure and anxiety. This is what leads to the link between sleep apnea and heart disease.

What Can You Do About It?

You should be seeing your doctor annually for an in-depth checkup. If you suspect heart problems or sleep apnea, discuss these with your doctor and then closely follow the resulting medical instructions. Whether those instructions involve medications, behavior modifications, surgery, or whatever, take faithful action. If left untreated, either heart problems or sleep apnea can cause you serious damage, even death.

I'm Bill Johnson, the webmaster of www.insomnia-answers.com [http://www.insomnia-answers.com]. I research and write articles on the topic of sleep apnea [http://www.insomnia-answers.com/sleep-apnea/] and other sleep disorders. Please visit my site to get your free copy of my special report, "Learn the Tactics to Defeat Sleep Disorder," which can be found on the "Free Reports" page.

Go through Sleep Apnea - Causes and Symptoms additional

Sleep Apnea Cause

Sleep Apnea is a serious condition that affects many people all over the world every year. It causes repeated stoppages in your breathing while you sleep, these episodes most often happen for only around ten to thirty seconds in length, but can go on repeating for the entire night. It can lead to many other health problems as well if left untreated, which is often the case with many sufferers.

There is more than just one kind of this sleep disorder a person can have, each being caused by something different. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the upper airway getting blocked in some way when you are sleeping, while central is when the part of the brain that controls your breathing does not work in the way it should. It however, can be treated successfully by a doctor or specialist.

People who suffer from this often do not even realize that they have it. They just don't know how to properly recognize the signs and symptoms. Most cases usually are only realized after the person suffering from it seeks help because of daytime sleepiness, or snoring and pauses in breathing pointed out by their spouse, roommate, etc. Snoring can be a common symptom, but does not necessarily mean that you have this condition. If you have a snoring problem, don't assume you have it, consult a doctor and they will be able to diagnose the cause of your snoring properly. From there, you can learn how to fixed the problem, whether it is sleep apnea or something different.

Some of the many symptoms:

Waking up with a headache, sleepiness during the day or while doing things such as driving, memory loss, sudden mood changes, depleted sex drive, snoring, choking or gasping while asleep and several others.

These are only possible symptoms, if you have one or more symptoms and believe you might have sleep apnea, talk to a doctor and have it properly diagnosed.

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Sleep Apnea - Causes and Symptoms

Examine Central Sleep Apnea And Obstructive Sleep Apnea Compared extra

Central Sleep Apnea And Obstructive Sleep Apnea Compared

Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea

There are two different types of sleep apnea - obstructive (OSA) and central (CSA). There is also a third type known as mixed sleep apnea which is a combination of the other two.

OSA occurs when something blocks a person's airway and doesn't allow them to get the necessary amount of air while sleeping. This can be caused by a number of things. Obesity is probably the most common reason.

Overweight people have fatty tissue deposits in the neck and throat area which can cause the throat to be blocked when lying down. This restricts the airway and the airflow through it.

Other common causes of OSA include enlarged adenoids or tonsils, allergies, nasal deformities and sleeping in a poor position. Snoring is often a symptom of sleep apea as the snoring is caused by the body struggling to get the necessary amount of oxygen.

Central sleep apnea has similar symptoms but the causes are different. CSA is actually quite rare - much more so than OSA. People suffering from CSA have a problem with the timing in their brain. It regulates the rest of the body, including breathing. This timing does not "fire" properly in CSA patients, causing a lack of oxygen while sleeping.

In both types of sleep apnea, the sufferer wakes up a number of times over the course of a night, often gasping or choking for air. These interruptions in sleep can happen up to 100 times a night, causing a lack of quality rest.

This can lead to headaches and sore throats the next day from a lack of oxygen and the body's fighting to get more. There are many other problems that result, such as drowsiness, irritability and lack of concentration.

Sleep apnea sufferers can be affected in the workplace, in their personal relationship and other areas where the emotional and physical drain can cause problems.

High blood pressure is another common result of sleep apnea and if it is not treated it can ultimately lead to a stroke or heart disease. Anyone who is showing signs of these symptoms should consult with their doctor for further advice, and more thorough tests if the doctor deems it necessary.

Rudy Watkins writes about sleep apnea symptoms and other related topics on the Apnea Guide website. For more helpful information about sleep apnea, visit http://www.apneaguide.com

Understand Sleep Apnea Dental Appliance - A Life Saver far more

Sleep Apnea Cause

Obstructive sleep apnea is an illness that should not be ignored. Usually it is the partner of the person with the disorder who makes the diagnosis of the sleep apnea because they are unable to sleep at night. A person with it not only tends to snore loudly at night, but they also flail their arms and legs around a lot as well. This happens when their snoring causes their lungs to stop breathing. After a minute or so of not breathing our bodies have a natural instinct to try to wake ourselves up so we will breathe again. Thus we flail our arms and legs to wake up, and we hit our partner in bed with us. Our partner probably was not sleeping because of the loud snoring anyway, but a good punch in the nose is guaranteed to wake anyone up.

Test after test has shown that sleep apnea can cause death in a patient if that patient goes undiagnosed or untreated. The stoppage of breathing can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and untold other medical problems. If a person is overweight and has obstructive sleep apnea their problem is multiplied because of the weight added to the pressure placed on the lungs as the lungs expand and contract. It is imperative that the soft palate area of the mouth not collapse which closes the air passageway into the chest. When a person suffers from these critical problems, they absolute must seek help to rectify their breathing problems, and the bruising of their bed mate. A sleep apnea dental appliance may be your answer.

There are some exciting new advances being made in the field of obstructive sleep apnea. There is now a dental appliance available. A patient would need to find a dentist who specializes in this field. These dentists would be able to secure previous medical records. Probably what would happen is that the dentist would make a cast of the patients teeth. The cast would be made "of a dental appliance that locks the jaw in place". This would prevent snoring. Patients who have used this device swear by it and would not go back to the CPAP type device. It is hoped that these devices become more available across the country for other people who suffer from sleep apnea and would love to have such a dental appliance.

Rick Swanson is a full-time article writer who enjoys writing on a variety of topics and personal interests. His latest is Sleep Apnea Dental Appliance, which you can read more about at http://www.daytondentalonline.com/our-services/sleep-apnea-dental-appliance.php.

Sleep Apnea Dental Appliance - A Life Saver

Sleep Apnea Cause

Examine Sleep Apnea much more

Sleep Apnea Cause

Sleep apnea is a fairly common sleep disorder that can affect both adults and children. It causes you to stop breathing or experience low breathing at certain points during sleep. Each period of not breathing is known as an apnea and can last anywhere from a few seconds to minutes. This can occur any number of times from 5 to 30 or more every hour. The condition can be diagnosed by spending a night in a sleep lab and suffers have problems with daytime fatigue, slowed reactions and vision problems. There are three different types of this condition which we will detail below.

Obstructive Apnea
This is the most common type of sleep apnea and is caused by the relaxed muscles around the throat obstructing breathing. People with excessive soft tissue in that area, usually due to obesity are at particular risk of sleep apnea. It is important to seek treatment as this can lead to sleep deprivation, low blood oxygen levels and other serious issues and complications.

The risk of developing this kind of sleep apnea increases with weight, age and if you are a smoker or suffer with diabetes. Men are more likely to develop it than women or children but it can affect anyone. Symptoms usually include loud snoring, restless sleep and daytime fatigue.

Central Apnea
This type of sleep apnea is also known as Cheyne-Stokes respiration and occurs when the brains respiratory control centres are off balance during sleep. This condition can be much more severe than the one described above because there is no struggling or attempting by the body to breathe. The sufferer will just drift in and out of breathing due to brain malfunction.

Stopping breathing means that the body suffers with hypoxia (a lack of oxygen in the body) and hypercapnia (an excess of carbon dioxide in the body). A lack of oxygen can lead to brain damage, heart problems, seizures and in the worst cases sudden death. Too much carbon dioxide in the blood can lead to conditions such as metabolic acidosis.

Mixed Apnea or Complex Apnea
Mixed apnea as you would probably guess is a mixture of the two conditions described above. In most cases of mixed apnea the central apnea will occur as a direct result of the obstructive sleep apnea but can also be brought on by drug use, particularly narcotics.

Treatment
Treatment for the varying kinds of sleep apnea range from simple lifestyle changes to surgery depending on the type and severity of the condition. In some cases it can be as simple as adjusting your sleeping position or switching to a memory foam mattress. If you use a lot of alcohol or drugs (prescription or not) cutting down or stopping completely can make a difference. Maxillomandibular advancement is the most popular and considered the most effective. It works by increasing the posterior airway space and is a very low risk surgery with a very high success rate.

Another less conventional method is to learn and play a wind musical instrument. This can strengthen the muscles around the throat and reduce the risk of obstructive sleep apnea.

Cosy Mattress specialise in the sale of a whole range of different sizes and types of memory foam mattress. This type of mattress can be very effective in helping with all sorts of sleeping problems such as sleep apnea as well as back and joint pains. Even if you suffer with no such complaints, a memory foam mattress can still help you get a better nights sleep.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea Cause

Understand Sleep Apnea Cures - The Best Ways to Cure Sleep Apnea! additional

Sleep Apnea Cures - The Best Ways to Cure Sleep Apnea!

Sleep Apnea

Those that suffer from sleep apnea know that it can be very dangerous and they know that it can ruin a good night of rest as well. The problem is that most over the counter products that claim to be sleep apnea cures barely work. They might help a little bit, but they certainly do not cure the problem at all. Here are some natural tips to help you with your sleep disorder.

1. Stop smoking and drinking

If you are a smoker, especially if you smoke more than a full pack each day, then you can cure your sleep problems just by quitting the bad habit of smoking. This also goes for those that are heavy drinkers and it can be very dangerous to drink a lot of you suffer from sleep apnea. This could even be deadly if you happen to have a severe case and you do not find one of the sleep apnea treatments soon.

2. Start exercising

Those that are heavier, especially, can help cure their sleeping problems by losing some weight through exercise. Exercise will also help to strengthen your lungs and make it easier for you to breathe while you are sleeping. This is a great way to become healthier as well and when you are healthier you will sleep much better. Sleep apnea cures come in many forms, but if you are not in very good shape exercise can be the answer you have been searching for.

3. Using a special pillow or mouth piece

If you are desperate or you need a temporary solution while you are working on quitting smoking or drinking or you are starting a new exercise program, then you can use a pillow made to be one of the sleep apnea cures or you can use a mouth piece designed to help keep your airway clear. This can help, but it is not recommended for the long term. Use the pillow and/or the mouth piece until you start to feel healthier and try to go a night without them to see how things go.

Basically those that are suffering from a sleep disorder can usually link it back to the type of lifestyle they live. Those with a good and balanced diet that exercise regularly rarely have the sleeping problems that those without a healthy diet and regular exercise suffer from. You just need to find the sleep apnea cure that is right for you. And with the internet, you may even come across an e-book that can guide you to get rid of this condition effectively.

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Examine Sleep Apnea CPAP Treatment a lot more

CPAP treatment can be effective for the treatment of sleep apnea. It can greatly improve the quality of sleep and the quality of life also. Relief will be noticed after a night's use. The sleeping partner will rest also, hearing no snoring.

A CPAP machine is a method of ventilation in the treatment of sleep apnea. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure.

During sleep, muscles relax causing the upper airway to narrow and nearly close restricting the breathing. This results in decreased oxygen in the blood and this causes the patient to awaken suddenly during the night. This also is the reason for most snoring.

Sleep apnea can cause severe health problems and even death. A doctor will order a polysomnograpghy, sleep study to determine the need for CPAP. The patient will spend a night at a sleep lab while a sleep technician will monitor sleep patterns, breathing, vital signs, etc. to send to the doctor.

The CPAP machine prevents or stops the symptoms of sleep apnea. It delivers compressed air at a prescribed pressure by way of a hose to a mask to the nose to keep open pressure so that unobstructed breathing can become possible again. This can prevent or stop sleep apnea as well as the snoring as long as the CPAP continues. Sleep apnea will remain a chronic health issue, it will not never actually go away.

It is not the movement of the air, it is the pressure of the air that prevents apnea by forcing air through the airway and opening the obstructed airway. To use the CPAP, first the machine is turned off and the flow of air comes through the mask. After the mask is applied and seals to the face, the air stops flowing. At this point it is the air pressure that is working.

There will be disagreeable side effects and many people quit using it. The American Sleep Association states that the compliance rate of people using CPAP for more than a few months is 60%. Many side effects can be easily remedied if the health professional is made aware of them.

The mask must fit snugly to prevent leaking, but not tight. Sores on the nose are not to be expected. Nasal congestion, irritation, or runny nose that seems to be caused by CPAP will change. One role of the nose is to warm and humidify the air with breathing.

The CPAP may begin to dry the nose, the body will adjust and increase mucus production to add more moisture to the the air being breathed. This can cause runny nose and nasal congestion, or burning and sneezing. These symptoms can be alleviated by the use of a humidifier along with the CPAP. Humidifiers can be warm or cold water humidifiers. Heating the air will let the air carry more moisture as it travels to the nose. Cold water will dry the air, just as summer air versus winter air.

Allergies may present difficulty using a CPAP. The doctor can recommend or prescribe allergy medication or steroid sprays.

The CPAP may require time for the mind and body to adjust. The mask may scare the patient as he or she awakens to find it suddenly on the face, or will find it is not on the face upon awakening. This will improve over time, talk to the doctor, maybe a temporary sleep medication would be helpful until the adjustment is made. The patient may experience gas or gas pains, the head and the body being aligned during sleep should help. If the patient sleeps with head elevated, put the pillow or wedge under headboard, not under sleeping pillow to keep the head from tilting forward and blocking the airway.

The noise of the machine could be distracting. Maybe a longer tubing so it can be further from the bed. Maybe a fan for "white noise" would help. Tubing getting in the way? Drape it over headboard behind you or seek out a device that attaches to bed and keeps the tube up and it can move with patient. Getting up at night can be bothersome to hook and unhook everything involved from the face. Simply unhook the tubing from the machine or mask. This way the mask does not need to be totally undone and done again.

Suzanne Murphy Licensed Nurse

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Sleep Apnea CPAP Treatment

Sleep Apnea Cause

Go through Sleep Apnea - Pulling Off the Covers of a Serious Sleep Disorder a lot more

Do you feel tired most of the time and want to take a nap? That was the story of my life until about nine months ago when I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. It was a relief to finally find out why I was always tired and needed to take naps. That's half the problem with health issues- getting to the root cause of the problem so that you can finally do something about it.

Sleep apnea can manifest in any or all of the following symptoms:
• Loud snoring
• Frequent silences during sleep
• Choking or gasping during sleep
• Sudden awakenings to restart breathing or waking up in a sweat
• Sleeping more than normal or difficulty staying asleep
• Daytime sleepiness
• Trouble concentrating
• Mood/behavior change
• Morning headaches

If you have any of these symptoms, it's time to talk to your physician about getting a sleep study. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition; however, snoring is not always associated with sleep apnea. Other culprits of snoring can be nasal and sinus problems, being overweight, alcohol use, smoking, and certain medications, especially sedatives. It can also be caused by something as simple as sleep posture because sleeping flat on your back causes the flesh of your throat to relax and block the airway.

According to the National Institute of Health, more than 12 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, and it is estimated that approximately 10 million people remain undiagnosed. The main reason it often goes undiagnosed is that even though someone may have many breathing interruptions throughout the night, they may not have any recollection of it. Additionally, it's common for people to be aware that they snore, but they don't realize it could be a symptom of a medical condition.

The majority of sleep apnea patients are males over the age of 40 who are overweight; however, the disease can also affect males and females of all ages, including those of ideal weight. The disorder can also be genetic as some studies have shown that a family history can increase the risk by two to four times.

There are three types of apnea- obstructive, central and mixed. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common. Obstructive apnea is caused when the soft tissue at the rear of the throat or the tongue collapses and closes off the airway. The airway may also be blocked due to abnormalities in the soft tissues of the throat. In central apnea, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Mixed apnea, as the name implies, is a combination of the two. With each apnea occurrence, the brain arouses the individual to resume breathing. Each arousal interrupts the normal sleep pattern which causes the individual to feel unrefreshed when they awaken in the morning.

If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause many problems including high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, strokes, learning and memory problems, weight gain, impotency and headaches. Additionally, there can be side-effects such as a compromised immune system, poor mental and emotional health and irritability.

The CPAP machine is the most widely recommended treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. The CPAP consists of a mask-like device which provides continuous pressurized air to keep the airway from collapsing. Recent advancements have made the CPAP devices more comfortable, quieter and easy to transport.

There are some other alternatives available for treatment, but they are only intended for mild to moderate sleep apnea. One option is an oral device that is worn inside the mouth, similar to an athletic mouth guard. There is also a device that can be worn around the head and chin to adjust the position of the lower jaw. Side effects of oral devices can include soreness, permanent change to the position of the jaw, teeth and mouth, saliva build-up and nausea. The most extreme remedy is the option of surgery to remove tonsils, adenoids or excess tissue at the back of the throat or inside the nose.

If you do get a sleep study done and receive a diagnosis of sleep apnea, count yourself among the fortunate people who find out before it's too late. Now you have the opportunity to address this serious condition and start a treatment plan. It has been truly life-changing for me to start using a CPAP machine and wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready for the day. Once I addressed this problem, I had the energy and positive attitude needed to exercise regularly, be productive and improve my relationships.

Sleep Apnea Cause

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By: Suzanne Stewart July 11, 2010

I have been researching nutrition and preventative health for over 10 years. I have suffered from several health issues and through many trials and errors, successfully turned my health and the quality of my life around. I am very passionate about helping people to obtain the health, energy and vitality that everyone is entitled to have! Your life can improve and you can achieve your dreams!

Sleep Apnea - Pulling Off the Covers of a Serious Sleep Disorder

Examine New Study: Sleep Deprivation Can Cause Weight Gain extra

New Study: Sleep Deprivation Can Cause Weight Gain

Sleep Apnea Cause

Conditions such as sleep apnea that cause sleep deprivation are linked to poor concentration and memory, increased risk of diabetes, hypertension and high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes, depression and sexual dysfunction.

Lack of sleep is now also linked to overeating, and as a result, weight gain. That information was just announced at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism 2012 conference in San Diego.

According to the study's abstract, sleep is an important regulator of metabolism and energy expenditure. When acute sleep deprivation occurs, the hormone leptin is reduced, while the hormone ghrelin is increased, promoting caloric intake, but not energy expenditure. The likely result is weight gain.

Leptin and ghrelin are appetite hormones. Leptin helps regulate hunger, appetite, and metabolism. When you have low levels of leptin in the body - perhaps due to sleep deprivation - the hormone will tell receptors in the hypothalamus of the brain, "Hey, I'm hungry, feed me." Normal healthy levels of leptin, on the other hand, will let the brain know that you've had enough and are no longer hungry.

Ghrelin is known as the hunger hormone because its job is to tell the hypothalamus when you are hungry and need to eat. That is why ghrelin levels are elevated in the body when you are hungry, and decrease after you have eaten. Ghrelin also promotes fat storage, and has been linked to the accumulation of abdominal fat.

Sleep deprivation reduces leptin which causes you to feel hungry. It also increases ghrelin, causing you to feel hungry and eat more. As a result, sleep deprivation is likely to lead to overeating and weight gain.

The Study

Virend Somers, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine and cardiovascular disease at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota and his colleagues conducted an eight night sleep test on 17 people - 11 men and six women - between the ages of 18 and 40. Eight of the subjects in the "random group" were made to sleep less than they normally do, while the other nine in the "control group" slept their normal amount of time.

All subjects were able to eat as much as they wanted throughout the testing periods, and their daily caloric intake was measured. In addition, their daily sleep times and energy expenditures were measured, and their blood was collected at the end of the test period.

The results of the test showed that the sleep deprived group who slept one hour and 20 minutes less than the control group per night, ate around 549 more calories per day than the normal sleep group. However, the sleep deprived group who ate more did not expend much more energy than the normal sleep group.

To read the study, see Insufficient Sleep Increases Caloric Intake but not Energy Expenditure.

David Volpi, M.D., P.C., F.A.C.S. is a board-certified otolaryngology surgeon with Ear, Nose and Throat practices, Otolaryngology Associates, on the Upper West Side and Upper East Side and is a staff member of the best teaching hospitals New York City. David Volpi, M.D. realized that there is a lack of information on the part of the public about the potential severity of snoring. With the need for accurate information, diagnosis and treatment so necessary, he founded Eos Sleep, formerly Manhattan Snoring and Sleep Center to be a place where snoring patients can go for total, expert treatment -- and he created this site to be a thorough information resource for the education of snoring sufferers throughout the world. For more information, visit http://www.eossleep.com.

Go through Sleep Apnea - Causes and Symptoms more

Some of the many symptoms:

These are only possible symptoms, if you have one or more symptoms and believe you might have sleep apnea, talk to a doctor and have it properly diagnosed.

Sleep Apnea

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Sleep Apnea - Causes and Symptoms

Sleep Apnea

Examine Sleep Apnea far more

Another less conventional method is to learn and play a wind musical instrument. This can strengthen the muscles around the throat and reduce the risk of obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea Cause

Go through Sleep Apnea Symptoms: Most Of Them Remain Unnoticed! additional

Though millions of Americans are victims of sleep apnea, it still remains one of the most undiagnosed and untreated sleep disorder, known not only for its distressful symptoms in the short run but also for the life-threatening consequences it entails.

The reason why it is difficult to diagnose is because majority of the symptoms appear when the individual is asleep. In fact, it is often the bed or room partner who first notices the continued disruption in sleep that the victim is going through and takes him or her for medical treatment.

Be that as it may, there are some symptoms which eventually come to the notice of the victim. But before you know more about the symptoms which seem to dodge even the most alert patients, you might benefit by learning about some of the typical factors that put you on the high-risk category for developing this kind of illness. You could call these factors sleep apnea causes as well:

• More than 50% people diagnosed with this disease are obese. Obesity is one of the leading sleep apnea causes.

• At least 1 in 10 people over 65 years old would have this disease; it is more common in men than women.

• Habit of consuming excessive amounts of alcohol puts you at increased risk.

• Hereditary factors.

• More than half of those who have sleep apnea also have high blood pressure. It is closely linked with smoking, metabolic disorders, diabetes shares common risk factors for stroke and heart failure.

• Small airways in the nose, throat and mouth are leading sleep apnea causes.

Sleep apnea symptoms: what your bed partner may notice

• Snoring that is loud and chronic

• Intermittent pauses in the snoring.

• Restless during sleep with frequent tossing and turning in bed.

There are several symptoms that are noticed by the victim as well. Rapid and unexplained weight gain, sore throat and dry mouth on waking up, headaches in the morning, drowsiness, irritability and mood disorders like depression, problems with focusing, tendency to take short and frequent naps and forgetfulness are some of these symptoms.

Also, the victim feels excessive tiredness during the day. This is an extremely important differentiator in the sense that this symptom clearly points towards sleep apnea as any other ordinary snoring would normally not interfere with daytime alertness. Daytime fatigue caused by this disease is a very clear indicator of the onset of the condition.

Needless to mention, considering the seriousness of the ailment, one should not ignore even the smallest signs that point towards this disease. Visit a sleep doctor straightaway and ask for a sleep apnea test.

Perhaps the most important aspect to keep a watch on is the daytime tiredness. It is worthwhile to remember that not everyone who snores has this kind of disease. If you feel that excessive daytime tiredness is overwhelming as well as disabling, it is time to talk to a doctor. The more proactive you are in diagnosing the condition, the better chances you have to arrest the growth of the condition and get cured.

Sleep Apnea
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Sleep Apnea Symptoms: Most Of Them Remain Unnoticed!

Study Sleep Apnea and CPAP Masks: What You Need to Know additional

Sometimes when we are diagnosed with a medical condition for the first time, we find ourselves in an alien world, filled with terminologies we know nothing about. What is the doctor trying to say when he or she confirms that you have sleep apnea and would now have to wear the corresponding mask.

What is sleep apnea? And why are they asking you to wear masks? Several questions like these crowd your mind and you want satisfying answers right now.

What is sleep apnea?

It is one of the worst types of sleep disorders characterized by recurrent pauses in breathing, each lasting for 10 seconds or more and recurring 5 to 30 times in an hour, depending on the severity of the condition. It happens when the upper airway narrows and when snoring is left untreated.

Sleep apnea masks: what are they and what do they do?

Sleep apnea and CPAP masks would always be mentioned together, since CPAP or Continued Positive Air Pressure therapy is identified as one of the most effective means to treat this disease. The therapy involves pumping in pre-set pressurized air into the lungs to keep it open during sleep. It aims to keep the airway from collapsing and blocking normal flow of air during breathing while you sleep.

CPAP masks, also known as the sleep apnea masks are an important and integral part of the equipment which has the following components: the device, the mask and hoses. While the device generates the pressurized air, it is carried to the lungs via the the mask worn over the nose, mouth or both. The air is carried to the mask with the help of the hoses.

Sleep apnea and CPAP masks: basics

The CPAP masks are usually triangular in shape and made from soft and pliable silicone material. The sleeping and breathing habits of the user play a critical role in the selection of the CPAP mask. There are several types of CPAP masks available in the market. Here is a brief overview of some of the common types of CPAP masks:

1. CPAP Gel Mask: The CPAP gel mask offers the best and most comfortable fit and is also a suitable alternative for people allergic to silicone plastic, material used for all other types of CPAP masks.

The CPAP gel mask is made from gelatin combined with some soft plastic. This material can be pre-heated to create a unique and individualized mask that fits the facial and nasal contours perfectly. Some gel masks are also available where no pre-heating is needed.

2. Full face mask: The full face mask covers the whole face. It begins at the bridge of the nose up to the lower lip covering the chin. The mask has additional straps at the forehead and mouth for secure fitting.

3. Nasal masks: As the name suggests, the nasal mask covers only the nose, and is the most common type of CPAP mask used in CPAP therapy. It is worn with straps going round the head, to keep the mask in position securely.

Sleep Apnea

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Sleep Apnea and CPAP Masks: What You Need to Know

Examine Beware Sleep Apnea May Lead To Serious Conditions far more

Sleep apnea is a chronic medical condition where the affected patient repetitively stops breathing during sleep. These pauses in breathing can last 10 seconds or more and cause reduced oxygen levels in the blood. Obstructive Apnea is caused by obstruction of the upper airway. Central sleep apnea is caused by a failure of the brain to initiate a breath. It can cause and make worse other medical conditions, including hypertension, heart failure, stroke and diabetes. The frequency and duration on these lapses in breathing determine if it is mild, moderate or severe sleep apnea. Doctors diagnose Apnea with an overnight sleep test called a "sleep study".

Sleep apnea symptoms, in my case, were first people would ask me if I knew that snored. I would usually joke that "I never stayed awake long enough to find out". Later, this joke would come back to haunt me, as the snoring began wake me up. As the sleep apnea syndrome progressed I would awaken gasping for breath and choking.

Not connecting the creeping sleeping disorder, I went to my doctor complaining of being chronically fatigued and having a lack of energy. Of all tests and questions I went through, how was I sleeping was never asked. Unfortunately, I never thought to bring up the subject, guess did not want to admit to doctors that I snored.

Undiagnosed, the sleep apnea effects grew worse as the ability to concentrate began to slowly diminish. Part of the problem is all the sleep apnea symptoms do not come all at once but slowly build up over time. The brain becomes starved for oxygen so you do not reach the deeper levels of sleep and that affects you in a negative way when awake.

The effects I experienced were at first I would fall asleep watching television, then doing tedious work at my desk. I would be adding up inventory numbers and doze off long enough to lose my place and have to start over. This began to happen so often that a 15-minute inventory report would take well over an hour.

Then the scary part came, as I began to fall asleep while driving. Not just during long trips but many times in short ten or fifteen minute trips. I had to be driven around and guess what I would do, fall asleep.

Things would have continued progressively worse as recent studies show. Mild sleep apnea means stopping breathing less than 15 times per hour of sleep, moderate means stopping breathing 15 to 29 times per hour, and severe means stopping breathing 30 or more times per hour. This stopping of breathing in as little as 11 minutes per night doubles the risk of death and this effect is cumulative, building up over decades. As well, the fact that the lack of oxygen supplied to the brain leads to Alzheimer's and dementia.

Fortunately, having met my wife. She noticed that while asleep I quit breathing and she became worried. She told our doctor her concerns and he set up an appointment with a sleep disorder specialist. I then spent the night at a sleep clinic, hooked up to a bunch of wires for my sleep test and sleep apnea diagnoses. Yes, I had severe sleep apnea.

Among the symptoms are snoring, fatigue, sleepiness in the daytime, headaches, swelling of the legs and nighttime heartburn. Some have nighttime sweating and chest pain. Often waking up startled, choking and gasping for air a because of the lack of oxygen and trying to maintain a normal breathing cycle, this pattern of irregular breathing continues once sleep has taken over again. This sleep and oxygen deprivation has long-term effects that can be very serious.

High Blood Pressure
As the body struggles for oxygen, its carbon dioxide level within the blood shoots up. Waking the sleeper momentarily so that he can start to breath properly again. The pattern repeats itself throughout the night and the heart has to work harder creating a rise in blood pressure. Left unchecked, the stress sleep apnea will place on the heart and the increased blood pressure can lead to serious heart disease, stroke or even heart failure. Often sleep apnea sufferers are not aware that they wake up and go back to sleep.

Obesity
Often people who struggle with sleep apnea have a tendency to be overweight. Studies have shown that many were overweight to begin with and that weight contributes to sleep apnea. It is also true, that sleep and oxygen deprivation slows down the metabolism and more effort is required to burn calories. In addition, people who feel sluggish tend to eat more and exercise less.

Depression
Sleep apnea affects the serotonin balance. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that relays messages from one area of the brain to another. Because of the widespread distribution of its cells, it influences a variety of psychological and other body functions. The brain cells influenced by serotonin includes those related to mood, sexual desire and function, appetite, sleep, memory, learning, temperature regulation, and some social behavior.

Performance
When your body and brain are tired from lack of sleep, daily routines become very difficult. Work, school and social relationships suffer because there is little energy to devote to them. The nervous system and the brain are fatigued causing delayed reactions, which leads to more injuries and accidents.

Death
In rare cases, sleep apnea can be fatal. This is caused by the stopping of breathing and not being able to wake up to catch a breath.

If you suspect that you or someone you know has sleep apnea, a doctor visit is necessary. Your doctor needs to refer you to a sleep clinic for a sleep test. Your long-term health and quality of life may be a stake. Sleep apnea develops over a number of years, and people are not aware of the increasing symptoms and believe they feel "normal". Only after treatment do they realize how much more alert and energetic "normal" feels!

Sleep Apnea Cause
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Beware Sleep Apnea May Lead To Serious Conditions

Study Sleep Apnea is a Snoring Disorder additional

Sleep Apnea Cause

A person who snores is often made fun of through jokes and may experience being jabbed frequently throughout the night. Many people believe snoring is just a little annoying thing to laugh about, but it is not always funny and can be a symptom of a specific medical condition. Loud snoring can be a sign of a disorder that can be life threatening. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that is hard to detect and can cause a person to stop breathing. Snoring is not always a sign of apnea and there are other symptoms that can help you determine if the condition exists. So before running to the doctor, monitor the person having this problem to see if further action needs to be taken.

Apnea is a condition caused by tissue blocking the air passage. Muscles keep the airway open throughout the day and then relax at night. After the muscles have relaxed, this tissue can get in the way. This causes a partial or full blockage of the passageway. A partial blockage will cause loud snoring, awakening gasping for air, and being extremely tired each morning. When the sufferer has a full blockage, they may completely stop breathing. In either case these occurrences happen many times an hour. The gasping episodes are the body trying to reestablish the right amount of air in the body. At any time breathing may not be restored and this is why recognizing this condition is so vitally important. By determining apnea is present, an appropriate sleep apnea treatment can be applied ensuring breathing is regular every night.

Even though sleep apnea and snoring are linked, it doesn't mean that every person that snores has apnea. People that are overweight, have other medical conditions, or have it in their family are more likely to deal with apnea. The more overweight you are, the more fatty tissue there is in the air passage and the less muscle tone you have. Staying at a healthy weight is one way to prevent apnea. Doing so can also eliminate minor snoring for some. When it is caused by other medical conditions, treating those conditions can be all that is necessary for the symptoms to go away. No matter what the cause is, diagnosis and a proper sleep apnea treatment is necessary for anyone with apnea to have a healthier life and better sleep.

Pay close attention to anyone who snores in your household. When they snore is it a light snore that seldom happens? If so, over the counter treatments or other natural methods could eliminate the issue. Are they waking up gasping and having trouble breathing? Is their snoring loud and pretty constant? These are the signs of a more serious issue. Take note of the nightly attacks and symptoms when they occur for your doctor to go over. Undetected apnea can affect a person's physical ability, mental health, and ultimately create more severe health problems. Make an appointment with a doctor to discuss sleep apnea and snoring. This will allow treatment to be applied before depression, heart issues, or other debilitating illnesses occur.

Snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea and when undetected can have an effect on a person's health and safety. The correct sleep apnea treatment alleviates the symptoms associated with apnea.

Sleep Apnea is a Snoring Disorder

Sleep Apnea Cause

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Sleep Apnea, a common sleep disorder can be treated using various methods, but it can become in some cases a life threatening illness if not treated properly and kept in check.

This brief article offers just some of the measures available to help cope with the condition, however detailed diagnostic skills are required from professionals to ensure the correct treatment is used.

Sleep Apnea treatments include complementary and alternative , as well as conventional and common sense treatments.

Complementary and Alternative Treatments

· Exercise and Weight Reduction- Since the physique of the person influences Sleep Apnea, any reduction in body weight will make a big difference particularly in obese people.

· Homeopathy- Homeopathy, Lachesis and Opium can be used for the treatment of Sleep Apnea. Lachesis is preferred for highly dynamic, extrovert and angry individuals. Opium is prescribed for person with emotional pain. Homeopathic physicians prescribe special diet control since Sleep Apnea is mostly related to loss of energy.

· Essence Treatment (flower treatment)- Flower remedy Vervain is usually preferred for people with strong sentiments for life. Vervain helps them to calm down and solve the daily life problems including Sleep Apnea. This type of treatment is given to people with Obstructive Sleep apnea.

· 5HTP- it is suggested that a decreased level of Seretonin affects the nerves which control breathing activity. Seretonin releases hormone cortisols, which controls the muscles for breathing. This natural maintenance of (5HTP) serotonin supply is another option for the treating sleep Apnea.

Conventional treatment of Sleep Apnea

Continuous Positive Air way Pressure (CPAP) - a Sleep Apnea Treatment which provides a continuous supply of air through the nose. The sufferer wears a mask when asleep with it being connected to a machine that pushes air into the nasal track thereby keeping the airways open during sleep.

Bi-Level Positive Air way Pressure (BPAP)- is a machine used for severe Sleep Apnea. The Bi-level machine applies pressure in two levels in which the person inhales pressure in a higher level and exhales at lower level.

Oral Appliances- are prescribed to open the air passage through mouth. This can cure mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Surgery- is sometimes the preferred option to correct physical abnormalities, to increase the size of air passage and to correct nasal disorders. There are different surgical methods- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, Somnoplasty, Laser Assisted palatoplasty, tracheostomy, Maxillo Facial Surgery.

Common Sense Treatment methods of Sleep Apnea

· Sleeping on your back should be avoided

· Raising your bed head for maintaining an elevated position

· Avoid alcohol as it depresses breathing activity

· Avoid sleeping pills

Though a complete cure of sleep Apnea is not currently possible , discussing with your doctor and taking appropriate treatment measures can help sufferers to lead a normal life.

Sleep Apnea

Toby Russell & his website: http://www.sleepapneainfoguide.com offers information, advice and news for sufferers of snoring, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

Treating Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea