Sleep Apnea Is A Commonly Seen and Potentially Dangerous Sleep Disorder

By: Donald Saunders
Submitted: 2007-11-10 23:55:37
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher |

Rating:

 

Sleep apnea is possibly the commonest sleep disorder and affects nearly eighteen million Americans. A sleep disorder that is characterized by interrupted breathing while sleeping, it is also undoubtedly the most dangerous of sleep disorders as it starves the brain of critical oxygen and can sometimes prove fatal.

There are two totally different types of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is essentially a neurological condition where breathing is interrupted because of signals sent out by the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea is essentially a mechanical problem where the windpipe is obstructed either by excessive tissue or by the abnormal relaxation or collapse of muscle tissue in and around the windpipe. In both cases however the results are essentially identical with recurrent interruptions to normal breathing which deprive the brain of oxygen and put sufferers at greater risk from things like high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

Unluckily, diagnosing sleep apnea can prove to be a problem as snoring, which is one of its commonest symptoms and frequently results in sleep apnea being known as the snoring disease, is also present as a symptom of various other medical problems. Snoring is normally seen with sleep apnea as the brain responds to a drop in oxygen by awakening the sufferer enough to restart the breathing process and this often causes snoring.

This repeated awakening through the night also results in a poor quality of sleep and it is fairly common for sufferers to get up in the morning feeling more tired than when they got into bed. This also results in feelings of sheer exhaustion during the day and a tremendous desire to sleep.

However, tiredness arising from a poor quality of sleep is just one part of the problem and a variety of other symptoms will also generally be seen including morning headaches, forgetfulness and a difficulty in maintaining concentration.

Left untreated the increasing exhaustion from sleep apnea may cause serious psychological difficulties beginning with simple tetchiness and moving on to depression with clear changes in both mood and behavior.

Both central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea can be treated and, provided the problem is diagnosed at an early stage, treatment can often be quite easy. For instance, a mild case of obstructive sleep apnea resulting from nasal congestion can commonly be treated with little more than decongestants. Likewise, many cases of sleep apnea which are not especially serious may be treated using a mask which is worn while sleeping and which provides air at a constant pressure in order to keep the airway open. Lastly, in the most serious cases of sleep apnea surgery may be required and can be very effective, though it can also lead to numerous complications and has to be considered carefully.

Possibly the most important thing to bear in mind when it comes to treating sleep apnea is that as it carries the potentially fatal risk of respiratory failure sufferers ought not to be tempted to use sleeping pills or to take other types of artificial sleep enhancers without the approval of a doctor.

Natural sleep remedies without question provide an effective complement to medically prescribed treatments and herbs which are intended to improve both the quality and duration of sleep may help in the management of the excessive daytime sleepiness often brought on by sleep apnea. Likewise, things like chromatherapy, aromatherapy and guided relaxation and meditation will help to combat the anxiety and insomnia which go together with sleep apnea.

Article source: Expert Articles