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Trouble Sleeping?- Maybe You Two Should Sleep in Separate Beds!

I am not kidding here—a new study came out suggesting that couples who have trouble sleeping and who sleep in the same bed may get better sleep if they sleep in separate beds. Apparently around 25 percent of U.S. couples sleep in different beds or rooms, according to the National Sleep Foundation. This is no [...]

Night Shift Workers–Health Risks of Poor Sleep

It’s estimated that at least 20% of the workforce in the USA and in Europe work the so-called graveyard shift, either as their primary shift, or at least more than half of the time—that includes yours truly. A new study has confirmed what was suspected by many—that night shift workers face significant health risks, and [...]

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Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

March 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea – Why it is not just excessive snoring that you should watch out for?

The many and confusing symptoms of Sleep Apnea arguably make the affliction one of the most dangerous and poorly treated of all the sleep disorders. Because of the way Sleep Apnea manifests itself, both at night and during the day, the condition is not straight forward and doctors and patients can have a difficult time isolating the condition and managing it. If you are worried about your own potential sleeping problems, here is guide of what to expect when looking for signs of Sleep Apnea.

The most common of the potential symptoms is the excessive snoring, although not all patients display this behavior. Because snoring is such a common occurrence, it would be easy to dismiss this sign because it does not seem out of the ordinary. Snores emitted by people with the disorder are not that much different from normal, just perhaps a bit more forceful. Where snoring and Sleep Apnea differ is in the rhythm and breathing. If the sufferer experiences periods without breath during their sleep or grunts and snorts between snores than there may be a more serious problem. These grunts and snorts are a sign that the airway is being obstructed so that the individual cannot breathe normally. Additionally people with Sleep Apnea may find themselves getting up more often in the middle of the night to urinate.

Following on from the initial night-time problems and the awkward pattern of snores and breathlessness, there are some signs to watch out for during the day. The effect of this sleeping pattern can mean that many suffering from the disorder feel fatigued during the day, as though their sleep was not refreshing enough. On top of this, they can also find themselves struggling with their basic cognitive functions. Patients will find themselves more easily confused, dizzy and prone to mood swings. They can find this presents itself in a number of ways including a loss of libido, difficulty driving and memory loss. Sufferers also have a greater chance of waking up with a dry throat and significant pain. Heartburn, chest pain and swollen legs and headaches are all negative consequences of Sleep Apnea. The latter is a sign reported by at least 50% of people with the affliction.

These day-time signs are all common symptoms of Sleep Apnea but they can pose a problem in identifying the problem. The symptoms with the greatest negative effect tend to be the depression, irritability and others that closely mirror those of Insomnia, as a result patients recall these to their doctor and are often misdiagnosed with Insomnia or Depression because the breathing issue is not dealt with. For this reason, the best way to be diagnosed could well be with the testimony of a partner that can vouch for the breathing patterns. This level of patients being wrongly diagnosed is even higher in women, with one study showing more than 90% of female patients had undiagnosed Sleep Apnea. This occurs because men are seen as more likely to develop the problem and women tend to suffer the insomnia like symptoms and irritability more.

While the condition is seen as an adult sleeping disorder, there are cases of children having Sleep Apnea too. There are even behaviors exhibited by children that could be symptoms of Sleep Apnea and include hyperactivity, irritability, bed wetting and mouth breathing. If a child does show these signs it could be a clue that they have developed, or are likely to develop, Sleep Apnea.

In summary, the signs of Sleep Apnea – when you know where to look – are clear to see and numerous, whether it is through snoring, obstruction in breathing, headaches, fatigue or any of the other side-effects. The problem is that the best indicator of the condition can only be observed when the patient is asleep so misdiagnosis is common and patients can wrongly assume they have Insomnia or Depression. If you recognize these signs in your partner’s sleeping behaviour persuade them to tell a doctor, or if you are worried you are displaying the day-time symptoms yourself, ask your partner to monitor your breathing while you sleep. If you know the symptoms of Sleep Apnea to watch out for, the easier it can be to get a formal opinion and the necessary help.

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Main Types Of Sleep Apnea Surgery

March 1, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Sleep Apnea Surgery

Though sleep apnea surgery is the last treatment option that doctors resort to, at times it is necessary and essential to cure the disorder. Sleep apnea surgery is mostly done to treat obstructive sleep apnea, as this type of apnea relates to a physical problem that a surgery can treat effectively.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs due to upper airway obstruction while one is sleeping, hence if other options such as the continuous positive airway pressure machine isn’t helping, sleep apnea surgery can be used to remove the soft tissues at the back of throat that collapse while one is asleep, and as a result increase the airway passage; or by expanding the jaw structure in a manner that it no loner restricts the breathing process.

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Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

February 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options - CPAP

Sleep apnea can often result in high levels of irritation, head aches and continuously prevent from you getting complete sleep at night, therefore to avoid seriously affecting your health it is important to search for and explore sleep apnea treatment options and find one to suit you.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

 

Sleep apnea is a clinical condition and has very little to do with the functioning of the body, instead of having to have multiple medicines, most sleep apnea treatment options can be applied at home to be carried out on a regular basis. As there are various sleep apnea treatment options available, your doctor will always advise you on one that will be most effective in your case and that solution is highly recommended on a basis of priority as sleep apnea treatment options depend mostly on the severity and the exhibited symptoms.

Before looking into more complicated procedures such as surgery or the usage of a device, doctors try and prescribe as simple a method as possible. An easy sleep apnea treatment option is using a sleep apnea pillow. This is mostly carried out for people with relatively milder cases, where one may want to consider these special pillows, which are effective and affordable. These pillows focus on keeping the neck and spine in proper alignment for the air passage to be open and accessible. Using these pillows, if prescribed, is the easiest sleep apnea treatment option that is available.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options - CPAP

Sleep Apnea Treatment Option

Another sleep apnea treatment option, for slightly more serious cases is the use of mouth guards such as the Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD). These guards fit into your mouth easily, holding the bottom jaw open in a relaxed position, while also pushing the tongue away, keeping the airway open as much as possible, allowing unobstructed breathing. Another device that is used as a sleep apnea treatment option, but for more severe cases, is the application of continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) device. In this case there is a fan that blows in air through tubes into your mouth through a mask you will be wearing, the pressure keeping your air passage constantly unobstructed. Further variations on mask therapy include automatic positive airway pressure (APAP) and variable positive airway pressure (VPAP), both of which are different forms of CPAP but not nearly as effective. Though patients are naturally resistant at first with the idea of sleeping with a mask on, most eventually agree upon the fact that their effects on sleep is worth the uncomfortable efforts made.

Lastly the most serious and extensive among sleep apnea treatment options is surgery. This treatment method is carried out only as a last resort, when all other sleep apnea solutions have failed to perform effectively, or if the case is too serious right from the beginning of the treatment, only then do doctors agree to a surgical procedure to cure the problem. Most people look to avoid surgery and find that it is too big a procedure for snoring and interrupted sleep, however, one must keep in mind that doctors prescribe a surgery only when it is most needed and no other sleep apnea treatment solution is appropriate enough. Not curing apnea of such severity can lead to various other health problems and even cause high blood pressure and strokes.

Having considered the nature of your sleep apnea and it’s severity, it shouldn’t be to hard to choose from any of the aboved mentioned sleep apnea treatment options.

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What Causes Sleep Apnea?

December 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Sleep Apnea Causes in Adults
Sleep Apnea Causes in Adults

WARNING: Sleep apnea causes are important to recognize early.

Sleep apnea is a condition which affects the way one breathes when you’re sleeping, and it’s important to know sleep apnea causes to prevent it from worsening. It is the reduction (by 25%) or the pause of air flow while you breathe during sleep. These pauses usually last for about 10-20 seconds and occur repeatedly through the night. When apnea occurs, it usually disrupts sleep and prevents you from getting good sleep due to the reduced amount of oxygen in your blood. Once sleep apnea causes are correctly  diagnosed it is much easier to treat and deal with.

A serious cause of sleep apnea can often lead to high blood pressure, stroke, insomnia and mood swings. Sleep apnea often goes unrecognised and hence remains untreated, posing a threat to your health. Therefore to be able to treat it well, it is important to learn the sleep apnea causes.

There are generally 3 types of sleep apnea, each with differing symptoms, sleep apnea causes and results.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Causes

This is the most common type of sleep apnea, this occurs when the muscles on the back of your throat are trying to breathe but are unable to due obstruction of the airway, preventing proper air flow and thereby as a result of dropping oxygen levels you wake up to draw a sharp breathe. The main obstructive sleep apnea cause is when the airway in an individual is narrower than normal, when you lie flat the throat muscles relax and fall back obstructing the airway. People with obstructive sleep apnea mostly don’t remember the interruptions and in fact believe they slept well all night.

Central Sleep Apnea Causes

This second type is when the brain fails to instruct the muscles at the back of the throat to breathe and hence no action to take a breath is taken. This form is most rare and people with central sleep apnea rarely ever snore. This type of sleep apnea is usually seen in infants or adults with heart or cerebrovascular disease, it can however also be caused by medicines and high altitude. In infants or adults with the afore mentioned diseases, when there is a long term increase of carbon dioxide in the blood, the brain ignores the oxygen level and monitors only the blood carbon dioxide level, thereby determining the next breath. In doing this the control of breathing slows, the body is trying to exhale more than inhale and the rate of breathing hence decreases. Judging by the central sleep apnea causes, it can be diagnosed with a sleep study or through a overnight monitor.

Combination/Mixed Sleep Apnea Causes

Combination/Mixed Sleep Apnea is caused by combination of Obstructive Sleep Apnea causes and Central Sleep Apnea causes. When both occur alternatively or even sparsely in the same night it is called combination sleep apnea. This kind of sleep apnea occurs when there is an obstruction in the upper airway, similar to the obstructive sleep apnea cause. In addition there is also a problem with the rhythm of breathing in and out and the lapse of effort breathing from time to time.

Having studied sleep apnea causes and diagnosed the type, it is much easier to treat and deal with.

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What is Sleep Apnea?

July 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

What is sleep apnea–this is a common question that is on the minds of most people these days, especially those who are with someone who snores too loud or those who consider themselves as snorers themselves. It is actually quite normal for you to think that snoring is a common thing which doesn’t pose any serious health risk at all aside from disrupting the sleep of anyone sleeping with you at the moment. However, you might want to re-think this, since sleep apnea does indeed pose a threat to you in the long run. If you want to find out more on what is sleep apnea, just read on.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Truth be told, it is quite difficult for you to diagnose whether you have sleep apnea or not especially on your own. However, when it comes to finding the answer to what is sleep apnea, there are certain symptoms of sleep apnea that you might exhibit during the day that may help you determine whether you are suffering from this disorder or not so you can get to have yourself checked by your doctor. Among the major signs of sleep apnea include long pauses in breathing, chronic and loud snoring, gasping, snorting and even choking in sleep as well as sleepiness during the day time regardless of how long you sleep at night.

The answer to the question what is sleep apnea also deals with its symptoms which are mentioned above. Other possible symptoms of sleep apnea include morning headaches, feeling out of breath when awake, lack of focus and concentration, fitful or restless sleep as well as insomnia among others. If you are going to ask what is sleep apnea these symptoms are most likely to crop up during your search. These are important information that you need to keep in mind to determine on your own the answer to your question on what is sleep apnea. For sure, you will be finding all there is to know to give you a satisfactory answer to your question what is sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Most online sites on what is sleep apnea also tackle the possible treatments for this problem. When it comes to sleep apnea treatment, you can choose between home remedies and prescribed treatment by your doctor. When it comes to home remedies to treat this, losing weight as well as changing your bad habits will go a long way to alleviating this problem. During your search for the answer on what is sleep apnea, most home remedies that are suggested are often effective that is why if you want to say good bye to sleep apnea and its symptoms follow these tips today.

If you have asked what is sleep apnea then you would know that elevating your head during sleep can help alleviate sleep apnea. Try sleeping on your side as well if you wish to open up your airway passage. It is also ideal for you make use of the tennis ball technique to keep from rolling back when you are sleeping. These are but a few things that you will come up with during your search for the answer to your question what is sleep apnea. For sure, when you get to read up on this sleep apnea article, you will find the best possible treatment there is for you to use.

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