Sleep Apnea: Know the score
Dazza Walker
Sleep apnea is a condition where you have a disruption in your breathing during sleep. The word ' apnea ' is a greek word which when translated mean ' want of breath'. Your breathing becomes slower and in extreme cases can stop altogether, and in severe cases can literally bring you close to death. Sleep apnea has countless knock on effects in your life not only when you attempt to rest but also during the day when you are extremely tired and not functioning at your best.
There are three most known cases of sleep apnea called: 1/ Obstructive Sleep Apnea 2/ Central Sleep Apnea 3/ Mixed Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the commonly known one so due to a relaxation of the muscles and therefore an onstruction of the airways a person with this condition will snore heavily during the night and wake up several times virtually choking and continually try to go back to sleep.
Central Sleep Apnea is less common but a person that has this condition get into a position where the body signals from the brain get interupted and breathing can cease totally. Although this only last for maybe a few seconds it causes a lowering in oxygen supply and the sufferer will probably have high blood pressure.
Mixed Sleep Apnea is a condition characterized by a person experiencing the combination of symptoms of the two Sleep Apnea conditions Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea.
Symptoms
The most common symtoms of sleep apnea are choking or a gasping for breath many times during the night. Snoring loudly, although a common condition in alot of us, can also be a symptom of sleep apnea. This has the knock on effect of making us lethargic and continuously tired during the day meaning we are never at our best.
Treatments
There are many treatments available for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, such as losing weight so to put less stress on the body, avoiding alcohol consumption during the evening and sleeping on your side to aid with your breathing. Medical treatments include the wearing of special strips over the nose so to keep the airways open and promote a good oxygen intake and in extreme circumstances you can have a sinus operation to help cure this condition.
If you think you fall into any of these categories then visit your doctor to get advice on the next steps to take.
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