Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea Resource

Health
Weight Loss and Sleep Apnea
Weight Gain and Sleep Apnea

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Sleep Apnea in Kids

Sleep apnea occurs when a person's breathing is either shallow or stops while you are sleeping. The pauses can range from a few seconds to minutes. The word Apnea actually means "without breath". When normal breathing resumes, it is usually accompanied by a snort or chocking sound. If you sleep with someone else in your bed, pay attention as those plagued with the disorder are usually unaware.

For most the condition is chronic and occurs most nights of the week. Deep sleep is interrupted leading to fatigue the next day. Although the person may think they got a complete 8 hours of sleep, due to the disruption in the deep sleep stage, quality rest is not achieved.

Sleep apnea is categorized as Obstructive, Central, or mixed. Obstructive Apnea (OSA) is the most common and usually accompanied with snoring. OSA occurs most in the overweight. The airways are blocked when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep.

Central Apnea occurs when the brain fails to send a message to the muscles to breath, but the airways are not blocked.

Mixed Apnea is exactly what is sounds like, a combination of the two. The brain will awake the person to resume breathing interrupting quality sleep.

Sleep apnea is very common, in fact it is as common as adult diabetes and affects over twelve million Americans. If you are overweight, past 40 years of age, and a male, your risks are higher, however it can happen to anyone. The condition is more often undiagnosed as the sleeper is typically unaware of the condition, other than the fact that they are tired during the day.

If left untreated, the disorder can lead to high blood pressure heart attack, stroke, diabetes, headaches, weight gain, low productivity, and memory problems. Heart failure risks increase or worsen. Incidents of on job accidents and falling asleep at the wheel also increase.

There are several treatment options and the condition is usually easily treated once diagnosed. Lifestyle changes, mouth pieces, breathing devices, or in severe cases surgery are able to treat sleep apnea.