Sleep Apnea Guide

All About Sleep Apnea

Does It Work? Sleep Apnea Pillow

April 4th, 2010 · Sleep Apnea

When a person finds that he wakes himself up in the night due to snoring on a regular basis, or finds that he wakes up out of breath for seemingly no reason on a regular basis, he will want to go to the doctor to have a sleep apnea test. These sleep studies will determine what is happening when the person is asleep each night. The symptoms that the person may be experiencing can include feeling drowsy all of the time, even when he seemingly has had a good night sleep. He may fall asleep during daily activities such as watching TV or driving. Headaches in the morning are another symptom of sleep apnea, and if the person has it, he will want to get a diagnosis so that treatment options can be tried.

Treatment

If the sleep apnea is obstructive, meaning that the muscles of the throat relax during the night and cause the obstruction that leads to the choking or out of breath feeling, then there are certain methods that can be used to treat it. If the case is mild, then a sleep apnea pillow can be tried to help keep the person off of his back during the night. It is when the person is on his back that the muscles will relax and block his breathing rather than when he is on his side. The sleep apnea pillows are usually designed to help the person to stay off of his back during the night. This can be done in a variety of ways. One sleep apnea pillow is designed as a part of a pajama set so that the pillow is sewn into the shirt at the back. The sleep apnea pillow stays in place running down the person’s back so that he cannot turn onto his back but has to stay on his side or stomach throughout the night.

If the sleep apnea pillow is not enough, there are some sleep apnea machines that are used in moderate to severe cases. These machines require that the person wears a mask over his face during the night. The mask allows constant air pressure to be given to him so that the muscles cannot fall into the airway and block it. There are a couple of types of machines that will do this, one of which gives constant positive pressure and the other of which will modify the pressure according to the breathing patterns of the person wearing the mask. In either case, it is often a process to get used to sleeping with the mask over the face during the night.

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Utilizing a Sleep Apnea Machine

April 3rd, 2010 · Sleep Apnea

There are different treatments and remedies that are on the market today for sleep apnea, such as a sleep apnea pillow. However, many of these devices are not effective or are not made for the particular type of sleep apnea that the person might have. There are three types of sleep apnea that can occur. The first is obstructive sleep apnea where the muscles in the person’s throat relax and cause an obstruction to the airway at night. This will awaken the person at times or cause excessive snoring. Either way, the person is not getting the sleep that is needed to function properly in the daytime. Another type of sleep apnea is central sleep apnea which is often caused by a heart condition or stroke. In this version, the brain does not send the signals needed to the muscles that control breathing so that it stops periodically in the night. The third type is a mixture of the two and also requires different treatment options.

Obstructive Apnea

Sleep apnea machines are used most often with obstructive sleep apnea. There are different types of sleep apnea machines that are used. One is called the continuous positive airway pressure machine or the CPAP. This sleep apnea machine is usually used with people who have moderate to severe sleep apnea so that they are not sleeping well at night at all. With this device, an air mask is placed over the face when the person goes to bed. The air pressure from the device is kept at a slightly higher level than that of the surrounding air so that the passages that will usually close due to muscle relaxation will remain open throughout the night. The down side to using this sleep apnea machine is that it is just that: a machine. Many people do not like to have a mask on their faces at night and find it uncomfortable and difficult to sleep with.

There is another sleep apnea machine that is available that adjusts the pressure according to the times that the person is breathing in or breathing out. Some people find this machine to be more comfortable to use than the other one where the pressure is the same regardless of the breathing being done. The down side to this machine is the same as the one above. The person still has to try to go to sleep with a mask over his face and a machine running by the bedside, which is a difficult proposition until the person gets used to it.

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The Dangers of Sleep Apnea

April 2nd, 2010 · Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a dangerous disorder that some people acquire for various reasons. There are different types of sleep apnea that people can have and each requires a different method of treatment. There is an obstructive sleep apnea in which the throat muscle relaxes and causes the obstruction to the breathing during the night. There is central sleep apnea in which the brain does not send the right signals to the muscles that control the breathing in the body and causes the stop in breathing during the night. There is also a complex version which is a little of both of the aforementioned disorders.

Go to a Doctor If&

The problem with sleep apnea is that it can be hard to identify since the person is asleep when it happens. However, if it is not identified and the person is placed on a sleep apnea machine or other type of treatment, then the person could develop more problems or the disorder could prove fatal. There are certain symptoms that should be seriously considered if they are occurring and the person should consult a doctor about them.

It is possible that the person may have sleep apnea if the person finds himself awaking in the morning with a headache regularly. Also, if the person finds himself being awakened in the night by his own snoring or suddenly awakening during the night for no apparent reason but he is short of breath. If the person has someone sleeping with him, the other person might notice that he stops breathing periodically during the night. In addition to these symptoms, the person will probably feel very sleepy during the daytime and may possibly fall asleep while watching TV or while driving since he is not getting full sleep in the night.

There are different causes of sleep apnea, and each depends on the type that the person has. The obstructive version is usually caused by the airway closing because the muscles of the throat relax and allow the airway passage to close in. This can cause the person to awaken in the night with a choking sensation, although they are not always awakened by the condition. Those with central sleep apnea have a different problem. In this case, the brain does not send the right signals to the breathing muscles during the night so that the breathing stops periodically in the night. This type is usually caused by a heart condition or stroke and is not as common.

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A Few Interesting Facts About Obstructive Sleep Apnea

April 1st, 2010 · Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Apnea

The first piece of information that you will learn about obstructive sleep apnea is that it is the commonest form of sleep apnea and the reason for such a condition is obstructed airways which occurs mostly when the person is sleeping. It follows that you should learn more about obstructive sleep apnea as then you will be prepared to take remedial action without delaying in getting timely treatment.

Tapering Of The Airways

The first possible reason why people suffer from obstructive sleep apnea is that their airways have tapered which can occur naturally and which can also occur at night when the body is relaxing and the airways will tighten up thereby causing breathlessness.

Another interesting fact that you will find interesting about obstructive sleep apnea is that the condition can also be caused by inflamed airways which in turn affects smokers because smoking leads to the upper airways becoming inflamed and that in turn leads to narrowing of the airways. Another reason why the airways become inflamed is because of infections.

Obesity is another possible cause of obstructive sleep apnea and here it is interesting to learn about obstructive sleep apnea that it is not just being obese that is the reason for the condition arising because in fact it is the excessive fat in the tissues of the throat that will result in a person having problems with breathing.

When learning more about obstructive sleep apnea you must also understand what the consequences of this condition are. When the airways are obstructed it can make the body try and draw air into the lungs but when this is not possible the brain will desperately attempt to open up the airways but in the process will cause you to wake up which will then tense up the airways thereby allowing you to breathe once more. so, obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by frequent sleep interruptions.

Another interesting fact about obstructive sleep apnea is that the condition can give rise to other health problems that include possible heart failure, and increased risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack. In addition, the condition makes the heart beat irregularly and it can result in weakening of the immune system and it also can cause Type 2 diabetes.

Sleep apnea can make you feel extremely tired and this can happen even if you have gone to sleep early the previous night. Somehow, you will always be feeling fatigued and the reason is that during your sleep your body will have stopped breathing physically for brief spells and this in turn will lead to interruptions in your sleep and consequent fatigue when you wake up.

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Tips On Choosing An Appropriate Obstructive Sleep Apnea Clinic

March 31st, 2010 · Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a major disorder that is known to affect more than twenty million Americans and it is also a condition that must never be allowed to go untreated or be ignored. What s more, only an obstructive sleep apnea clinic can provide the proper treatment for the condition. If you make a very common mistake of ignoring or leaving the condition untreated you will be putting your health at greater risk and in addition it can also lead to poor performance at work and in addition it can also lead to ruined personal relationships as well.

Proper Diagnosis And Treatment

An obstructive sleep apnea clinic is the place to get the condition diagnosed in the proper manner and this is also where the best treatment is available. The only trouble is that finding the right obstructive sleep apnea clinic can prove to be harder than expected. This is why you should look for tips and advice on how to pick the right clinic.

At the very least, before you pick an obstructive sleep apnea clinic you must ensure that the level of technical expertise at the facility is of a very high quality. Next, you need to check out various hospitals that are located close to where you live because there you can find out more about accredited obstructive sleep apnea clinics that too will be located close-by.

You can also find out about the better obstructive sleep apnea clinics by checking your local universities where there are sure to be some sleep disorder facilities and chances are that you might come across an obstructive sleep apnea clinic at the university. Most obstructive sleep apnea clinics are also generally attached to various psychiatric institutes.

Of course, you can also use the Internet to research different obstructive sleep apnea clinics and in addition all the main towns are sure to have private facilities but these will be costlier than the ones located at local hospitals.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has its website where you can search for accredited obstructive sleep apnea clinics and the same is the case if you check out the National Sleep Foundation which maintains a directory of all sleep centers as well as clinics.

Before you visit an obstructive sleep apnea clinic it also pays to understand more about obstructive sleep apnea as this will allow you to know and understand the risks involved and also learn about the typical symptoms of the condition. As a matter of fact, obstructive sleep apnea is the commonest form of sleep apnea and it is known to occur whenever the airways become obstructed.

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An Introduction To Obstructive Sleep Apnea Children

March 30th, 2010 · Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Apnea

An Introduction To Obstructive Sleep Apnea Children

Though it is common for obstructive sleep apnea to be considered an adult only disease, there are many instances of obstructive sleep apnea in children that is reason enough to cause parents a lot of concern. In most cases, when it concerns obstructive sleep apnea in children the signs of it are noticed in children that are generally aged between two and six years and in very rare instances the problem also affects infants. Even adolescents are known to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.

Enlarged Adenoids And Tonsils

Obstructive sleep apnea in children is generally caused by enlarged adenoids as well as tonsils that in turn prevent the free flow of air to the lungs. Sometimes, obstructive sleep apnea in children is attributed to allergies and to conditions such as cleft palate and even obesity is a reason for such a condition and even receding chin can be a reason why children come down with obstructive sleep apnea. An especially worrying situation is when a child suffers from Down s syndrome which is a condition that can increase the risk of onset of obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea children will affect the child in much the same way as it affects adults and it is a condition that makes the child snore and sweat heavily and in addition, it will also lead to disturbed sleep which results in the child frequently waking up in the middle of the night. In addition, it results in the child wetting their bed and they will feel restless and even experience night terrors.

Obstructive sleep apnea children should not be allowed to go untreated and it should also not be ignored because this can lead to poor brain development which can then manifest it in the form of problematic behavior and it also can cause attention deficit disorder. When cases of obstructive sleep apnea children occur and the child is tested regarding the level of their mental development it has been found that there are serious mental problems.

If you are a parent that suspects that your child is suffering from obstructive sleep apnea then it is necessary to get the child shown to a doctor who will diagnose the condition. Typically, treatment of obstructive sleep apnea children takes the form of having to surgically remove the adenoids and tonsils.

Obstructive sleep apnea is known to affect more than twenty million American citizens though many do not even suspect having the problem. What s more, only obstructive sleep apnea clinics can provide the necessary help to treat the symptoms. Leaving the condition untreated means risking your health and it can also impair your productivity and it can ruin personal relationships as well.

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Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgery Can Be Tried Out When Other Treatments Have Failed

March 29th, 2010 · Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Apnea

Typically, to treat obstructive sleep apnea it is common to use treatment method known as continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP. However, when this treatment option fails to provide relief doctors might consider recommending obstructive sleep apnea surgery as another possible solution. In fact, there is more than one obstructive sleep apnea surgery option that you will need to choose from though it must be said that surgery is only recommended and tried out as a last resort and only when other treatment options have been exhausted without getting desirable results.

UPPP Is A Common Option

The most common form of obstructive sleep apnea surgery, Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or UPPP is usually recommended when an individual suffers from mild or even moderate obstructive sleep apnea and who is also not able to tolerate treatment via CPAP or any other form of medical treatment. This form of obstructive sleep apnea surgery requires using surgical means to remove unwanted tissue from the patient s airways including those found in the rear of the throat as well as mouth.

UPPP is a surgical option that will also help in the removal of tissues from the patient s tonsils and uvula as well as from the roof of their mouth. These tissues would otherwise block up the airway and so by removing them it is hoped that the problem of blocked airways will be resolved.

However, patients that choose this form of obstructive sleep apnea surgery need to be aware about possible complications that include feeling excessive pain, experiencing bleeding as well as dealing with infections. Sometimes, this kind of obstructive sleep apnea surgery can also cause the patient s voice to change and there may also be a condition called stenosis which refers to tapering of the pharynx.

It has also been found that about half of all adults that use UPPP obstructive sleep apnea surgery will notice that the number of obstructive sleep apnea episodes will start to come down by fifty percent or more following the surgery. Such dramatic improvements may however begin to disappear with the passage of time. In any case, UPPP is considered a good alternative to using CPAP and is especially useful for a person suffering from airway blockage that in turn is caused by unwanted tissues.

In regard to obstructive sleep apnea in children it has been found that affected kids will tend to snore very loudly. And, in addition, they will also have brief moments during their sleep when they will suffer from apnea and what s more, such a condition also leads to interrupted sleep which then forces the affected child to want to sleep during the day.

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Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Is The Most Common Form Of Sleep Apnea

March 28th, 2010 · Obstructive Sleep Apnea

It has been more than a hundred years since obstructive sleep apnea syndrome was first discovered. In the seventies however it was also discovered that obstructive sleep apnea syndrome affected children as well and in fact it has also now been established that obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is the most typical form of apnea known to man. It is therefore necessary to learn how this condition arises and how it can change the quality of life for anyone that develops such a condition.

Blocked Airways

Apnea means cessation of breath and in the case of a sleep apnea condition the patient s breath will start to turn shallow and it can even cease temporarily during their sleeping hours. In fact, such temporary cessations of breathing can occur as many as hundred times in a single night. When these episodes occur repeatedly the condition is then known as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and when an episode occurs the diaphragm as well as chest muscles will need to push and puff in order to reopen the blocked airways.

When all this pushing and puffing goes on it can and will disturb the patient s sleep and the body organs will also not get sufficient oxygen and the heart rhythm too will become irregular. It is therefore necessary to first understand what obstructive sleep apnea syndrome symptoms are as only then can you determine well in time whether you have this problem or not.

The commonest symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome include feeling sleepy or fatigued in the daytime and experiencing sore throat or dry mouth when you wake up in the morning. In addition, you can also experience headaches in the morning and your intellectual capabilities will be impaired and you can even experience night sweats and have a sexual dysfunction problem as well.

In the case of children suffering from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome the symptoms are not so obvious and include bedwetting, breathing through the mouth during the daytime, having difficulties in swallowing and sweating excessively at night.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute estimate that as many over twelve million people suffer from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Of this number, over fifty percent of sufferers are overweight and one person out of twenty-five will be middle aged and furthermore, one in fifty middle-aged females too will suffer from this condition.

Obstructive sleep apnea surgery is often the last treatment option and is only recommended when all other options have been exhausted and success in treating the condition still eludes the doctors. There are several different surgery choices including uvulopapalatopharyngoplasty and tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy.

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An Obstructive Sleep Apnea Condition Is Cause To Be Worried

March 28th, 2010 · Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a certain kind of sleeping disorder that is caused whenever a person that is sleeping finds that their airways close up and in doing so obstruct their ability to breathe normally. In certain instances, OSA can prove to be life threatening and so must be treated without delay. It is also a condition that affects people of all ages and races and it affects both genders though obese elderly men are especially vulnerable to suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep Laboratory

The best place to get your obstructive sleep apnea treatment is a sleep laboratory where diagnosis and then treatment can readily be obtained. Of course, it presupposes the fact that the patient is aware that they suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Furthermore, this condition can often be just temporary by nature and in such instances the condition may simply resolve without need for getting medical treatment. Of course, if a doctor is consulted and diagnosis shows that you are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea then early treatment will bring welcome relief and you can also recover must faster from the condition.

However, obstructive sleep apnea can also turn into a chronic condition in which case only treatment will help in resolving the problem. When a person suffers from obstructive sleep apnea they generally feel very fatigued, especially during the daytime and in addition they will feel restlessness and will have trouble concentrating and might even become depressed by their condition.

It is also quite common to suffer from headaches in the morning and the patient s sex drive too is reduced. Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea are often quite vague and will develop rather slowly and so most people that have such a problem might not seek help in time and when they do consult a doctor the condition may have turned quite serious. Since the patient is also not aware that they suffer from sleep apnea the doctor will be called on to use all their knowledge and expertise and experience in connecting the symptoms with those of obstructive sleep apnea.

The best person to help a patient suffering from obstructive sleep apnea is their sleeping partner who can indicate that their partner has a problem at night and which might in fact be that of obstructive sleep apnea. In case the problem is mild it can be treated through making lifestyle changes; otherwise more serious treatment including surgery is needed to control the symptoms and the condition.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome was first discovered more than a hundred years ago. However, it was only found out in the seventies that children too suffered from such a condition and often the condition went undiagnosed which was not good as it would lead to morbidity because treatment was not begun in good time.

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All About What Apnea Is

March 27th, 2010 · Sleep Apnea

Apnea is a condition in which a person suffers from temporary cessation of their normal breathing. When a person is suffering from this condition they will not experience movement of the muscles that are closely related to respiration and their lungs will also not experience any change in volume of air. Sometimes, gas might also flow between the person s lungs and the external environment. It is also possible to achieve apnea voluntarily which takes place when a person tries to hold their breath or when it is drug induced and it is also experienced when a person is being choked or strangulated.

Traumatic Experiences

Sometimes, this condition occurs on account of certain traumatic experiences and also because of neurological diseases. It also pays to understand the mechanism of apnea. In normal conditions the human body is not able to store a lot of oxygen and when the supply is further cut off as a consequence of an apnea episode there is insufficient oxygen present in the blood which in turn can cause damage to the brain even if this insufficiency of oxygen lasts for as few as just three minutes. If the condition prolongs for a little longer, death is a possible consequence.

A person under normal circumstances cannot voluntarily sustain an apnea attack for more than a minute or two at most. In case the patient is a smoker then their ability to withstand such an attack would be even shorter as the smoker s lungs will not be sufficiently strong to withstand prolonged periods of apnea.

In children the most common type of apnea is a condition known as obstructive apnea. There are in fact three main types that are worth learning more about: obstructive, central and mixed. In the case of obstructive apnea the condition is very often noticed affecting children and the reason for this is that their airways have become obstructed by factors such as enlargement of their tonsils and also because of adenoids.

Central apnea is a condition that occurs when a certain part of your brain that helps in controlling breathing malfunctions and this type of condition affects infants very often. Mixed apnea is of course a mixture of obstructive and central forms of this condition.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs because there is soft tissue that resides at back of a person s throat and when these tissues are relaxed the condition arises. Among healthy kids that are of pre-school age it has been found that OSA affects between one and three percent. So, the condition is not all that serious among kids.

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