Sleep Apnea Basics

If you are unfamiliar with what sleep apnea is the following information will provide you with an overview of what the illness is as well as some of the symptoms and different occurrences that can result from sleep apnea.  People who suffer from sleep apnea often are unaware of its presence until they are diagnosed since it typically occurs during different stages of your sleep cycle.

There are different types of sleep apnea but regardless of the type, sleep apnea basically prevents you from breathing at different intervals when you sleep.  This happens when the brain stops communicating with the muscles that regulate your breathing cycle.  For brief periods of time your breathing is blocked which is known as apnea and then the pattern repeats itself throughout the night.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

The symptoms of sleep apnea are difficult to detect by the person that is suffering from the illness.  Instead, the symptoms are usually noticed by spouses or family members.  The person who is suffering from sleep apnea often passes it off as insomnia or difficulty sleeping for any extended period of time.

When a person suffers from sleep apnea it is common for the person to start snoring immediately after falling asleep.  The snoring will continue for indefinite period of time until it is discontinued when breathing is blocked.  The person then suddenly gasps for air and then the snoring will return.  This cycle occurs frequently throughout the night without the person being aware of the sleep interruption.  Other signs and symptoms of sleep apnea can include daytime drowsiness, morning fatigue, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity, and leg swelling.

Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is diagnosed through testing by your healthcare provider.  Diagnosis commences with a review of your health history and a complete physical exam.  You will also be asked about daytime drowsiness and sleep habits at night.  Once this phase of testing is complete your health care provider will recommend a sleep study.

A sleep study usually involves an overnight stay in a medical facility where your sleep habits can be monitored throughout the night.  The study involves measurement of your sleep states by recording information related to rapid eye movement or the REM stage of sleep and non-rapid eye movement or the NREM stage of sleep.

The information that is recorded during the night includes blood oxygen levels, breathing rate, the position of your body, heart rate, brain waves, muscle activity, and patterns of eye movement.  The information is gathered through the use of electrodes that are placed on your chin, head, and the outside of your eyelids.  The electrodes remain in place throughout the course of the night in addition to monitors that record your heart and breathing rate.

Treatment of Sleep Apnea

As frightening as sleep apnea may seem the good news is there are a variety of different treatments that can be used to provide relief and to promote a better night’s rest.  Your healthcare provider will recommend a few lifestyle changes if needed such as avoiding sleep aids or sleeping on your back, and weight loss if you exceed your recommended weight.

A treatment known as CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure may also be recommended.  This is a treatment that requires you to wear a mask while you sleep which provides air pressure during the course of your breathing cycle.  This ensures that the windpipe remains in an open position while you sleep and prevents blocked breathing episodes from occurring.

In extreme cases, surgery may be recommended for the nose and sinuses or for the removal of excessive tissue located in the rear of the throat area.  In other cases, corrective surgery for abnormal face structures may be recommended if other treatments have proven to be ineffective.

Sleep Apnea Risks

If sleep apnea is left untreated it could possibly be a precursor to heart disease or contribute to the development of hypertension, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, or the onset of a stroke.  If you suffer from daytime drowsiness this could lead to an automobile accident or other mechanical accident in your area of work. 

Other risks can include physiological makeup such as large tonsils, narrow airways, and problems related to jaw structure, as well as tongue size that could eventually lead to problems with sleep apnea.  Sleep apnea can also be preceded or accompanied by other sleep disorders such as difficulty falling asleep, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, excessive total sleep, or problems staying awake.

If you think you may have sleep apnea hopefully this information will help to point you in the right direction for getting help.  The more you know about this type of illness the easier it will be to communicate effectively with your health care provider and receive the proper treatment.