Sleep Apnea Statistics Show Less Than 2% Victims Are Treated - Ignorance Or Indifference?

By Author: John Cory
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Sleep apnea is when you encounter 1 or much more pauses in breathing (apnea) or abnormally low or shallow breathing (hypopnea) while sleeping. These pauses could last for seconds or upto few minutes & could occur as few as 5 times to upto 30 times (or much more) within the duration of 1 hour. Sleep apnea statistics show that around 20% adults are victims, however only 10% of these are diagnosed.

While a common disorder, it often goes undiagnosed due to the lack of recognizable symptoms. This is 1 of the explanations why most people who endure from sleep apnea do not realize they have this problem. The lack of obvious symptoms & the truth that it occurs only while asleep, also makes it difficult for a doctor to detect it during routine examinations. A family member or bed partner would be most likely to recognize this condition, since an episode of sleep apnea could typically end with choking sound or a snort before normal breathing resumes.

Sleep apnea could be of three types: Obstructive, Central or Complex - which is a combination of the other two types.

Obstructive sleep apnea, the most typical ...
... form, is due to the collapse or blockage of the walls of soft tissue in the airway, at the level of the throat. Hence, 1 of the most evident signs of OSA is snoring caused by air squeezing through the narrow collapsed airway. OSA affects approximately 4% of men & 2% of women, with men much more likely to develop this condition before the age of 50. The risk equalizes after age 50 & is much more common among obese individuals. 30 - 50% heart disease patients & 60% of stroke patients are noted to have OSA.

Central sleep apnea is the much less common form & occurs when the imbalance in the brain stops it from sending signals or sends incorrect ones to the muscles that control breathing. This can be present in people who suffer from certain medical conditions or could be on some type of medication. If it is not connected with any other disease, it is called Idiopathic central sleep apnea.

The most common complaint among people experiencing any form of apnea is daytime sleepiness & fatigue. Sleep deprivation could also lead to lack of concentration, increased chances of hypertension, poor reflexes & raised risk of accidents. An occurrence of apnea lowers the level of oxygen in the blood and in extreme instances, if the apnea is long enough to cause severe lack of oxygen, it could result in brain damage or even sudden death.

Sleep apnea can be discovered by a polysomnography or 'sleep study'. Another solution is oximetry which measures the heart beat rate & oxygen content in blood & analyzes the data for signs of reduction in blood oxygen levels. Once detected, there are many treatment methods including both surgical & non surgical options, however very few undergo treatment which is surprising considering the adverse effects this condition could have ... the least of which is a satisfying night's sleep!
This article is a general introduction to this subject and if you need more information click Sleep Apnea Statistics or you can read further articles on this issue here Sleep Apnea Tests. Rojie M. Moody is a professional writer that helps completing this article.