Sleep Apnea: A Common Disorder

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:

•Brief episodes of increased airway resistance and breathing pauses occur many times throughout the night
•You may experience many brief drops in the oxygen levels in your blood
•Poor 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:

•Loud snoring
•Choking or gasping during sleep
•Fighting sleepiness during the day (even at work or while driving)
•Morning headaches
•Memory or learning problems
•Feeling irritable
•Not being able to concentrate on your work
•Mood swings or personality changes
•Feelings of depression
•Dry throat upon awakening
•Frequent 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:

•Avoid alcohol, smoking and or medicines that can make you sleepy.
•Lose weight if you are overweight
•Try 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:

•Dry or stuffy nose
•Irritation of the skin on your face
•Bloating of your stomach
•Sore eyes
•Headaches

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:

•Use a nasal spray to relieve a dry, stuffy, or runny nose
•Adjust the CPAP settings
•Adjust the size/fit of the mask
•Add moisture to the air as it flows through the mask
•Use a CPAP machine that can automatically adjust the amount of air pressure to the level that is required to keep the airway open
•Use 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:

•Mouthpiece (oral appliance) for people with mild sleep apnea
•Surgery: The type of surgery depends upon the cause of the sleep apnea.

Types of surgery include:

•Surgery to remove tonsils and adenoids if they block the airway, this is especially helpful for children
•Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
•Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty
•Tracheostomy
•Rebuilding the lower jaw
•Surgery on the nose
•Surgery 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.