Sleep Apnea - The Three Types And What They Are

Sleep apnea is a fairly common, but serious, medical condition

. It is characterized by periods during the sleep cycle when a person's breathing is briefly interrupted. These periods can last anywhere from ten to twenty seconds, or more, and can occur upwards of twenty or thirty times an hour. Sufferers often experience daytime sleepiness and are at risk for other health conditions such as strokes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

There are three types: Obstructive, also known of as OSA, Central or CSA, and Complex or Mixed Sleep Apnea.

OSA occurs when the muscles of the soft palate and the uvula relax and sag. The airway then becomes blocked, causing it to collapse. The body then makes an effort to breathe, but is unable to. As a result, blood oxygen levels drop. As the oxygen levels drop, the brain sends a signal to the body telling it to wake up and breathe.

People suffering from OSA often have an airway that is narrower than normal at the base of the tongue and palate and/or have low muscle tone and soft tissue around the airway. Becoming overweight, drinking alcohol, taking tranquillizers, anti-histamines, or sleeping pills can worsen the condition. OSA is the most common type of apnea. While not all people who snore suffer from OSA, snoring is one of it's symptoms.

The causes of CSA are completely different than those of OSA. Unlike OSA, which is physical in origin, CSA is a type of neurological disorder in which the brain sends the respiratory system delayed or confused signals.

The problem is the result of the way that the body's breathing is being monitored. In CSA, the brain begins to ignore the oxygen levels in the blood. Instead, it starts to measure the carbon dioxide levels, using them to determine when the next breath should be drawn. Breathing becomes faster or slower in response to changes in the blood's level of carbon dioxide. More breaths and deeper breathing reduces the level, while slower breathing allows it to increase.

As carbon dioxide levels increase, the brain sends the message for breathing to pick up speed. This results in the amount of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream decreasing. However the brain reacts too slowly to the drop, and continues to send out the signal for faster breathing. This causes the levels to drop too low. It then has to send another message telling the body to slow its breathing down. Breathing then slows or stops, until the carbon dioxide levels begin to climb again. The resulting pattern of abnormal breathing is called "Cheyne-Stokes" breathing. This form of apnea is most commonly seen in people over sixty years old.

The third type of apnea is, as the name implies, a combination of the other two types. In complex or mixed sleep apnea, the sufferer experiences periods of OSA interspersed with periods of CSA. Studies have proven that when the OSA in this type of apnea has been treated, the incidences of CSA will automatically decrease or disappear.

Sleep apnea should not be ignored. It can seriously affect a person's health and their life in general. Treatment options are available. CPAP therapy is quite often effectively used in treating the condition. Oral Appliance Therapy, which uses a dental device to help keep the airway open, and surgery can also help to treat OSA. Anyone who believes that they may be suffering from the condition should speak with their doctor about it.

by: John Horn

POST COMMENT

Women What you think about your body Could This Natural Supplement Cure Your Insomnia? Vitamin D is Critical for Immune Health Herbal Supplements - A Perspective Signs & Symptoms Of A Kidney Infection Strength Training Workouts For Amateur Body Builder Politeness – A Key To Healthy Mind Being Aware Of The Top Menopause Symptoms and How To Relieve Them Yoga, A Healthy Reason For You To Book Tickets To India Lifestyle Analysis Gold Coast Can Determine Your Overall Health! How To Cure Angular Cheilitis Naturally In Only Hours 5 ways to get your baby to go to sleep and stay asleep longer 5 ways to get your baby to go to sleep and stay asleep longer Part 2