Health and Medical News

Sleep Apnea is pause of breath during sleep. One or more breath is lost in this cessation, and it occurs through out the sleep. The reason is decreased level of oxygen in blood and can be caused thanks to obstruction in passage of air, thanks to a tonsil or the size of the tongue, the jaw structure, or even thanks to the relaxing of muscles in the way of air. The block obstructing passage of air could be in the nasal cavity as well. The sleeper is commonly unaware of this obstruction of sleep, and the bed partner is the one who notices it first. The individual has concern breathing, and will feel sleepy and tired during daytime. The pause during sleep must of at least 10 seconds to be considered apnea.

Snoring, headache, petulance or even depression, increase in blood pressure and weight, decrease in libido and concentration, are among the many features of this ailment. Lack of peaceful sleep and frequent chocking will cause insomnia, nocturnal urination, etc. and will result in mood swings and lead to a life of total chaos. The disease if left undiagnosed can turn dangerous and can cause heart problems and high blood pressure resulting in strokes or heart attacks. Daytime lethargy can cause dangers like accidents, and work and relationship related problems. Impotence is yet another side effect.

A polysomnogram monitors the individual overnight and determines if he is suffering from sleep apnea. The test is painless, where the machine studies the breathing pattern, level of oxygen in blood and even the brain waves, and checks for any kind of chocking and gasping, or snoring. Sleep apnea is a condition that aggravates with age, and consequently treatment is very valuable. The treatment is easier if the sleep apnea is mild, and cure can be as easy as changing sleeping posture losing some weight or avoiding alcohol or smoking. Devices are also used to right the position of jaw, tongue, soft palate etc. which could be obstructing the sleep. A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine is used to blow air into the nose and prevent any kind of cessation, and is used in case of people suffering from serious sleep apnea. There are also many surgeries performed in the mouth, tongue and jaw to solve problems that cause the disease.

There are 3 kinds of sleep apnea namely obstructive which is customary variety, central and complex. Complex sleep apnea is the most dangerous as it is the condition resulting from the first 2 kinds combined together. Central sleep apnea is the condition where the neurological control over the respiratory system does not work properly, thanks to the absence of proper signals through nerves. Apnea on a central basis occurs in people who use central respiratory depressants, like alcohol and other tranquilizers like barbiturates. Using central respiratory depressants by those who already suffer from sleep apnea can cause life-threatening consequences. Babies born prematurely also suffer from central sleep apnea.

Individuals suffering from this ailment must be careful about the anesthesia given during surgeries; also surgeries of the oral cavity can cause swellings and cause cessations during sleep. Even the surgeries meant to clear the passage of air can cause some inflammations and disturbance instantly after, making it hard for the patients. Though snoring is a feature of sleep apnea, snoring always need not mean sleep apnea. One who suffers stops snoring, and breathing for a short while and resumed snoring with a gasp, and it can consider as an plain sign of disease.

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