subject: Some Serious Consequences Of Sleep Apnea [print this page] Sleep apnea is a very common sleep disorder that not only causes disturbance to the patient but also disturbs the sleep of the one sleeping by his side. People suffering from this medical condition experience periodic pauses in breath while they are sleeping. These pauses can extend up to as long as a few minutes. This causes disruption in normal breathing patterns and noise that disturbs the sleep of the person sleeping besides the patient.
Common symptoms of sleep apnea are snoring, dry mouth, headache, tiredness and drowsiness during the day time. Sometimes the patient himself is not able to recognize this sleep disorder while the person sleeping besides him notices the frequent disruptions in his sleep. As the disease causes nasal blockage, the person tends to breathe through his mouth which results in dry mouth. Due to insufficient night sleep, the person feels tired and lethargic during the day time. Such a problem should not be ignored as it is a serious medical condition which needs to be treated. Have a look at the side effects of this problem.
Worst consequences of sleep apnea
According to a recent study, people suffering from this medical condition are three times more susceptible to encounter motor vehicle accidents than others.
If left untreated, sleep apnea increases the risk of heart attack and strokes up to six times.
Health experts have also stated that sleep disorders also result in a considerable decrease in the life span of a person.
During sleeping, regulation of blood sugar level takes place in the body. Disturbances during sleeping may affect blood sugar regulation taking place inside the body which increases the risk of developing diabetes type 2.
Now you must have got an idea why it is imperative to get your snoring problem treated. The most commonly suggested treatment for this disease is the use of nose or face masks which are called CPAP masks. These masks are specifically designed to pump air through the nasal or the mouth to aid proper breathing while a person is sleeping. It is a very effective way for avoiding sleep disruptions due to improper breathing. These devices come in different types so that the one the person can opt for the one which he feels most comfortable with.
CPAP masks are made by soft plastic and silicon and are molded as per the patients face contours to give utmost comfort to him while sleeping. These are selected depending upon various other factors like a persons breathing pattern and the severity of the problem. Masks made from gel are recommended for the person who has allergies from plastic. Some people also suffer from various other side effects of using these masks such as nasal blockage due to the formation of mucus, dryness in mouth and discomfort as they are not habitual of using the device. Most of these issues arise due to improper use of CPAP masks so it is very important to know the correct way of using them.
