Help You Sleep

Sleep Apnea Is A Very Commonly Seen and Sometimes Dangerous Sleep Disorder

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Sleep apnea is one of the most commonly seen of all sleep disorders and affects in the region of eighteen million people in the United States. A sleeping disorder that is characterized by broken breathing while sleeping, sleep apnea is also unquestionably the most dangerous of sleep disorders because it deprives the brain of essential oxygen and can occasionally prove to be fatal.

There are two totally different types of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is basically a neurological condition where breathing is broken because of signals sent from the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea by contrast is in essence a mechanical problem where the windpipe is obstructed either by excessive tissue or as a result of the abnormal relaxation or collapse of muscle tissue around the windpipe. In both cases however the results are basically the same with repeated interruptions to the breathing which deprive the brain of oxygen and place the sufferer at heightened risk from things like high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

Unluckily, diagnosing sleep apnea can prove a problem as snoring, which is a common symptom and frequently leads to sleep apnea being referred to as the snoring disease, is also seen as a symptom of a variety of medical conditions. Snoring is certainly often seen with sleep apnea as the brain reacts to a drop in oxygen by awakening the sufferer sufficiently to restart the breathing process and this often causes snoring.

This frequent awakening throughout the night also causes a poor quality of sleep and it is fairly common for sleep apnea sufferers to wake up in the morning feeling more tired than when they went to bed. This also produces a feeling of sheer exhaustion during the course of the day and an overwhelming wish to sleep.

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

Without treatment the growing tiredness resulting from sleep apnea may lead to serious psychological problems starting with simple touchiness and moving on to depression with obvious changes in mood and behavior.

Both central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea can be treated and, provided the condition is diagnosed at an early stage, treatment can often be relatively easy. For instance, mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea arising out of nasal congestion can generally be treated with little more than decongestants. Likewise, many cases of sleep apnea that are not especially serious may be treated with a mask that is worn while sleeping and that provides a constant pressure of air in order to keep the airway open. Lastly, in the most serious cases of sleep apnea surgery may be needed and can be very effective, although it could also lead to numerous complications and needs to be approached with care.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember about sleep apnea is that as it carries with it the potentially fatal risk of respiratory failure sufferers should not be tempted to take sleeping pills or to use other forms of sleep enhancers without first seeking the approval of a doctor.

Natural sleep remedies without question provide an effective complement to prescribed medication and herbs which are intended to improve the duration and quality of sleep may well be of assistance in managing the excessive daytime sleepiness usually accompanying sleep apnea. Similarly, such things as aromatherapy, chromatherapy and guided relaxation and meditation can help in reducing the anxiety and insomnia that accompany sleep apnea.