Sleep Apnea-Obstructive, Central and Mixed

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Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea Breathing Machine
Dated: 27 Nov 2009
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Sleep Apnea is part of the spectrum of what is called “Sleep Disordered Breathing” or “SDB.” The condition Sleep Apnea is commonly broken into three main categories. The three main categories of Sleep Apnea are as follows:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)

Mixed Sleep Apnea (MSA)

The three main categories, or types, of Sleep Apnea will be discussed in more detail below. Sleep Apnea is commonly and effectively treated with CPAP therapy (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). Keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive treatment on the subject of Sleep Apnea. For more information please reference the citations at the end of the article or speak with your doctor.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, the soft tissue of the upper airway collapses during the night and slows air intake, eventually eliminating air intake altogether. When oxygen intake is reduced or eliminated and blood oxygen levels fall significantly, the brain sends an emergency signal to wake up and resume a normal breathing pattern. This process can happen as many as a few hundred times a night for some people with severe OSA. The use of a CPAP machine either drastically reduces these “apneic” events or eliminates them altogether. This results in the restoration of a normal breathing pattern and the CPAP user is able to achieve deep, REM(3) sleep, allowing the body to do routine maintenance and restore many healthful functions in the body.Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)Central Sleep Apnea is similar to OSA in its final effect on the sufferer, however, the mechanism of oxygen reduction is different. The principal mechanism of oxygen reduction in CSA is due to a failure of the brain to send a proper breathing “signal” to the muscles that control the breathing process. This type of Sleep Apnea is more rare than OSA and according to the Mayo Clinic accounts “for less than 5 percent of sleep apneas.”(4) Even though CSA is different in function than OSA, the outcome for the sufferer is the same–reduced oxygen intake through out the night, failure to reach deep sleep cycles and general fatigue throughout the day. Fortunately, in most cases, CSA can be treated with the same equipment that is used for those that suffer with OSA. Most CPAP, BiPAP and APAP machines have sophisticated circuitry which allows for the detection of different types of apneas, allowing the machine to adjust to the needs of the user throughout the night.Mixed Sleep Apnea (or Complex Apnea)According to the National Institutes of Health, Mixed Sleep Apnea is defined as a combination of both Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea. The technical explanation for Mixed Sleep Apnea according to the NIH is as follows: “intervals of ten seconds or longer during which there was a complete cessation of airflow accompanied by an absence of respiratory effort in the early part of the apneic episode and a resumption of respiratory effort in the latter part.” Basically, this means that a CSA-related apneic event occurs, followed by an OSA-related apneic event. Interestingly, according to the study by the NIH, the sequence of events is always from CSA to OSA and never in reverse. In other words, the brain fails to send a signal to breath, resulting in an apneic event, followed by a collapse of the airway that further impedes oxygen flow. This makes sense, as it would not seem vary likely that an airway collapse related to an OSA-type event would cause the brain to misfire a breathing signal, however, a misfire by the brain would include the muscles involved in breathing and may lead to a loss of good muscle tone in the upper airway.

(1)http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/sleep-apnea(2)http://www.sleepapnea.org/info/index.html(3)http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-101(4)http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/central-sleep-apnea/DS00995

Are You Suffering From Sleep Apnea Syndrome ?

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea Breathing Machine
Dated: 26 Nov 2009
Comments: 0

If you’re snoring loud enough to wake up yourself and your partner, then this could be a sign of sleep apnea syndrome. This sleep disorder occurs when the upper airway is blocked by the narrowing of the respiratory passages.
However, apnea can have a serious impact on your health if it’s left untreated. Besides daytime sleepiness, people with apnea can also suffer from hypertension, depression and even heart disease. In this article, we’ll explain how this sleep disorder works and what you can do to get a better night’s rest.
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of apnea and is due to an obstruction in the throat during sleep. The narrowing of the upper airway can be a result of several factors including inherent physical characteristics, excess weight, and alcohol consumption before going to bed.
Central sleep apnea is caused by a delay in the signal from the brain to breath. With both obstructive and central apnea you must wake up briefly to breathe, sometimes hundreds of times during the night. Usually there is no memory of these brief awakenings.
Sleep apnea syndrome can lead to life threatening illnesses if it’s not treated properly. Consequently, it’s important to know the signs. Loud snoring and gasping are the most common symptoms. Patients also frequently complain of excessive daytime sleepiness, headaches, night sweats, and having to go to the bathroom several times during the night.
The side effects of it range from mild to severe and include high blood pressure, depression, difficulty concentrating and reduced libido. More severe cases can lead to heart attacks, strokes, irregular heartbeat and heart disease. In addition to the health impact, sleep deprivation can impact your life socially.
A sleep test, called polysomnography is usually done in a disorder center to diagnose apnea. Mild cases of sleep apnea syndrome are usually treated by some behavioral changes like losing weight or sleeping on your side. There are also mouth devices that can help keep the airway open by bringing the jaw forward, elevating the soft palate or preventing the tongue from falling back into the airway and blocking breathing.
Moderate to severe apnea is usually treated with a CPAP mask and a CPAP machine. This machine blows air into your nose via a nose mask, keeping the airway open and unobstructed. Some people have facial deformities that may cause the apnea. There are several other surgical apnea treatments like removing excess tissue to clear the airway, moving the tongue forward, and moving the upper and lower jaw forward.
Sleep apnea syndrome is a progressive condition that gets worse as you age, so it’s important to take it seriously. The symptoms of apnea can be made worse by obesity and alcohol consumption, so lifestyle changes should supplement the treatments that your doctor recommends. Taking care of this sleep disorder will allow you to live a healthier – and more restful – life.

All You Need to Know About Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea Ahi
Dated: 12 Nov 2009
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Sleep Apnea Syndrome refers to transient cessation of respiration during sleep. The most common kind of sleep apnea is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSA) which is defined as the cessation of airflow during sleep preventing air from entering the lungs caused by an obstruction. It is characterized by repetitive episodes of upper airway obstruction that occur during sleep, usually associated with a reduction in blood oxygen saturation. Another site of obstruction can be the nasal passages.

These periods of ’stopped breathing’ only become clinically significant if the cessation lasts for more than 10 seconds each time and occur more than 10 times every hour. OSA only happens during sleep, as it is a lack of muscle tone in your upper airway that causes the airway to collapse. The airway becomes obstructed at several possible sites which can be due to obstruction caused by excess tissue in the airway, large tonsils, and a large tongue and usually includes the airway muscles relaxing and collapsing when asleep.Various Symptoms

Some of the symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome include, but are not limited to excessive daytime sleepiness, frequent episodes of obstructed breathing during sleep, loud snoring, morning headaches, reflecting sleep, a dry mouth upon awakening, high blood pressure, being overweight, irritability, change in personality, depression, difficulty in concentrating, excessive perspiration during sleep, heartburn, reduced libido, insomnia, frequent nocturnal urination (nocturia), restless sleep, nocturnal snorting, gasping, choking (may wake self up), and rapid weight gain etc.Sleep disorder can range from very mild to very severe. The severity is often established using the apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI), which is the number of apnoeas plus the number of hypopnoeas per hour of sleep – (hypopnoea being reduction in airflow).

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. The risks of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea include heart attacks, strokes, impotence, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure and heart disease. In addition, obstructive sleep apnea causes daytime sleepiness that can result in accidents, lost productivity and interpersonal relationship problems. The severity of the symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe.Treatment:

Mild Sleep Apnea is usually treated by some behavioral changes. Losing weight, sleeping on your side are often recommended. There are oral mouth devices (that help keep the airway open) in the market that may help to reduce snoring in three different ways. Some devices may (1) bring the jaw forward or (2) elevate the soft palate or (3) retain the tongue (from falling back in the airway and blocking breathing). Sleep Apnea is a progessive condition (gets worse as you age) and should not be taken lightly.

Coping With And Dealing With Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Snoring
Dated: 22 Nov 2008
Comments: 0

Introduction To The Sleep Lab - Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

Like other sleep disorders, sleep apnea syndrome impacts the quality of your rest and leaves you sleepy during the day. However, if left untreated, then the condition can lead to other health problems that can be life threatening. Thankfully, there are a number of treatments available. If you suspect that you have sleep apnea, then read on for a list of symptoms to look for and options for treating the disorder.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of apnea and is due to an obstruction in the throat during sleep. The narrowing of the upper airway can be a result of several factors including inherent physical characteristics, excess weight, and alcohol consumption before sleep. Central sleep apnea is caused by a delay in the signal from the brain to breath. With both obstructive and central apnea you must wake up briefly to breathe, sometimes hundreds of times during the night. Usually there is no memory of these brief awakenings.

The most common symptoms seen in patients suffering from sleep apnea syndrome are loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, headaches, waking up at night with a choking sensation, night sweats, frequent trips to the bathroom during the night, insomnia and problems staying asleep. Apneas can be accompanied by a variety of other conditions like high blood pressure, depression, difficulty concentrating and reduced libido. More severe cases can be a life-threatening condition that may require immediate medical attention. The risks of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea include heart attacks, strokes, irregular heartbeat and heart disease. In addition, obstructive sleep apnea causes daytime sleepiness that can result in accidents, lost productivity and interpersonal relationship problems. The severity of the symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe.

A sleep test, called polysomnography is usually done in a sleep disorder center to diagnose sleep apnea. Mild cases of sleep apnea syndrome are usually treated by some behavioral changes like losing weight or sleeping on your side. There are also mouth devices that can help keep the airway open by bringing the jaw forward, elevating the soft palate or preventing the tongue from falling back into the airway and blocking breathing. Moderate to severe sleep apnea is usually treated with a CPAP mask and a CPAP machine. This machine blows air into your nose via a nose mask, keeping the airway open and unobstructed. Some people have facial deformities that may cause the sleep apnea. There are several other surgical apnea treatments like removing excess tissue to clear the airway, moving the tongue forward, and moving the upper and lower jaw forward.

Sleep apnea syndrome is a progressive condition that gets worse as you age, so it’s important to take it seriously. The symptoms of sleep apnea can be made worse by obesity and alcohol consumption, so lifestyle changes should supplement the treatments that your doctor recommends. Taking care of this sleep disorder will allow you to live a healthier – and more restful – life.

Sleep disorders can impact a individual’s daily living. They do not go through the right sleep cycles as well as their day to day lives begin to suffer from the deficiency of sleep that is. The conditions has the ability to be dangerous. Sleep apnea is a medical condition where the person actually arrests breathing they sleep. It is extremely dangerous and life threatening if not dealt with in the right way. You don’t have to keep suffering. Even if snoring is a problem, there are instruments to help you in getting a quality nights sleep and feel well rested in the morning. Go here for additional information:

Sleep Disorder Treatments with more helpful material at Work Schedule Sleep Disorders and certainly try Pregnancy And Insomnia