Types of Sleep Apnea
Snoring is a very common condition. While mostly harmless, it can signify a more serious sleep disorder: sleep apnea. Literally meaning "without breath," sleep apnea occurs when the respiratory tract is blocked. Symptoms include strange snoring sounds, gasping for breath during sleep, moments when breathing ceases during sleep, waking up fatigued and with a dry mouth. People suffering from sleep apnea may also experience high blood pressure, insomnia and heartburn. Disturbed sleep leads to unproductive waking hours and fatigue during the day. But more seriously, sleep apnea can lead to other problems, and possibly death, because of erratic breathing patterns.
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea
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The most common type of sleep apnea, this is caused by an obstruction in the air passage. The muscles in the soft palate and uvula can be so relaxed during sleep that they block air passage. Aside from people with deformities in their respiratory tract, obstructive sleep apnea is also common among the overweight.
Central Sleep Apnea
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While obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a physical disorder, central sleep apnea involves a problem with the central nervous system. In this type of sleep apnea, the brain sends mixed signals to the respiratory system during sleep. This disturbs the breathing process and lowers oxygen levels. To compensate, the person gasps for air and wakes up temporarily. Central sleep apnea is often common among those who have a damaged brain stem. This is caused either by severe injury or sickness.
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Mixed Sleep Apnea
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This is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea. Often, it begins as a central sleep apnea then eventually involving physical obstructions to the air passage. In many cases, treating the obstructive element helps address the central nervous aspect of the apnea.
Prevention/Solution
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Solving sleep apnea ranges from simple lifestyle adjustments to surgery. It generally depends on the type and cause. Those with obstructive sleep apnea may find immediate relief by sleeping on their side or finding a position that creates the least blockage. Overweight people are also advised to shed excess pounds. Because smoking causes swelling in the air passage it is highly discouraged. .Alcohol and sleeping pills should also be avoided.
Various sleep aid apparatus are widely available. A number of breathing devices deliver constant air pressure through a mask, helping clear up the nasal passage during sleep. Other tools help keep the tongue in place and keeping it from blocking air. Surgery can also be performed, which often involves repairing deformities in the air passage while drugs can be prescribed to those with hyperthyroidism, which sometimes causes sleep apnea.
Considerations
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Sleep apnea is found to be higher among men than women. Also at risk are obese people. Sleep apnea also tends to run in families. Untreated, sleep apnea can develop into more serious health problems, such as stroke, heart conditions and hypertension. If home remedies do not work, it is best to seek medical advice (usually a sleep specialist) to determine the cause and treatment for sleep apnea. Your partner or family member can also help you describe the symptoms. Medical diagnosis may involve undergoing a polysomnogram or PSG, at a sleep clinic. This test monitors different body functions while the patient sleeps to determine the cause of apnea.
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