Sleep apnea is a medical condition that is associated with serious side effects. It causes an individual to experience interrupted breathing throughout the night. In many cases, the patient stops breathing on a continuous basis until he or she awakens for the day. Experts at sleep apnea centers have found that certain individuals unknowingly stop breathing as many as 200 times a night. Fortunately, the condition is treatable.
There are two types of the condition, which are called obstructive or central. The former is the most common form of the disorder, but serious side effects are associated with both. Complete or partial airway blockage results in obstructive apnea, and one often gasps or jerks awake when normal breathing resumes. There are various causes for the obstructive form of the condition, which include a deviated septum, obesity, cardiac disease, allergies, pulmonary disorders, asthma, and sleeping in an improper position.
With the central form of the condition, the obstruction is not in the person's upper respiratory tract, but rather this type is caused by the brain's failure to signal the appropriate muscles to complete a full respiration. This results in instability in the respiratory system. It is considered a disorder of one's nervous system, although the reason it occurs is not yet known.
Interestingly, statistics show that there are more male patients in this category than there are females. One in every ten women are afflicted with the disorder, while as many as one in four males suffer from the condition. Scientists have not yet determined why this is the case. The condition is especially common in obese persons, and does not typically manifest until one is over the age of forty.
Symptoms are often noticed by family members before the patient himself or herself discovers that a problem exists. For example, one of the most commonly experienced side effects is excessive snoring. Couples sometimes report that the partner who has the disorder frequently jolts awake at regular intervals during the night, even though the patient does not realize he or she is doing so.
Patients may enjoy a good night sleep by using certain medical devices. These include equipment such as BPAP masks that are designed to prevent the person's airway from becoming obstructed while he or she is asleep. However, prior to treating the condition with such devices, medical evaluation is important.
In some instances, the soft palate can be trimmed or other procedures can be completed to decrease the individual's symptoms. Whether or not these procedures are an option will depend on the person's overall health and the type of the condition from which he or she suffers. Simpler treatments include sleeping in a position that promotes good breathing and losing excess weight.
Heart arrhythmias and lack of oxygen to vital organs are 2 detrimental side effects associated with this sleeping disorder. Therefore, it is wise for patients to pursue help at sleep apnea centers where experts can evaluate their situation. Those who suspect they have the aforementioned condition should schedule a consultation with a medical doctor as soon as possible.
There are two types of the condition, which are called obstructive or central. The former is the most common form of the disorder, but serious side effects are associated with both. Complete or partial airway blockage results in obstructive apnea, and one often gasps or jerks awake when normal breathing resumes. There are various causes for the obstructive form of the condition, which include a deviated septum, obesity, cardiac disease, allergies, pulmonary disorders, asthma, and sleeping in an improper position.
With the central form of the condition, the obstruction is not in the person's upper respiratory tract, but rather this type is caused by the brain's failure to signal the appropriate muscles to complete a full respiration. This results in instability in the respiratory system. It is considered a disorder of one's nervous system, although the reason it occurs is not yet known.
Interestingly, statistics show that there are more male patients in this category than there are females. One in every ten women are afflicted with the disorder, while as many as one in four males suffer from the condition. Scientists have not yet determined why this is the case. The condition is especially common in obese persons, and does not typically manifest until one is over the age of forty.
Symptoms are often noticed by family members before the patient himself or herself discovers that a problem exists. For example, one of the most commonly experienced side effects is excessive snoring. Couples sometimes report that the partner who has the disorder frequently jolts awake at regular intervals during the night, even though the patient does not realize he or she is doing so.
Patients may enjoy a good night sleep by using certain medical devices. These include equipment such as BPAP masks that are designed to prevent the person's airway from becoming obstructed while he or she is asleep. However, prior to treating the condition with such devices, medical evaluation is important.
In some instances, the soft palate can be trimmed or other procedures can be completed to decrease the individual's symptoms. Whether or not these procedures are an option will depend on the person's overall health and the type of the condition from which he or she suffers. Simpler treatments include sleeping in a position that promotes good breathing and losing excess weight.
Heart arrhythmias and lack of oxygen to vital organs are 2 detrimental side effects associated with this sleeping disorder. Therefore, it is wise for patients to pursue help at sleep apnea centers where experts can evaluate their situation. Those who suspect they have the aforementioned condition should schedule a consultation with a medical doctor as soon as possible.
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