The Effects Of Sleep Apnea

Apnea means without breath, hence the name "sleep apnea" to describe a condition where the airway is blocked when sleeping

. There are multiple types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea being the most common. People suffering from sleep apnea stop breathing multiple times during sleep, sometimes the cessation being for a minute or even longer. The resulting sleep quality makes them tired and groggy throughout the day. Sleep apnea is usually chronic and disturbs sleep three or more nights per week, making it one of the most common causes of ongoing daytime grogginess.

The National Institutes of Health states that sleep apnea affects millions of people worldwide. Primary risk factors are being male, overweight, and over age forty, but the condition can be present in anyone of any age or sex, even adolescents. Most people with sleep apnea, in spite of the seriousness and potential consequences of the condition, remain undiagnosed and untreated.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of apnea treated. In this condition, the airway collapses and is blocked during sleep. When the person with obstructive apnea tries to breathe, the very small amount of air squeezing past the blockage causes loud snoring. This is one reason it is important for people who are overweight with this condition to lose weight, because the weight exacerbates the already serious blockage. People with obstructive sleep apnea move alternately from deep to light sleep when breathing stops or becomes shallow. These pauses in breathing can last for over a minute and up to twenty times in an hour. Hence the health implications of this condition, over the long haul, are enormous.

Diagnosing sleep apnea usually starts with a family doctor, and if determined through a set of standard tests to be likely, the patient is then referred to a sleep specialist for further diagnosis and finally treatment. The exams to determine sleep apnea in a patient are detailed and tedious to the patient. Many people do not complete the diagnostic process, but those who do and get treatment generally experience significantly improved sleep and hence an improved quality of life.

Sleep apnea is a serious and potentially deadly condition that if gone untreated can result in numerous other conditions and endless grogginess during the day. It is a leading cause in auto accidents where people report falling asleep at the wheel and other sleep deprivation caused accidents. If you find yourself with the symptoms of sleep apnea, it may be a tedious process to get to the treatment. But nearly without exception, people who go through the process seldom report being sorry they did, considering that they can sleep better and that their quality of life is greatly improved.

by: M N Rogers

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