Sleep Apnea Is Both A Commonly Seen and Potentially Dangerous Sleep Disorder

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Sleep Apnea Is Both A Commonly Seen and Potentially Dangerous Sleep Disorder

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Sleep apnea is perhaps the commonest sleep disorder and affects in the region of 18 million Americans. A sleeping disorder that is characterized by broken breathing while sleeping, it is also without doubt the most dangerous of sleep disorders as it deprives the brain of crucial oxygen and sometimes proves fatal.

There are two very separate types of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is in essence a neurological condition where breathing is broken as a result of signals sent from the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea by contrast is in effect a mechanical problem where the windpipe is blocked either by excessive tissue or as a result of the unusual collapse or relaxation of the muscles around the windpipe. In either case however the results are effectively identical with frequent interruptions to normal breathing which deprive the brain of oxygen and place the sufferer at greater risk from such things as hypertension, heart attack and stroke.

Regrettably, diagnosing sleep apnea can prove a problem because snoring, which is one of its commonest symptoms and often leads to sleep apnea being called the snoring disease, is also present as a symptom of numerous other medical conditions. Snoring is frequently present in cases of sleep apnea as the brain responds to a lack of oxygen by waking the sufferer enough to restart breathing and this usually produces snoring.

This repeated awakening through the night also results in a poor overall quality of sleep and it is quite common for sufferers to wake up in the morning feeling even more tired than when they got into bed. This also produces a feeling of exhaustion during the day and an overpowering need to sleep.

But, tiredness resulting from a poor quality of sleep is only part of the picture and various other symptoms will normally be seen including morning headaches, forgetfulness and a difficulty in maintaining concentration.

Without treatment the accumulating tiredness resulting from sleep apnea can cause serious psychological problems starting with simple touchiness and moving on to depression with noticeable changes in behavior and mood.

Both central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea are treatable and, providing the condition is diagnosed at an early stage, this treatment can often be fairly easy. For instance, a mild case of obstructive sleep apnea arising out of nasal congestion can usually be treated with nothing more than decongestants. Similarly, many cases of sleep apnea that are not particularly serious may be treated using a mask which is worn while sleeping and that provides a constant pressure of air in order to keep the airway open. Finally, in the most severe cases surgery may be needed and can be very effective, although it could also result in numerous complications and needs to be approached with caution.

Probably the most important thing to remember when treating sleep apnea is that because it carries with it the potential risk of respiratory failure sufferers should not be tempted to take sleeping pills or to take other types of artificial sleep enhancers without the approval of a doctor.

Natural sleep remedies without question provide an effective complement to medically prescribed treatments and herbal remedies that are intended to improve both the duration and quality of sleep can assist in the management of the excessive daytime sleepiness usually brought on by sleep apnea. Similarly, things like chromatherapy, aromatherapy and meditation and guided relaxation will help to reduce the anxiety and insomnia which go along with sleep apnea.

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