Sleep apnea is a serious health disease and its patients are found globally as it affects millions of people. Why do we call it a serious medical condition? In this condition a person faces disturbances and difficulty in breathing while sleeping. If this condition is not treated efficiently and in time then it can lead to some other complicated health issues. This very important article is all about. We will try to explain its symptoms, causes and find out possible treatment options. Let’s get started.
What is Sleep Apnea?
As the name suggests sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder. In this disorder the breathing of the patient disturbs repeatedly when he is having a sleep. During sleep breathing starts to come and then stops and this process continues. This interruption in breathing is actually known as Apneas. Its duration varies. Studies show that sometimes it lasts for a few seconds to minutes while this process occurs mostly 30 times or more in 1 hour. In most cases, there are three common types of it.
OSA
Obstructive Sleep Apnea simply known as OSA is a common type of sleep apnea. When the throat muscles relax, the disturbance in breathing starts happening.
CSA
In case of Central Sleep Apnea CSA the breathing disturbs due to the failure of the brain to communicate or send proper signals to those muscles that are responsible to control breathing.
CSA
This is a complex and serious type which needs urgent medical attention. Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome is a combination of both obstructive OSA and Central sleep apnea .
Symptoms
It is really important to know its symptoms because it is a first step towards the journey of effective treatment. Here in the following we are going to discuss some of the common but most important signs and symptoms of sleep apnea.
Loud Snoring
Loud snoring is one of the common symptoms of obstructive sleep Apnea.
Breathing Stoppage
It is observed that the stoppage of breathing happens repeatedly or in episodes.
Short of breathing and Coughing
Searchers have found that sometimes a person suddenly awakens and feels difficulty in breathing.
Daytime Sleeping
Studies show that in most of the cases people feel a lot of tiredness and they sleep excessively during the day time.
Morning Headache
Morning headache is one of the most important and common symptoms in case of sleep apnea. This actually happens due to the shortage or lack of oxygen during sleeping.
Difficulty in Concentrating
A person cannot concentrate on daily routine matters. This actually occurs due to poor mental health.
Irritation and Mood Changes
People feel irritation and their mood changes in case of sleep apnea due to the lack of sleep or no proper sleep.
Causes
There are different causes in different types of sleep apnea. Here in this segment of the article we are going to discuss in detail. Let’s have a look.
OSA
As we have discussed earlier, this type of condition is actually due to the excessive relaxation of back throat muscles. This extra required relaxation of throat muscles results in the disturbance of the airways. That’s why a person starts feeling difficulty in breathing. So in this case there are some basic route causes that you must have to know.
Excessive Weight
Overweight is one of the most common and important reasons for obstructive sleep apnea. It is because the fat deposits around the airways, especially the upper airway, make it very difficult for a person to breathe.
Neck Area
Medical studies show that those people who have thicker necks have more chances of having obstructive sleep apnea. It is because their airways are slightly Narrower than others.
Gender
General factors are also one of the reasons for sleep apnea. If we look into the history then we have come to know that this condition is found mostly in men as compared to women.
Age
Age is another contributing factor to this sleeping disorder. The chances of sleep apnea increase with age as well.
Family History
Family history is another common reason for this complicated disease. If you are a relative of those people who have sleep apnea, then there are more chances of developing this condition in you.
Use of Alcohol and Narcotics
If you are alcohol addicted then you must stop it right now. Try to understand why it is important. When you consume alcohol and other narcotics they actually relax your muscles in the throat. So excessive relaxation actually causes sleep apnea.
Smoking
Similarly, like alcohol, smoking is not only dangerous in this case but also for your overall health.
CSA
This type of disorder happens in rare cases. This condition arises at a time when the brain completely fails to send signals to those parts of the body that control breathing. Here are some of the common root causes that we are going to discuss here. Let’s have a look.
Heart Disorders
One of the most prominent root causes of central sleep apnea is several heart issues like cognitive, cardiac, or heart failure.
Stroke
Stroke can also increase the risk of Central sleep apnea.
Use of Certain Medications
There are certain medicines that can increase the chances of central sleep apnea. Common example is Opioids.
Health Issues Associated With Sleep Apnea
It is really crucial to understand that if you do not treat sleep apnea seriously then it can lead to serious consequences towards many health issues. Some of the important ones are as follows.
High Blood Pressure
There are a lot of chances of hypertension simply means high blood pressure when sleep apnea is not treated in time. It is because due to the repeated reduction in oxygen level during sleeping it becomes the cause of increasing blood pressure.
Heart problems
There are also possibilities of several heart issues like abnormality in heartbeats, heart attack or sudden death.
Type 2 Diabetes
In case of sleep apnea the resistance against insulin increases which can lead to a person in type 2 diabetes.
Metabolic Syndrome
Sleep apnea if not treated in an effective way then it can become the reason for a number of other fatal diseases. Abnormality in cholesterol level, high blood pressure and high blood sugar are common examples of metabolic syndrome.
Liver Problems
Sleep apnea can also disturb the functionality of the liver. So be careful, and if you find any symptoms, then consider it serious and go for its treatment in time.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis but effective diagnosis is really important to go for the best treatment option. A perfect diagnosis of sleep apnea is to look out for multiple conditions like sleeping history and physical examination. For effective diagnosis there are certain techniques that can be used. Let’s have a look.
Polysomnography
In Polysomnography a comprehensive overnight sleep study is made in order to record the condition of brain activity, heart rate, eye moments, blood pressure and oxygen level.
Home Sleep Apnea Test
This important test is also used in some of the cases according to their condition. In this test it is observed what is the breathing pattern of a patient, what is oxygen level and heart rate.
Best Treatment Options
The purpose of treatment in case of sleep apnea is to normalize the breathing during sleeping at night. After comprehensive diagnosis there is a need to go for a better treatment option in order to address underlying issues. There are plenty of options available for you. Some of the important ones are as follows.
Lifestyle Changes
You can reduce or even illuminate sleep apnea by modifying your lifestyle. The important step towards lifestyle changes is to balance your body weight. Try to reduce your weight because it is one of the biggest causes in the way of better functionality of the body. Try to make a habit of taking regular exercise. By doing this your respiratory system performs in a smooth way. If you are a smoker or consume alcohol try to reduce or eliminate it. In this way you can add some support to your body to reduce symptoms.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure CPAP
In treating obstructive sleep apnea, CPAP is commonly and effectively used. In this method, air pressure is applied while sleeping through a mask. By doing this, it keeps the airway open, which results in normal breathing.
It is also important to understand here that if a person feels uncomfortable by using CPAP then you can also use other devices which are available easily like BiPAP and APAP.
Oral Devices
You can also use some alternative devices for treating sleep apnea such as some dental devices that help to keep the throat open. This option is more beneficial for those people who have minor to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
Surgery
Remember this option comes into consideration at that time when all the above methods fail due to the complexity of the disease.
There are plenty of surgical options depending on the situation of that particular patient. Tissue removal, tissue shrinkage, implants, nerve stimulation and creating a new Airway are some of the important surgical options. Only a professional healthcare provider can perform these types of surgical treatments.
Living with Sleep Apnea
Just imagine for a few moments what happens when you are sleeping at night and suddenly you feel that you are not breathing normally. Surely it is a very painful condition. But with proper diagnosis and effective treatment you can reduce or even illuminate sleep apnea from your life. Here are common tips that you can follow because by implementing them you can improve this disorder to a great extent.
Sleep Position
Try to make a habit to sleep on your side. By doing this you can reduce symptoms effectively.
Healthy Diet
It is important to consume a healthy diet in your daily routine. With a balanced diet full of nutrients you can actually lose weight which is not good in this case but also for making you overall healthy.
Regular checkups
It is critical to go for a regular check up to your doctor for proper monitoring and managing the condition that you have.
Stick to Your Treatment Plans
In order to get maximum results while you are fighting against sleep apnea there is a need to take your treatment plans strictly. Try to focus on your prescribed treatment options.
Conclusion
Sleep apnea is a serious medical disorder that needs to be addressed in time and in an efficient way. If it is not treated timely then it can lead to some other complicated health issues like heart attack or even death. So first of all, it is important to understand what it actually is. What are its root causes and how can you prevent it? If you observe symptoms then it is time to consult your doctor immediately. With timely intervention and effective treatment approaches many people across all over the globe are living a healthy life with massive improvement.