A Definition Of Sleep Apnea And Its Cause, Warning Signs and Diagnosis
Sleep apnea is one of several common sleep disorders and the most widespread type of sleep apnea is known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and is a disorder characterized by periods during which breathing ceases while sleeping. On occasions this medical condition is called sleep apnea syndrome or obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
In otherwise healthy individuals the muscles that are responsible for controlling the upper section of the throat ensure that the flow of air in and out of the lungs is continuous and steady. During sleep these muscles relax slightly but still manage to do their job properly. However those people who suffer from sleep apnea frequently have airways which are narrowed and therefore when the throat muscles relax the airway partially or completely closes thereby stopping the passage of air to the lungs. Labored breathing and snoring leading to a sleep apnea episode will then occur.
In some individuals breathing can also cease altogether during periods of deep (or REM) sleep and researchers and medical experts are nor clear about just why this happens. These times during which breathing stops can last for ten seconds or more and are referred to as sleep apnea episodes or apneic events.
These apneic events result in a degree of awareness that you have ceases breathing and you then struggle to breath again which is usually accompanied by choking, gasping or even snorting.
Thereafter it is normal to settle into a period of light sleep before the pattern of apneic events starts again.
The consequence is that an individual suffers from sleep that is fragmented and does not allow them to get amount of rest which they require on a nightly basis. This can lead to a variety of health problems including excessive daytime tiredness. One of the reasons for this daytime symptom is the fact that the level of oxygen in the blood falls significantly during an apneic event leading to a condition called hypoxia.
It is important to understand that a lot of individuals who suffer from sleep apnea are unaware of their problem and frequently it is left to others to point out the problem. Sleep apnea sufferers are normally aware of how excessively tired they are throughout the day but do not necessarily know why this is so.
The commonest symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, waking in the morning and not feeling rested, morning headaches, problems with memory and attention span, alterations in personality, falling asleep at inappropriate times, hypertension, high activity levels (in children only) and swelling of the legs in severe cases. The symptoms ought not to be disregarded as the danger of sleep apnea is very real.
The initial step in diagnosing sleep apnea should be an appointment with the doctor who will read through your medical history and examine your mouth, throat and neck for any growths or abnormalities. If sleep apnea is suspected your physician will refer you for a sleep study and what is known as a polysomnogram (or PSG). This test records brain waves, eye movement, muscle activity, breathing rate, heart rate, oxygen levels in the blood and the amount of air which is being both exhaled and inhaled during sleep.
Sleep apnea is a very common disorder which often goes unrecognized but which can be extremely dangerous and which can also usually be effectively treated.
Tags: obstructive sleep apnea, sleep, Sleep Apnea, sleep apnia, sleep apnoea, sleep disorders