Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea, sometimes called obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, is a condition where an individual stops breathing during sleep. The obstructive portion of the condition indicates that the person has stopped breathing due to something obstructing the airway. Usually, this is the tissues in the airway and upper throat.

Learn About CPAP Masks

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Occurrence

In a healthy person, the airway and the upper portion of the throat remain open even when an individual is sleeping. The muscles in this region of the body contract and relax to open the airway enough to allow air to enter the lungs. These muscles relax, but remain open enough for breathing. In a person with sleep apnea, the airway has an obstruction, stopping breathing for very short periods.

A person with sleep apnea has a narrow airway. When they sleep, the near closing of the airway causes loud snoring. They may also have labored breathing. Then, as they fall into deep sleep, the airway closes further causing brief periods of stopped breathing. The person may stop breathing for more than ten seconds at a time. At this point, sleep apnea is the diagnosis. In order to get the breathing area open again, the brain will jar the body awake just enough to readjust the airway. This happens repetitively throughout the night.

Risk Factors for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Some individuals are more likely to suffer from obstructive apnea than others are. The highest risk individuals are older obese men. Yet, it is important to note that up to 40 percent of patients with this form of apnea are not obese, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Individuals may have a naturally narrow airway or upper throat. Children with larger tonsils and adenoids may have sleep apnea. Those with a larger neck size, a larger tongue, or a nasal obstruction are more likely to suffer from this form of apnea. In addition, weight gain is a risk factor.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

There are several forms of sleep apnea, including central sleep apnea. Symptoms can be very similar. Those with any of these symptoms may need to visit their doctor to discuss potential problems:

• Loud nighttime snoring
• Abnormal daytime sleepiness
• Restless sleep
• Poor memory and concentration
• Headaches in the morning
• Episodes of no breathing, usually spotted by a partner
• Feeling tired even after a full night's sleep
• Depression

Some individuals may also experience leg swelling in serious cases of sleep apnea due to the malfunction of the heart and kidneys. In children, hyperactivity can be an indication of apnea.

Treatment Options

Doctors will need to diagnosis your condition carefully. To do this, a sleep study is often required. A sleep study will allow doctors to see the problems you are having with nighttime sleep. Once they know the condition is obstructive sleep apnea, they may recommend several steps for sleep apnea treatment:

• Weight management may be necessary for those who are overweight. By losing weight, the amount of fatty tissue in the neck region will lessen, allowing the airway to remain open more readily.
• Dental inserts can be in use to keep the jaw in a forward position to keep the airway open.
• A CPAP machine can be prescribed. This small machine, combined with a CPAP mask, creates a pressurized flow of air into the airway to keep it from closing.
• Surgery may be necessary in some individuals. Surgeries can remove some of the tissue in the back of the throat causing the airway to close up. In severe cases, a tracheotomy may be necessary. This will open up the windpipe to bypass completely the blocked airway. This is rarely necessary.
• Children with sleep apnea may need to have their tonsils and adenoids removed.

It is essential to have these treatments put in place as soon as possible. If sleep apnea is not treated, the organs do not get enough oxygen to keep the body healthy. This lack of oxygen can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, heart failure, stroke and car accidents caused by sleep deprivation. Treatment methods can be highly effective at reversing some of these conditions.

• Sleep Requirements by Age
• Sleep Apnea Full Face Masks
• Foods Containing L-Tryptophan
• Why Is Sleep Important

• Pure Sleep
• Melatonin Forums
• How to Put Someone to Sleep
• Stop Snoring Mouthpiece
• How Long Can You Live Without Sleep

• Newport News Sleep Apnea
• Sleep Apnea Cause
• Sleep Apnea Mouth Piece
• Category:Sleep Apnea
• Surgical Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome