Sleep Apnea Causes And Cures

By Author: John Cory
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Sleep apnea can be a rather frequent condition that will have serious complications. The disorder is more frequent in men, as it affects 1 out each and every 25 middle-aged men and 1 woman out of 50. The condition is characterized by recurrent, prolonged episodes of cessation of breathing that occur in the course of sleep. These episodes generally last for about 10 seconds and a typical sleep apnea sufferer may possibly knowledge up to 20 to 30 of these episodes per hour. The causes of this condition are many. Here are the primary Sleep Apnea Causes:

Obesity

Those who are obese or overweight have an increased danger of suffering from sleep apnea. The truth is, many studies show that about 70% of obese folks suffer from this disorder. This happens due to the fact excess body fat, specially on the neck and chest, may possibly constrict the lungs as well as the airway passages. For this cause, weight reduction can trigger a comparable reduction within the severity of the symptoms of this sleeping disorder and may also enhance renal function and hypertension. Medical studies have demonstrated that losing as little ...
... as 10 percent of one's weight can enable you to minimize the severity of sleep apnea by more than 50 percent.

Excessive sitting or standing

A recent study identified that sitting or standing for many hours during the day may possibly trigger a fluid shift within the legs, which may possibly play a role within the development of this sleeping disorder. Based on Dr. T. Douglas Bradley, professor of medicine at the University of Toronto, when folks get to sleep, the fluid that has been retained within the legs shifts to the upper body and may possibly trigger upper airway constriction. This discovery may possibly explain why a substantial percentage of folks with obstructive sleep apnea aren't obese. This signifies that a sedentary life style can be a significant danger factor of sleep apnea and physical exercise can support to minimize the symptoms of this disorder, even if it doesn't lead to weight-loss.

Anatomical issues

The anatomical structure of the head and neck may possibly lead to a little airway size. The truth is, a neck circumference higher than 17 inches can enhance the danger of suffering from this condition. Furthermore, getting a deviated septum, which causes 1 nostril to be narrower than the other, may also lead to breathing issues. This condition may possibly be caused by a birth defect or an injury to the nose. Naturally significant or inflamed tonsils may also be a sleep apnea trigger.

Acid Reflux and GERD

GERD is an additional doable trigger of sleep apnea. In GERD, the stomach acids that reach the esophagus can trigger scarring and tissue harm inside the throat, which may possibly lead to obstructions that lead to sleep apnea.

Life-style aspects

Habitual smokers are more probably to suffer from sleep apnea compared to non-smokers. Furthermore, the excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to the over-relaxation of the breathing muscles causing loud snoring.

Heredity

Getting a family members history of sleep apnea increases your danger by up to four occasions compared to the typical person.

Advanced Age

It appears that the danger of developing this sleeping disorder, is significantly increased following the age of 65.
This above material is a basic introduction to this topic and if you are looking for more information click Sleep Apnea Causes or you will find further articles on this topic here Sleep Apnea Symptoms. We thank to Carlie B. Whitham for the help to finish this article.