Sleep Apnea Represents A Commonly Seen and Potentially Dangerous Sleep Disorder

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Sleep apnea is one of the most commonly seen sleep disorder and affects almost 18 million Americans. A sleeping disorder which is characterized by broken breathing during sleep, sleep apnea is also indisputably the most dangerous of sleeping disorders because it deprives the brain of vital oxygen and can occasionally prove to be fatal.

There are two quite different forms of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is in effect a neurological condition in which the breathing is broken because of signals sent from the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea by contrast is in effect a mechanical problem in which the windpipe is obstructed either by excessive tissue or by the abnormal collapse or relaxation of muscle tissue around the windpipe. In either case however the results are effectively the same with regular interruptions to the breathing that deprive the brain of oxygen and put the sufferer at heightened risk from things like high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack.

Unfortunately, diagnosing sleep apnea is not always easy because snoring, which is one of its commonest symptoms and frequently leads to sleep apnea being referred to as the snoring disease, is also often seen as a symptom of several other medical conditions. Snoring is often present with sleep apnea because the brain responds to a drop in oxygen by awakening the sufferer sufficiently to restart the breathing process and this often produces snoring.

This recurrent awakening throughout the night also produces a poor overall quality of sleep and it is not at all uncommon for sleep apnea sufferers to wake up in the morning feeling more tired than when they got into bed. This also results in feelings of sheer exhaustion during the course of the day and a great desire to sleep.

But, tiredness arising from poor quality sleep is merely part of the problem and various other symptoms will normally be present including headaches in the morning, a lack of memory and a difficulty in concentrating.

Left untreated the accumulating exhaustion from sleep apnea may cause severe psychological difficulties beginning with touchiness and moving on to depression with obvious changes in behavior and mood.

Both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea can be treated and, provided the problem is caught at an early stage, this treatment is often relatively easy. For example, a mild case of obstructive sleep apnea arising out of nasal congestion can usually be treated with nothing more than a course of decongestants. Similarly, a lot of cases of sleep apnea that are not especially serious may be treated with the use of a mask that is worn during sleep and that delivers air at a constant pressure in order to keep the airway open. Finally, in the most serious cases surgery may be needed and can be extremely effective, although it can also produce numerous complications and must be approached carefully.

Probably the most important thing to bear in mind when treating sleep apnea is that as it carries the potential risk of respiratory failure sufferers ought not to be tempted to take sleeping pills or to take other forms of sleep enhancers without the approval of a doctor.

Natural sleep remedies can certainly complement prescribed treatments and herbs that are designed to improve the quality and duration of sleep may well assist in managing the excessive daytime sleepiness frequently brought on by sleep apnea. Also, things like aromatherapy, chromatherapy and meditation and guided relaxation can help in reducing the insomnia and anxiety that accompany sleep apnea.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Help-Me-To-Sleep.com looks in detail at sleep apnea symptoms and also at sleep apnea in children

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