Sleep Apnea Is Both An Extremely Common and Potentially Dangerous Sleeping Disorder
Sleep apnea is probably the most commonly seen of all sleep disorders and affects around 18,000,000 Americans. A sleep disorder that is characterized by broken breathing while sleeping, it is also undeniably the most dangerous of sleeping disorders as it deprives the brain of essential oxygen and can sometimes prove fatal.
There are two completely different types of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is in essence a neurological condition where breathing is interrupted because of signals sent out by the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea is essentially a mechanical problem in which the windpipe is blocked either by too much tissue or as a result of the abnormal collapse or relaxation of muscle tissue in and around the windpipe. In either case however the results are essentially identical with recurrent interruptions to the breathing that deprive the brain of oxygen and place sufferers at greater risk from such things as high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
Sadly, diagnosing sleep apnea can be difficult as snoring, which is one of its commonest symptoms and frequently leads to sleep apnea being known as the snoring disease, is also seen as a symptom of several other medical conditions. Snoring is certainly often seen with sleep apnea as the brain counters a lack of oxygen by awakening the sufferer enough to restart breathing and this generally leads to snoring.
This frequent awakening during the night also results in a very poor quality of sleep and it is not at all uncommon for sleep apnea sufferers to wake up in the morning feeling more tired than when they went to bed. This also results in feelings of exhaustion during the day and an overpowering need to sleep.
However, tiredness arising from poor quality sleep is merely one part of the picture and a variety of other symptoms will also generally be seen including morning headaches, forgetfulness and a difficulty in maintaining concentration.
Without treatment the mounting tiredness from sleep apnea can lead to significant psychological difficulties starting with irritability and progressing to depression with noticeable changes in both behavior and mood.
Both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea are treatable and, provided the condition is diagnosed early enough, this treatment is often relatively simple. For instance, a minor case of obstructive sleep apnea resulting from nasal congestion can commonly be treated with nothing more than a course of decongestants. In the same way, a lot of cases of sleep apnea which are not particularly serious can be treated with the use of a mask that is worn during sleep and which provides a constant pressure of air to keep the airway open. Lastly, in the most severe cases surgery may be needed and can be extremely effective, though it could also result in a number of complications and needs to be approached with caution.
Probably the most important thing to remember when treating sleep apnea is that as it carries the potentially fatal risk of respiratory failure sufferers should not be tempted to take sleeping pills or to take other forms of sleep enhancers without first seeking the approval of a doctor.
Natural sleep remedies without doubt provide an effective complement to medically prescribed medicines and herbs that are intended to improve the duration and quality of sleep may be helpful in the management of the excessive daytime sleepiness usually brought on by sleep apnea. In the same way, things like chromatherapy, aromatherapy and meditation and guided relaxation can help in reducing the insomnia and anxiety that go along with sleep apnea.