Dealing With Sleep Apnea
August 11, 2009
Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder. It is characterized by repeated pause in breathing while sleeping. The breathing stops for a few seconds and then restarts. Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that disturbs normal sleeping pattern.
There are two main types of sleep apnea – obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles of the throat relaxes while sleeping, causing obstruction in breathing. When the brain fails to convey signals to the muscles responsible for breathing function, central sleep apnea occurs.
Sometimes both obstructive and central sleep apnea might occur in a single person. This type of sleep apnea is known as complex sleep apnea.
Symptoms of sleep apnea
Snoring, while sleeping, is often a symptom of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is characterized by sudden shortness of breath while sleeping, which frequently disrupts your sleep. Lack of sleep during the night causes hypersomnia or excessive sleepiness throughout the day.
Disruption in sleep can also cause insomnia. After waking up you will feel dryness in the mouth or sore throat. Sleeping disturbance can also cause headache in the morning.
Causes of sleep apnea
Obstruction in breathing while sleeping might occur due to several reasons. Sleep apnea is often a hereditary condition. A person experiencing sleep apnea may be born with a narrow neck. Enlarged adenoids or tonsils could block the air passage. Obesity can also cause sleep apnea.
Fat deposition around the neck, might narrow the airway, obstructing breathing while sleeping. Throat inflammation caused by infection or smoking could increase the risk of sleep apnea. People suffering from hypertension can also suffer from sleep apnea.
The risk of sleep apnea increases with age. It is more prominent in individuals above 65 years of age. Although, compared to men, women are less likely to suffer from sleep apnea, but nonetheless, risk of sleep apnea increases in women after menopause.
If you are suffering from sleep apnea, do not sleep on your back. To keep the upper airway open while sleeping, sleep on your sides. To prevent nasal congestion, use a saline nasal spray before sleeping. Shedding excess weight could help to cure sleep apnea.


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