What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea, or obstructive sleep apnea, is a fairly common though not so frequently diagnosed sleeping disorder. It's effects can range from fatigue, irritability and anxiety right through to heart attack. So what exactly is sleep apnea? In basic terms, it is caused by a lack of oxygen through total or partial closure of the airway while sleeping. It is usually characterised by snoring, a partial blockage, or sudden awakening or gasping, more likely to be a total closure of the airway.
Who Can Suffer From Sleep Apnea?
Anyone can suffer from this sleep disorder. It can effect both men and women and even some children. Those most likely to suffer are people who may be overweight, smokers and those with genetic factors such as the make up of their nose, throat, tongue and jaw.
What are the Signs and Symptoms?
Common signs that may indicate the presence of this disorder include waking up feeling tired, snoring, restless sleep, frequent rolling from back to side and having trouble staying awake during the day. Symptoms which can arise include anxiety, irritability, depression and may even be as severe as contributing to heart attack.
To identify how serious your sleep apnea may be, a sleep study can be conducted. This is done by wiring up the patient with sensors that measure everything from heart rate, oxygen levels, REM and deep sleep and leg and body movements. Through a study like this the correct treatment can be recommended.
What are the Treatments?
The most common treatment for sleep apnea is CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure. This is a small compressor which feeds a constant air flow via flexible hoses through either a nose piece or face mask into the airway. Although very effective, there are a few negatives here. Some people never feel comfortable wearing a facemask to sleep. It is not very practical if the wearer travels frequently as the unit, although quite compact, must travel with the user. Face masks are not often custom made and can provide a poor seal. Some wearers complain of a dry or irritated throat.
The other main treatment is a dental device similar to a mouthguard, which is designed to offset the upper and lower jaw resulting in an opening of the airway. It comes as an upper jaw and lower jaw set. The wearer over time adjusts the range of the offset, starting off with a light adjustment and increasing as the wearer becomes accustomed to the device. Usually recommended for less severe cases of sleep apnea, this also has some disadvantages. The mouthguard can be uncomfortable to wear and result in soreness of the lower jaw. The device must be looked after and kept clean similar to dentures. This can be a very practical solution for the traveller as it is very compact unlike the CPAP unit.
The final option for sleep apnea is surgery. This should always be considered as a last resort and involves alteration of either the jaw, tongue or nasal passage.
Before trying any of the above mentioned treatments, consider losing weight, exercising and quitting smoking as a priority.
Reggie B has first hand experience with sleep apnea and is working to increase awareness of a disorder that can have a huge impact on the quality of a persons life. Learn more about this common disorder at http://www.sleepapneahelpsite.com/