What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by the interruption of breathing during sleep. In Greek, apnea literally means "without breath". Sleep apnea can lead to some very serious health issues if left untreated.

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. OSA is characterized by a blocking of the airway. OSA can be caused by a number of blockages. A large uvula, deformation of the jaw, excess weight, deformation of the nasal cavity and allergies are some of the more common reasons people experience this disorder.

Central sleep apnea, the other type of sleep apnea, occurs when the brain forgets to signal the body to breath. This causes the afflicted person to stop breathing, even though there is no obstruction causing the problem.

A case of sleep apnea is diagnosed when a person has periods of apnea lasting at least ten seconds frequently throughout the night. These episodes can cause the person to wake from sleep, gasping for air. People with sleep apnea often complain of sore throats due to the friction of the uvula and the soft palate that occurs when one experiences apnea attacks.

While sleep apnea is usually accompanied by snoring, snoring is not always present. In fact, many people with sleep apnea do not snore at all. One of the main symptoms of sleep apnea is an intense daytime exhaustion persisting for a long period. This is because people with this disorder wake up many times in their sleep, making them unable to get into a deep REM sleep. People with apnea also tend to experience headaches, trouble with concentration, intense irritability, forgetfulness, and anxiety. Weight gain is also common among apnea sufferers, as well as an increased heart rate and depression.

If you think that you have sleep apnea, you can head to a hospital for a polysomnography test. This test is a painless test involving the monitoring of your sleep patterns. Polysomnography is often covered by insurance carriers, so be sure to check with your carrier. The test requires an overnight stay, and the results of the test can determine whether a person has apnea.

When a case of apnea is diagnosed, the most common treatment is called a CPAP. This stands for continuous positive airway pressure. A CPC is an air compressor that forces air into the airway on a regular basis, ensuring sound breathing. Where the apnea is more serious, surgery may need to be performed to eliminate any obstructions that may be causing OSA.

If you think that you may have sleep apnea, it is important to be tested for it. Long-term effects of sleep apnea include an increased chance of hypertension, irregular heartbeat, and strokes. In addition, the chance of being in traffic accidents increases to 700% when untreated apnea is present. Treatment is possible for sleep apnea, so the quicker that you act the better.