How Much Do You Know About Sleep Apnea

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Sleep apnea affects the way you breathe when you’re sleeping. It is common among adults but rare among children. Considered as one of the most troublesome ‘minor’ causes of insomnia, it actually affects or contributes to other serious medical, psychological and social problems.

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person's breathing is interrupted during sleep. These episodes last 10 seconds or more and cause oxygen levels in the blood to drop. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times. Someone with sleep apnea may be aware of snorting, gasping, or waking up short of breath. However, because they are asleep, many may not realize anything is happening at all.

There are altogether three types of sleep apnea, namely, obstructive sleep, central sleep apnea and complex sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea. It is characterized by repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep due to the obstruction or collapse of the upper airway (throat), usually accompanied by a reduction in blood ...
... oxygen saturation, and followed by an awakening to breathe. This is called an apnea event

Central sleep apnea is a much less common type of sleep apnea that involves the central nervous system, rather than an airway obstruction. It occurs when the brain fails to signal the muscles that control breathing. People with central sleep apnea seldom snore.

Complex sleep apnea, also known as mixed sleep apnea, is a form of sleep apnea in which central apneas persist or emerge during attempts to treat obstructive events with a continuous positive airway pressure or bi-level device. In complex sleep apnea the airways become obstructed or blocked while sleeping and your brain also can fail to send signals to your breathing muscles. Risk factors are the same as obstructive and central sleep apnea.

While a diagnosis of sleep apnea can be scary, it is a treatable condition. In fact, there are many things you can do on your own to help, particularly for mild to moderate sleep apnea. Several lifestyle changes can be done as part of your sleep apnea treatment.

In many cases, self-care may be the most appropriate way for you to deal with obstructive sleep apnea and possibly central sleep apnea. Try to lose weight, quit smoking and avoid alcohol, sleeping pills, and sedatives. Besides, you’d better sleep on your side or abdomen rather than on your back. Don’t forget to keep your nasal passages open at night.

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