Sleep Apnea Represents A Very Commonly Seen And Sometimes Dangerous Sleeping Disorder

By Author: Donald Saunders
Total Articles: 84
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Sleep apnea is probably the commonest of all sleep disorders and affects around 18 million Americans. A sleep disorder which is characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep, sleep apnea is also indisputably the most dangerous of sleep disorders because it starves the brain of vital oxygen and can sometimes prove to be fatal.

There are two very different types of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is essentially a neurological disorder in which the breathing is interrupted as a result of signals sent from the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea is essentially a mechanical problem in which the windpipe is obstructed either by excessive tissue or by the abnormal collapse or relaxation of muscle tissue in and around the windpipe. In either case however the results are basically the same with numerous interruptions to normal breathing that deprive the brain of oxygen and place the sufferer at greater risk from such things as high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack.

Sadly, diagnosing sleep apnea can prove to be a problem because snoring, which is a common symptom and often results in sleep apnea being known as the ...
... snoring disease, is also commonly seen as a symptom of various other medical conditions. Snoring is certainly normally present with sleep apnea because the brain reacts to a lack of oxygen by awakening the sufferer enough to restart the breathing process and this normally results in snoring.

This recurrent awakening throughout the night also results in a poor quality of sleep and it is not at all uncommon for sufferers to get up in the morning feeling even more tired than they were when they went to bed. This also results in a feeling of exhaustion during the day and a tremendous desire to sleep.

However, tiredness resulting from poor quality sleep is merely one part of the picture and a variety of other symptoms will normally be present including morning headaches, poor memory and a difficulty in maintaining concentration.

Left untreated the accumulating exhaustion resulting from sleep apnea can produce major psychological problems beginning with touchiness and progressing to depression with noticeable changes in both mood and behavior.

Both central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea can be treated and, providing the problem is caught early enough, this treatment is often fairly simple. For instance, a minor case of obstructive sleep apnea resulting from nasal congestion can commonly be treated with little more than decongestants. Also, many cases of sleep apnea that are not especially serious can be treated with a mask that is worn during sleep and that delivers air at a constant pressure in order to keep the airway open. Finally, in the most serious cases of sleep apnea surgery might be necessary and can be extremely effective, although it could also result in numerous complications and has to be approached with care.

Probably the most important thing to remember with sleep apnea is that as it carries with it the potentially fatal risk of respiratory failure sufferers should not be tempted to use sleeping pills or to take other types of artificial sleep enhancers without first seeking the approval of their doctor.

Natural sleep remedies can certainly complement medically prescribed treatments and herbs which are intended to improve both the quality and duration of sleep may be helpful in the management of the excessive daytime sleepiness often accompanying sleep apnea. Similarly, such things as chromatherapy, aromatherapy and meditation and guided relaxation will help in reducing the insomnia and anxiety that go together with sleep apnea.